HEAVY & LIGHT VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS:
From 10 February 2014, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is responsible for the management of modifications to heavy vehicles in participating jurisdictions.
Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory are the participating jurisdictions from the commencement of the NHVR.
The Queensland Code of Practice – Vehicle Modifications (QCOP) covers modifications which have been specifically designed for use in Queensland and is based on acceptable engineering practices.
The QCOP is intended to supplement the recommendations of the original vehicle manufacturer in relation to vehicle modification techniques or standards and to provide guidelines where vehicle manufacturer’s specifications do not exist.
The QCOP is divided into two distinct sections, a light vehicle section for vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass of 4.5 tonne or less and a heavy vehicle section for vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass greater than 4.5 tonne.
The Light Vehicle section is intended to be used in conjunction with Vehicle Standards Bulletin 14 – National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification (NCOP), while the Heavy Vehicle section is to be used in conjunction with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Code of Practice for the Approval of Heavy Vehicle Modifications (the Heavy Code).
It is important to note that the requirements of the Australian Design Rules and the original vehicle manufacturer’s specifications take precedence over the QCOP. Approved Persons must ensure at all times that the modifications approved under the QCOP comply with all applicable Australian Design Rules and original vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations when available. Vehicles modified in accordance with the QCOP must meet the administrative and technical requirements of the NCOP (for light vehicles) or the Heavy Code (for heavy vehicles).
The administrative requirements relating to the use of the approved codes of practice are found in the preface and introduction sections of the NCOP (for light vehicles) and the Heavy Code (for heavy vehicles).
For modifications or general technical specifications not provided in the QCOP, vehicle owners and Approved Persons must comply with any relevant requirement in the NCOP (for light vehicles) and the Heavy Code (for heavy vehicles).
Any reference to approved codes of practice for a light vehicle refers only to the current versions of the QCOP or NCOP that are approved for use, by the Chief Executive of the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, at the time the modification is certified.
