Modifications to Design Approvals in the NHVR Portal are performed using the Variation application type allowing for:
Adding new variant
Tyre options updated
Payload heights updated
Payload dimensions updated
Updating FDR and drive suspension
Other
All variations are now created as new variants
Background
For Design Approvals originally submitted using Microsoft Word documents, when Variation applications are submitted the changes are issued as revisions captured against the previously issued Part A and Part B documents. This results in all variants being listed within the latest issued revision of a Design Approval with specifications and part lists categorised to identify applicable variants.
Modifications for Design Approvals submitted using 'full smart form'
Moving into a digital solution there will be no amendment or variation process to existing vehicle variants. Changes to existing vehicle variants will not be allowed – instead, an PBS Assessor can duplicate an existing variant, make the required changes and have it approved as a new vehicle variant. The original vehicle variant will remain preserved on the Design Approval.
If there is no digitised variant to copy from, the variant will need to be built out from scratch. However, once there is a digitised version subsequent variations can be made by copying from the digitised variant.
For Design Approvals submitted using 'full smart form', when Variation applications are submitted the changes are issued as a stand-alone new variant with Part A and Part B documents specific to the new variant only. The Part A and B documents still have the same single DA number which acts as a container for variants each having their own stand-alone Part A and B documents.
Variation types
All variation types are now effectively considered as a new variant including:
Tyre options updated
Payload heights updated
Payload dimensions updated
Updating FDR and drive suspension
Other
Amendment application type no longer applies
The Amendment application type will no longer apply as all modifications are now created as new variants.
Variation applications
When a Variation application is created the original or one of the other variants are automatically copied as the basis for creating the new variant. A copy is made of Application details, Configuration, Vehicle specifications, Design exemptions and Assessment. The modifications are then made based on the selected variation type.
Adding new variant
If the variation type is 'Adding new variant' the application is treated as standalone and not relative to the original variant. This includes:
Removing any vehicle specifications not relevant to this variant (e.g. engine should be specific to this variant, tyres should be specific to this variant, suspension should be specific to this variant)
Attachments should be specific to this variant (e.g. dimensions drawings and bridge drawings should be specific to this variant only)
Other variation types
For other variation types the application is again treated as a standalone new variant and the required updates will be made against the new variant and submitted.
Submission & assessment
Once submitted the application will have Part A and Part B documents generated automatically for this variant only and will not reference the original variant.
Once assessed a stand-alone 'mini-DA' will be issued consisting of a Part A and Part B document specific to the variant only.
A 'mini-DA' will contain one vehicle layout only, and will have its own operating conditions, exemptions, masses and everything else that is normally included in a Design Approval.
Guides