Vehicle Fitting NOS Review Update – October 2021

IMI Vehicle fitting NOS review: where we are now

The Vehicle Fitting NOS has now been reviewed by expert working groups across the UK and changes/additions have been suggested. 
In order to see the updated draft documents please click here. 

A summary of the changes is as follows:

• VF01 (Inspect, repair and replace standard light vehicle tyres) and VF02 (Inspect, repair and replace high-performance light vehicle tyres)
      - Combined into one unit and the descriptor ‘high-performance tyres’ has been removed as they are now considered to be standard.
• VF03 (Inspect, repair and replace commercial vehicle tyres) -
  to align with the Heavy Vehicle and Bus & Coach NOS review last year, all references to ‘commercial’ have been replaced with ‘heavy goods and public service vehicle’
• VF03, 05 and 06 (Inspect, repair and replace commercial/plant/industrial tyres) have been aligned with each other - minor amendments 
• VF07 (Carry out light vehicle four-wheel alignment)
      - ESP, dynamic cruise control and ADAS added to examples of electronic systems in knowledge section K25 (impact of adjustment on electronic systems)
• VF08 (Inspect and replace light vehicle clutches) – 
      - Scope 1 amended to include ‘Clutch and gearbox components’
      - Scope 2 (Tools & equipment) to include ‘oil drainer’
• VF09 (Inspect and replace light vehicle exhaust components) –
      - Scope 1 (Components) amended to include:
            - catalytic converters/particulate filters and associated components and fluids
            - Selective catalytic reduction system and associated components and fluids
            - NOx reduction system
• VF10 (Inspect, test and replace motor vehicle batteries and related components)
      - New performance criteria P10  - ‘store batteries safely to comply with current legal requirements and your workplace procedures’
      - New knowledge criteria K6 – ‘the importance of storing batteries safely and the consequences of not doing so to others and the environment
      - ‘coding of replacement batteries’ added to knowledge criteria K19
      - ‘manual and automatic adjustment’ added to knowledge criteria K21
      - New knowledge criteria K24 – ‘the implications of electrical conductivity through the human body’
      - Glossary updates for ‘Automotive batteries’, ‘Generators’ and ‘Vehicles’
• VF11 (Inspect and replace light vehicle dampers and springs) 
      - Unit title amended to ‘Inspect and replace light vehicle suspension components’
      - New knowledge criteria K19 – ‘the implications of adjustment or replacement of suspension components on ADAS systems'
      - Scope 1 updated to include ‘air’ and ‘magnetic’ suspension dampers
      - Scope 2 was updated to include ‘diagnostic tools’ and ‘heating and cutting equipment within tools and equipment
      - Glossary updated to include new descriptors for ‘ADAS’ and ‘Suspension components’
• VF12 (Inspect, adjust and replace light vehicle braking systems and components) – 
      - New knowledge criteria K18 – ‘how to reset the electronic/mechanical brake pad wear indicator’
      - ‘pad warning indicator’ added to scope 1 for ‘Braking system components’
      - Glossary updated to include examples removed from body of unit, including ‘Brake discs’,    ‘Electronic components’ and ‘Parking brake’
• VF13 – (Safe use of oxyacetylene in automotive applications) – this unit has been restructured but no major changes
• NEW UNIT VF19 – (Recalibrate motor vehicle Advanced Driver Assistance System sensors)
• Soft skills units to be removed as not Vehicle Fitting specific – may be reintroduced as core units when that suite comes up for review, to include:
      - VF32 (Monitor and solve customer service problems)
      - VF44 (Receive and Store automotive stock)
      - VF45 (Co-ordinate the receipt and storage of automotive parts)
      - VF49 (Co-ordinate the receipt and storage of automotive parts)
      - VF57 (Help customers to choose products in the automotive retail environment)
      - VF62 (Plan, monitor and adjust staffing levels and schedules in the automotive retail environment)

Please let us know what you think of these changes by completing this short questionnaire.

If you would like to discuss any of these changes or have any extra feedback regarding this review, please contact Caroline Harris at carolineh@theimi.org.uk

Many thanks for having your say!