Technical bulletins

The following are examples where a design certificate (DC) can be used by an HV manufacturer certifier (HMxD) for batch built or standard components:

• An HVSC may provide a HV manufacturer certifier (HM*D) certifier (Note 1) with a single design certificate (DC) for seat belt anchorages fitted to heavy motorhomes, towbars or drawbeams fitted to heavy vehicles, provided that the DC is for specific vehicles (of the same make, model, sub-model) and specifies a fitting envelope which allows the design (once fitted to the vehicle) to meet all the design requirements of the relevant standards.
• This approval is extended to manufacturers who want to build certifiable components (eg load anchorages) in a batch and store them until they are fitted to a vehicle. These components may be built to a DC and certified, using an LT400 when fitted.
• A HMxD certifier may accept and use such a DC from a HVSC provided that any and all restrictions placed on the  design are met. These restrictions may include limiting the DC to specific makes, models or fitting locations, numbers of vehicles or any other restriction the HVE certifier might apply. The HM*D engineering certifier must not go outside the requirements of the DC.

In these circumstances the HVSC takes responsibility for the design and that it is of sufficient strength and durability to do the job in the proposed application or applications. The following apply:

• The HVSC is responsible for any failure of the component that is not linked to faulty manufacture.
• The HMxD certifier takes responsibility for the manufacture and that all manufacturing instruction from the HVSC issuing the DC are met in full.
• Any fault linked to the manufacture of the component or its inappropriate installation are the sole responsibility of the HMxD certifier.

Additional points to provide clarification to HMxD certifiers

• Load anchorages and other standard fittings may not require a DC from a HVSC if they are manufactured or fitted to the relevant Standard. However, they may require specialist certification or a DC for the load path back to the chassis if this is not covered in the Standard or the vehicle manufacturer’s body builders’ manual. The HMxD certifier takes responsibility for both the manufacture and fitting of any component built against a DC.

Note 1

The following categories are summarised by (HMxD):

HMAD: Heavy Vehicle Manufacturer Certifier – Load anchorages

HMKD: Heavy Vehicle Manufacturer Certifier – Brakes

HMCD: Heavy Vehicle Manufacturer Certifier – Chassis

HMLD: Heavy Vehicle Manufacturer Certifier – Log bolster attachment

HMTD: Heavy Vehicle Manufacturer Certifier – Towing connections