Appendix 2 – Proposed criteria

It is proposed that regulations state:

“In order to be approved as a certification authority, the PGDB will need to be satisfied that an applicant (other than a certifying plumber) has in place, and will comply with, a system that will ensure that the certification of vehicles as self-contained is done consistently well.”

1. How to apply for approval as a certification authority

(a) An application for approval as a certification authority must be in the form prescribed by the PGDB, and be accompanied by the application fee under these regulations.

(b) An application must include the following information:

i. Details of the applicant, including:

i. their full legal name

ii. trading name (if different from legal name)

iii. the NZ Business Number (NZBN) of the organisation (if any)

iv. the physical address of their principal place of business

v. their postal address (if different from physical address)

vi. their other contact details, including email address and phone number

vii. the address of their internet site.

ii. Details of the individual responsible for the application and who will be in management control of the certification operation, including:

i. their full name

ii. their title or role (in relation to the applicant)

iii. their contact details, including email address and phone number.

iii. Details of the proposed certification operation, including:

i. the proposed coverage of operations (national or regional)

ii. the range of vehicles that certification will be offered for – whether this will be any vehicle, or a limited range. If the latter, what this range/mix of vehicles is likely to be

iii. any other information required by the PGDB.

(c) This section does not apply to a person who is a certifying plumber – they are deemed to be a certification authority and a recognised vehicle inspector (as applicable) and do not have to meet the criteria set out in the following sections.

2. Approval criteria

Applicants for approval as a certification authority must satisfy the PGDB that it meets the following criteria:

(a) a process, with details on each step, for how a person is to be recognised as a vehicle inspector (VI)

(b) means of ensuring that persons meet the competency requirements in section (3) of the regulations in order to become recognised VIs

(c) means of ensuring that recognised VIs maintain the ongoing competency requirements

(d) means of monitoring VI performance to ensure that VIs are consistently making correct certification decisions

(e) means of providing assistance/advice to recognised VIs on the technical requirements and/or how to interpret these

(f) means of providing updates to VIs on the technical requirements and/or how to interpret these

(g) means of ensuring that VIs have regard to, or comply with (as applicable) any formal guidance issued by the PGDB under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006

(h) if self-certifying, a means of ensuring that any conflicts of interest are well managed

(i) if a third party is undertaking inspections on your behalf, a means of ensuring that such inspections are robust

(j) means of managing customer complaints

(k) appropriate IT facilities to enable:

i. inspection details to be entered into the national register of self-contained vehicles

ii. the review of inspection details prior to the issuing of a self-containment certificate

iii. the issuing of a self-containment certificate and warrant

(l) means of collecting the self-containment levy and passing it on to the PGDB.

3. Competency requirements for Recognised Vehicle Inspectors

In order to be recognised as a vehicle inspector by a certification authority, a person must demonstrate competency in:

(a) knowledge and understanding of the self-containment technical requirements set out in these regulations

(b) knowledge and understanding of how to correctly interpret the technical requirements set out in the regulations when inspecting a vehicle

(c) ability to enter inspection details into the national register of self-contained vehicles

(d) knowledge of how to seek assistance on the technical requirements and/or how to interpret these.

4. Ongoing competency requirements for Recognised Vehicle Inspectors

In order to continue to be a recognised vehicle inspector, a person must continue to demonstrate competency requirements set out in (3) above.

5. Evidence required to satisfy the PGDB that criteria have been met

The evidence required to satisfy the PGDB that the criteria in (2) and (3) have been met is set out in the following table: 

6. Approval as a certification authority

If the PGDB is satisfied that an applicant has met the criteria in (2) or (7) as applicable, then the PGDB will grant approval and notify the applicant that it is an approved certification authority for four years.

7. Renewal of approval as a certification authority

An application for the renewal of an approval must:

(a) not be made earlier than 3 months before the approval’s date of expiry; and

(b) be in the form prescribed by the PGDB, and be accompanied by the renewal application fee under these regulations; and

(c) include the following information:

• an update on any of the information required by section 1 of these regulations (if applicable)
• a declaration that the certification authority continues to comply with the criteria for approval in these regulations.

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