Purpose
This document is to establish common ground on which the Canadian collision repair industry can identify the minimum requirements that will enable the performance of complete, safe and quality repairs.
Minimum standards
These minimum business, facilities, equipment, training and process standards are required for a collision repair facility to substantiate, perform and warrant complete, safe, quality repairs (including structural repairs) on accident damaged vehicles.
Scope
Vehicle design is rapidly advancing; hence, certain vehicle makes and models are designed using modern materials that require specific training, tools and processes, (E.G. boron and other advanced steels, aluminum, magnesium, carbon fiber, etc.). The scope of this document does not cover specific processes for specific materials. It is the responsibility of individual collision repair facilities to access, research and follow vehicle maker recommendations and repair procedures. The scope of this document is to ensure that collision repair facilities that meet this minimum standard have access to the correct information, document that they have followed the proper procedures, and warrant the work that they have done.
Specific training and equipment are also required to safely enable lifting, diagnostics and repair of electric or hybrid vehicles. As the electric vehicle adoption rate varies between territories, these requirements are not presently covered in the scope of this minimum standard.
The minimum standard requirements
Business minimum requirements
- Adhere to all applicable federal, provincial and municipal acts, regulations, and standards (health and safety, environmental, zoning, business licensing and permits, apprenticeship and trade licensing requirements, consumer privacy and protection act, etc.)
- Maintain a Garage Liability insurance policy with a min $2,000,000 CAD coverage
- Maintain liability coverage when using a sublet vendor
- Maintain an electronic management system to efficiently track and manage customer information, repair orders, parts inventory and usage, estimates, invoices, and compliance documentation.
Minimum training requirements
- To ensure fundamental skills and knowledge, each technician must hold a Certificate of Qualification relevant to their role, or be a registered apprentice (where mandated Provincially or Territorially)
- The shop must also maintain I-CAR Canada Gold Class status, through I-CAR Canada or recognized Training Alliance Partners, to ensure national standardization of:
- Fundamental skill and knowledge where C of Q and apprenticeship are not mandated
- Welding certification and other skills and knowledge that are beyond the Canadian C of Q and Red Seal program
- Structural technician ratios within a shop
- Estimator qualifications
- Annual and ongoing training requirements
Facility and equipment
- The business must be located in a permanent structure in a fixed location.
- The facility must have procedures and equipment in place for the safe handling, storage, and disposal or recycling of hazardous materials.
- Must have a four-point anchoring system capable of holding vehicles stationary during structural pulls, and a two-point electric/hydraulic pulling system designed for structural pulling.
- Must have electronic equipment capable of doing simultaneous three-dimensional measuring with print out ability.
- Have a 200 AMP, 220 Volt MIG/MAG welder with a minimum 35 per cent duty cycle.
- Have a pulse MIG/MAG welder with silicon bronze/MIG brazing capability.
- Have a 220 Volt, three-phase inverter type Squeeze Type Resistance Spot Welder. (STRSW) capable of 600 lbf (270daN) clamp force and10,000 AMPs at electrodes.
- The ability to safely facilitate vehicle damage inspection and analysis, including the underside.
- Ability or proof of a qualified sublet provider to remove / install suspension systems, sub frames, engines, axles and transaxles, transmissions or other items to facilitate structural repairs.
- Equipment and training or proof of a qualified sublet provider to recover/recycle all automotive refrigerants on all vehicles,
- Equipment and training or proof of a qualified sublet provider to perform 4-wheel alignments.
- Have an enclosed paint booth and paint mixing area, and a painting respirator system that all meet current federal, provincial and municipal laws and by laws.
- Equipment and training or proof of a qualified sublet provider to perform fixed glass removal and installation.
- Training and equipment or proof of a qualified sublet provider to complete post repair Advanced Driver Assistance systems (ADAS) calibrations.
- Have the training and equipment to perform pre and post repair vehicle scans with ability to print out.
Repair process
- Have access to Vehicle Makers (OEM) collision repair procedures for all elements of the repair including ADAS calibration requirements for any vehicle being worked on.
- Have access to Vehicle Makers (OEM) structural and wheel alignment angle. dimensions including but not limited to frame rails, strut towers, lower body, floor pans, upper body, camber, caster and steering axis inclination, for any vehicle being worked on.
- Have a robust quality control system focused on completing safe, quality repairs and adherence to OEM repair standards.
- Have a dedicated process to document that OEM repair procedures have been researched and followed, and the vehicle structural dimensions have been restored.
- Have a dedicated process to document that pre and post repair scans and required ADAS calibrations have been completed as per OEM recommendations.
- Have a written policy on, and the ability to maintain a limited lifetime warranty relating to workmanship on all repairs (parts excluded).
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