Section 510. Certification qualifications

A. Application for certification shall be made to the department in accordance with procedures approved by the department.

B. Applicants shall demonstrate to the department the ability to conform to this chapter.

C. Certifications shall be valid only to the emissions repair facility, owner, or lessee for which it is issued and may not be transferred or used at any other emissions repair facility nor by any other owner.

D. Transfer or sale of business, or changes in partnership, name or location shall require notification to the department and shall require new certification.

E. The department may require proof of business ownership, articles of incorporation, partnership agreements and lease agreements prior to certification of an emissions repair facility.

F. All emissions repair facility certification documentation shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the certified premises, within view of the public and approved by the department.

G. Certification is valid for time periods determined by the department, not to exceed three years from the end of the month in which certified. The director may extend such certification once, for up to six months from the original expiration date, if shown that the availability of training or equipment prevent recertification prior to expiration.

H. Equipment, tools, and reference materials, including but not limited to the following list, are required to be available in certified emissions repair facilities contingent on commercial availability.

1. For vehicles subject to the Northern Virginia emissions inspection program and serviced by that emissions repair facility, current reference material, either in manual or electronic form, to include:

a. Emissions control systems and application guides.

b. Emissions related repair guides.

2. Necessary tools and equipment, either as components or as a complete system, for emissions related repairs as listed below:

a. A four-gas exhaust emissions analyzer capable of analyzing exhaust emissions from vehicles on which emissions repairs are being performed.

b. Oscilloscope or other automotive analyzer capable of displaying ignition patterns, cylinder power contributions, and square wave and injection patterns of vehicles.

c. Ammeter, DC.

d. Ohmmeter.

e. Voltmeter, AC/DC.

f. Tachometer, RPM meter.

g. Fuel pressure gauge capable of fuel injection diagnosis.

h. Ignition timing light with timing advance meter and adjustment.

i. Compression test gauge and cylinder leak-down tester.

j. Vacuum pump with gauge for applying simulated manifold vacuum to emissions control devices.

k. Scan tools, supplemental analyzer provisions, or detailed reference materials sufficient to allow the extraction and interpretation of computer fault codes from any vehicle being repaired that is equipped with an exhaust gas oxygen sensor and malfunction indicator light.

l. OBD scan tool designed to interface with OBD vehicles meeting the requirements of 40 CFR 85.2231.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 13, Issue 05, eff. January 24, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 20, eff. October 1, 2002.

Statutory Authority

§ 46.2-1180 of the Code of Virginia.