Anyone familiar with N1 Enhancement Scheme type approval?

[S11Steve]

Does anyone in here know much about this process for commercial vehicles, and what the criteria is for approval, or even better, work for the VCA?

I've encountered a potential problem with a box bodied commercial vehicle and although it is type approved, I'm not entirely convinced that it is up to the job.
Without going into too much public detail, I need to know how, or if, structural integrity is tested in order to gain approval.

The VCA documentation explains things like "tail lift must not be operable whilst the vehicle is in motion" or "removal of bulkhead for additional seating must not impede use of ecisting seatbelts", but I can't find anything that relates to the construction of the box body.

Thanks

[Mercury00]

I've worked for a vehicle bodybuilder for over ten years if I can be of any help? We have our own N1 type approval, so we don't need to send them for IVA. I don't deal with that though, but feel free to send me pics of what it is you're concerned about, and I'll let you know if it's up to the job, or how it should be built.

[deadtom]

A little late to the thread so you may have found your answer already but....

VCA Type approval person here, though unfortunately I don't do multi-stage. I did however chat to someone who dabbles in multi stage approval, and as far as he is aware we don't do any structural testing on stuff like van bodies, we just care about things overhangs, sharp edges, lighting positions etc.

Send an email to [e-mail] and your question should get forwarded to someone who can give you an authoritative answer (Probably a guy called Karl Heath or maybe Richard Pegg)

[S11Steve]

deadtom said:

A little late to the thread so you may have found your answer already but....

VCA Type approval person here, though unfortunately I don't do multi-stage. I did however chat to someone who dabbles in multi stage approval, and as far as he is aware we don't do any structural testing on stuff like van bodies, we just care about things overhangs, sharp edges, lighting positions etc.

Send an email to [e-mail] and your question should get forwarded to someone who can give you an authoritative answer (Probably a guy called Karl Heath or maybe Richard Pegg)

Thanks - I did end up getting through to somebody fairly knowledgeable at the VCA and they said the same thing about the box body. The builder can't provide much in the way of detail on structural rigidity other than the technical spec of the individual components used.

It is on the verge of getting messy with insurance though, and lawyers are currently cracking knuckles in anticipation of a long drawn out fee earner.

[deadtom]

S11Steve said:

Thanks - I did end up getting through to somebody fairly knowledgeable at the VCA and they said the same thing about the box body. The builder can't provide much in the way of detail on structural rigidity other than the technical spec of the individual components used.

It is on the verge of getting messy with insurance though, and lawyers are currently cracking knuckles in anticipation of a long drawn out fee earner.

that sounds ominous, is this something that has already happened then? I had assumed it was pre-emptive in anticipation of, say, mounting something heavy on the inside of the van body.

Best of luck with getting it sorted though

[S11Steve]

Yes, it happened some months back - the body structurally failed, and caused some damage to third party property. There's been a few months of finger pointing going on and I've been trying to resolve it in various ways.

The body builder keeps repeating that "it is type approved so we are in the clear" - having been in a similar intermediary position in the past, I have a fair idea of what the insurance and legal parties will be asking for down the line.

I'll make a note of those names though - I'm probably going to need to speak to them at some point in the future.