http://www.via.gov.uk/vehicle_testing/sva/sva_manual.htm

No doubt making it even more difficult to get anything on the road !!!

"Materials and methods used may be
accepted if they are permanent, durable and are
of a kind which would normally be used by a major manufacturer" seems to crop up in more than a few places.

[Edited on 30/11/03 by givemethebighammer]

Steel and welding it is then..

yours, Pete.

GMTBH - see previous thread at

click here to see a few topics down

It's not a complete manual, by a long way - it's just the changed bits.

And there aren't any more hurdles to cross - it's just explicitly covering the grey areas that previously caused problems.

rgds,

David

I may be mistaken (normally am) but I'm looking through this document, and within the applications bit on each page, it says the exemptions to the rule - and this includes those vehicles "not subject to ESVA ie... an amateur built vehicle".

Am i missing something? Seems clearer than previous attempts, though but is still wooly.

I think the general locostbuilders/SVA rule applies, ie try your best at interpreting the rule, debate it on here, speak to the inspector, but then go to your first test, fail, but pass on re-test.

About half the document relates to ESVA - Enhanced SVA - which doesn't apply to us (it's for cars imported from countries that don't have a safety standard arrangement with the UK/Europe).

The rest seems to be clarification of the little 'add-ons' that have arisen over the last year or so. I didn't see any new requirements.

Mind you - it is still only a draft - plenty of time to add bits! (and I've noticed at least one mistake - that's the result of being a profession document reviewer! )

David

[Edited on 1/12/03 by David Jenkins]

speak to the inspector, but then go to your first test, fail, but pass on re-test.

Why fail the first test? Lots of cars pass first time, mine included. I phoned Derby centre for a couple of points but all the rest of my info was collected from magazines before I discovered online material. Lights, seatbelts and edge radii were all covered in Which Kit when I was building, most other stuff seems like common sense.

yours, Pete.

More people probably pass second time having read the sva section. (Well, I did anyway!

I think its getting tougher each month too, as the inspectors get more advise, discuss issues between themselves (possibly) and see more cars. Some of the things i got away with (non-safety issues such as padding the front wishbones with insulation foam, etc) are now fails.

I agree with you though - dont go for a fail, all I'm saying is dont be *too* surprised if you do.

All of the SVA sections in the document say:

"Evidence of compliance may be in the
form of vehicle specific documentary evidence, ie
from the manufacturer or a test laboratory, or of
compliance with an acceptable comparable non-
European standard, or by the comparison of the
vehicle against the specification of an Approved vehicle ie using a model report"

How can you give the inspector documented evidence for a locost for the various sections eg frontal impact etc?