NSF International announced the launch of a new Automotive Parts Certification Program to address concerns regarding consumer safety and compromised automobile crashworthiness centered on the use of certain aftermarket structural parts. The program verifies both the quality and performance of aftermarket auto parts via testing and inspections, the company said.

The NSF Automotive Parts Certification Program offers independent, third-party certification of steel bumpers, step bumpers, absorbers, reinforcement bars and brackets to ensure that high-quality aftermarket safety parts are available. NSF’s certification criteria require the highest level of performance in terms of form, fit and function, as well as the production facility’s quality systems, the company said.

The certification program was developed to counter the growing concerns that lower quality parts were being used in the automotive repair industry. Certification from an accredited third-party, such as NSF International, helps ensure that an aftermarket auto part meets rigid quality, safety and performance standards, the company said.

Reflexxion Automotive and Production Bumper Stamping Inc. (PBSI), which manufacture Diamond Standard brand parts, are the first companies to participate in NSF International’s Automotive Parts Certification Program. The certification program includes:

• On-site inspection and approval of the manufacturing facilities’ production and quality system.
• In-plant part quality assurance requirements.
• Rigorous part testing to ensure the highest levels of performance.
• Comparison to original equipment (OE) parts across dimensional and material attributes.
• Ongoing monitoring of certified parts through quarterly facility audits.
• Random, in-market part testing.
• An ongoing process for monitoring and taking action regarding customer complaints.
• A traceability requirement that allows for an effective recall process.
• Automotive parts that complete the requirements of this NSF certification program will bear the NSF Mark.

“The events of the last few weeks concerning crash related safety parts illustrate the glaring need for certification to assure the consumer, collision repair shop, independent distributor and insurance industry that the parts utilized for the repairs of a vehicle maintain the integrity of the original collision management system,” says Michael O’Neal of Diamond Standard parts. “NSF International’s 65-year history of certification, testing and inspections coupled with its extensive automotive industry experience, provides the confidence that the collision repair industry can rely on.”

"When any collision repair professional or insurance company sees the NSF Mark on an automotive part, they can be confident that the part meets the industry's highest standards,” says Bob Frayer, director, NSF International Engineering Laboratories. “NSF Certification also allows manufacturers to demonstrate their commitment to product quality and safety."

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., NSF International is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited standards writing organization. NSF International has more than 1,100 automotive clients, approximately 700 employees, operates in more than 120 countries worldwide, and certifies more than 275,000 products. NSF International has been providing automotive services since 1996.

Manufacturers of parts seeking information on NSF International's Automotive Parts Certification Program can visit http://www.nsf.org/media/enews/automotive_landing.asp or e-mail autocert@nsf.org.

For information on Diamond Standard brand parts, visit www.diamondstandardparts.com or contact Geoff Crane at geoff@diamondstandardparts.com.