New versions of Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV) and Light Commercial (LCV) manuals come into effect on 19th May 2018 and the Commercial Vehicle Information System (CoVIS) has been updated accordingly to reflect these changes. Copies of tester’s manuals are available at the links below.

HCV Testers Manual Version 5.0 (May 2018​​) (PDF) 

LCV Testers Manual Version 5.0 (May 2018​​) (PDF)​​​​

Tractor Testers Manual Version 1.0 (May 2018) (PDF)​

 Find out more about these changes below. 

• ​Key Changes to the Testing Manuals
• Section Contents
• Explanation of Manual Sections 
• Deficiency Categorisation
• Minor Deficiencies 
• Technical Changes 

Key changes to the Testing Manuals 

The EU has published a new roadworthiness Directive, which Ireland is mandated to comply with. Failure to do so will mean fines for the Irish Government. Following the introduction of the new EU Roadworthiness Test Directive, the authority has taken this opportunity to make some changes to the tester’s manuals also. The purpose of the tester’s manual is to serve as a reference and guide for CVR testers when they are conducting CVR tests, and so changes are being introduced to ensure that the manuals remain relevant to modern vehicle technologies and are easy to interpret and use.

A summary of the primary changes made to the manuals are detailed below;

Introduction of a new tester’s manual for Fast tractors

A new manual is being introduced from 19th May 2018, which sets out the process to be followed for testing a fast tractor within the scope of testing (defined by S.I. 117 of 2018 PDF).​  Similar to the LCV manual, the new tractor manual consists of 9 sections.

New layout and structure of HCV and LCV tester’s manuals

• New versions of the testers’ manuals for both light and heavy commercial vehicles are being introduced which differ in layout and structure to previous versions of the testers manuals. 
• The new testers’ manuals have been restructured in line with the EU Roadworthiness Directive, therefore simplifying the manual into fewer but larger sections. Previous versions of the LCV and HCV manuals had 60 and 71 sections respectively. The new manuals now comprise of 9 logical sections for LCV and 10 sections for HCV.
• The new manual format is as follows (with HCV specific sections labelled. (Download in PDF to view full screen) 

Section Contents

With the introduction of the new format, similar test items are now grouped together in one place where you can find the methods of testing, notes and reasons for failure. Section 5 of the tester’s manual provided below as an example. (Download in PDF to view full screen) 

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Explanation of Manual Sections 

Individual sections of all testers’ manuals have now been structured as follows

• ​Method of testing – The methods of testing are now located at the beginning of each section of the manual. The new methods of testing coupled with the relevant reasons for failure ensure testing is carried out to a consistently high standard utilising best practice.
• Notes – The new testers’ manuals have improved ‘Notes’ that provide clear and relevant guidance to the CVR tester when inspecting a vehicle. The notes were formulated based on common tester queries as well as developments in modern vehicle technologies.
• Check items & Reasons for failure – A table of check items, reasons for failure and severity types is now included after the notes in each section. This is effectively a checklist that the tester can apply to the relevant vehicle systems and components in question.

Deficiency Categorisation

Reason for Failures are now classified as minor (MiD), major (MaD) or dangerous (DD) versus ‘X’ convention that was used previously. Descriptions of severities follow.

Deficiencies are categorised into one of the following groups:

• ​Minor deficiency (MiD); having no significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment and other minor non-compliances. If only minor defects are identified during a test, the vehicle will be deemed “Pass Pending Re-Check”. The pass statement will not issue until the vehicle is represented for a visual inspection with the deficiencies rectified.
• Major defects (MaD); defects that may prejudice the safety of the vehicle, have an impact on the environment, put other road users at risk or other more significant non-compliances.
• Dangerous defects (DD); defects constituting a direct and immediate risk to road safety or having an impact on the environment such that the vehicle should not be used on the road under any circumstances.

• Component has reached the stage where it is obviously likely to affect adversely the roadworthiness of the vehicle (dangerous).
• Condition of the component has clearly reached the stage at which replacement, repair or adjustment is necessary (major).

Minor Deficiencies 

From Saturday 19 May 2018, where only minor deficiency are identified during a Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test and no major or dangerous defects were identified during the test, then your vehicle will not be required to undergo a re-test. However, the registered owner of the vehicle will not automatically receive the Certificate of Roadworthiness (CRW)  until the vehicle is represented to the original test centre where the test was carried out and the minor deficiencies have been confirmed as rectified.  Some examples of minor deficiencies include:

• ​Illegible vehicle documents or clerical inaccuracies. 
• Demisting/ventilation system (fan) inoperative.
• Horn not working correctly.

 

• Tyre tread depth: Where a tyre is found to have less than 1.6mm tread depth in the centre three-quarters of the tread pattern this is now considered a dangerous defect. Previously the tester could classify such defects as either major or dangerous. 
  Where a vehicle is identified as being dangerously defective during a test, the CVR tester will place a “Fail Dangerous” sticker on the vehicle.  It is an offence to drive a dangerously defective vehicle in a public place.​

 

 

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  Brake pipe defects; In cases where brake pipes are found to be perished, porous, kinked, chafed, damaged or rusted to the extent that the pipe is pitted; Previously it was at the discretion of the tester to classify it as a major or dangerous defect.However this has now been changed to a major defect.​

 

 

• ​Wheel embellishers or hub caps:  If wheel embellishers or hub caps are not removed for test this is now a major defect. 

 

 

 

 

Further Information

If you require further information on any of the above please contact us on 091 872600 or email cvrtadmin@rsa.ie 

 

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