Section 680. Certification of analyzer systems

A. No analyzer system may be installed, sold or represented as a certified enhanced analyzer system without prior written certification by the department.

B. The analyzer system must have a certificate from the manufacturer that it meets the specifications of 40 CFR Part 85, Subpart W. This certification is necessary so that inspections performed using that analyzer system will qualify applicable vehicles for warranty repair coverage according to the provisions of § 207(b) of the federal Clean Air Act.

C. A person requesting the certification of an emissions analyzer system for use in the Virginia Motor Vehicle Emissions Control Program shall make application to the department using procedures approved by the department.

D. The analyzer system, in order to become certified for use and be used for emissions inspections, shall conform to the equipment specifications and quality control requirements of EPA Technical Guidance document EPA420-B-04-011 (see 9VAC5-91-50) unless requirements contained therein are excluded or superseded by requirements of this chapter as enumerated below.

1. The preconditioning period for all vehicles undergoing an ASM test may be up to 90 seconds. System prompts regarding queuing time are unnecessary. (Ref. EPA420-B-04-011, § 85.2(b)(11))

2. All OBD vehicles shall have engine RPM and emissions-related information read through the OBD connection.

3. Vehicles subject to ASM testing shall receive the ASM 2525 and ASM 5015 modes in that sequence, followed by any second chance testing for which the vehicle is eligible in the same sequence. Second chance tests shall only be performed on vehicles which failed the first chance test within the software specifications of all applicable standards. (Ref. EPA420-B-04-011, § 85.2(e))

4. Dynamometers shall be calibrated through a coast-down procedure every 72 hours. (Ref. EPA420-B-04-011, § 85.4 (b)(1))

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 13, Issue 05, eff. January 24, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 20, eff. October 1, 2002; Errata, 18:23 VA.R. 3136 July 29, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 24, eff. August 28, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§ 46.2-1180 of the Code of Virginia; § 182 of the Clean Air Act; 40 CFR Part 51, Subpart S.