The roll out of the Certified Steel Standard, the new SIMI standard for structural body repairs continues with the VBRS steering committee having recently met with representative from all leading insurance companies in order to introduce the programme.

The well attended meeting in Dublin saw the steering committee members who have formulated the standard present the initiative to insurance companies and outline the potential benefits it could bring to the industry.

The insurance representatives showed great interest in the standard and gave a positive reaction to it implementation, particularly in relation to Road Safety Authority endorsement.  Some concerns were expressed about the cost of the scheme and that it could not have an impact on job costs, however, theses were dispelled and rthe underlying philosophy behind the scheme of raising and formalising standards in relation to structural body repairs was broadly welcomed.

The option of meeting the CSS criteria is now available to all bodyshops who carry out structural repair work and can prove that they meet the standard through an independent audit. It is anticipated that there may be up to ten repairers meeting the CSS standard in the early months of next year, with more joining throughout 2013.

Once the standard for structural body repairs is well established, work will begin on a second standard for non structural repairs.

For more information on CSS visit www.simi.ie.