Creating a new workshop facility involves many skills. Tecalemit Equipment Specialists are on-hand to advise and guide you through the processes.
Whether it is an MOT bay or a commercial vehicle workshop, Tecalemit's equipment specialists work with client teams to efficiently manage the 'end-to-end' project.
We take a look at what is involved in creating an MOT capability.
“Have you often thought about installing your own in-house MOT testing”
Have you been continuously outsourcing your customer vehicles for MOT testing with all of the associated expense and administration costs?
Have you often thought about installing your own in-house MOT testing capability but are unsure where to start?
Are you an established MOT testing station utilising a two-person test capability and would like to update it to a One-Person Test Lane (OPTL)?
If the answer is YES, then the team at Tecalemit Garage Equipment can help with the entire process from start to finish, including all of the DVSA application processes, the civil works and the project management of the end-to-end process. Tecalemit has a team of six specialists, geographically located around the UK, who specialise in working with vehicle workshops to help create an MOT test centre or update an established test station to a One-Person Test Lane (OPTL) or Automated Test Lane (ATL) format.
Will It Fit?
“The DVSA’s mandated specifications are very specific”
The first place to start is with the Class of vehicles you wish to test, followed by the critical question, "Will it fit?" With over 100 years of experience, the Tecalemit MOT specialists can help answer that question in a matter of minutes. Even when space is very limited, Tecalemit’s knowledge can quickly identify the type of bay configuration that can be deployed.
For example, a scissor lift can often be utilised in narrow-width buildings because the lack of lift posts means that the minimum equipment to wall pillar dimensions can be accommodated. The DVSA’s mandated specifications are very specific and precise; cross-checking them against various equipment sizes can be a daunting task. Tecalemit’s MOT specialists have dealt with just about every challenge since they started working with the MOT test standards in the late 1960s. Have you got enough headroom? Have you got enough door access width? Have you got sufficient room around the perimeter of the equipment? Is part of the MOT bay going to extend outside of the building?
What Do I Need?
“Want and need can sometimes differ.”
Having determined that you want a Class 4 & 7 MOT bay incorporating Class 1 & 2 motorcycles, what do you need? Want and need can sometimes differ, and the team at Tecalemit are adept at considering how to achieve your goals best. Overlaying Motorcycle Class 1 & 2 into a Class 4 or 7 bay has implications for space and bay utilisation. Sometimes, physical space will determine the need for a separate Class 1 & 2 bay to accommodate the brake test area within the regulations. Tecalemit can work with clients’ wants and needs to engineer a practical and workable solution.
“You’ll need to complete a VT01…..”
When the appropriate class and specification of equipment options have been correctly determined, the next step is to apply to the DVSA formally. This applies to new MOT bays and the conversion of current two-person test bays into OPTL or ATL formats.
You’ll need to complete a VT01, a phrase that often rolls off the tongue far more accessible than its completion. For Tecalemit’s MOT specialists, the required content is easy to navigate, and they can help applicants identify and locate the appropriate supporting documentation. Have you got the proper, lawful usage? Have you got evidence of exclusive use of your premises? Have you got a proposed layout drawing?
The layout drawing is crucial to a successful application. The layout drawing must support the VT01 application and show how the proposed layout meets the mandated DVSA standards. Tecalemit MOT specialists will produce this for you using the latest CAD drawing capability.
What happens if the dimensions are slightly compromised when space is at a premium? This is known as a minor intrusion. With their experience in dealing with minor intrusions, Tecalemit’s expertise can provide a good understanding of what is or isn’t considered to fit within the terms of a minor intrusion. This can save several weeks on achieving Agreement In Principle, or AIP, as it is commonly known.
Civil Works
“With several tons of concrete being poured, measure twice, pour once.”
You will undertake a big dig if you use a pit-based MOT bay or a recessed vehicle lift. Even if you have sufficient room for a surface-mounted vehicle lift, you will still need a recess for the roller brake tester. Working with Tecalemit Garage Equipment can help save you time.
Tecalemit MOT specialists work with building contractors to ensure that all of the standards required by the DVSA can be adhered to. The groundwork excavation is often followed by several tons of concrete being poured. The time for getting the floor right is at the beginning, not at the end. Does the builder understand the DVSA level requirements of +/-6mm or +/-12mm and how to interpret and apply them? Tecalemit’s MOT specialist works with you and the builders to ensure the MOT bay civil works are positioned correctly following the approved drawings.
Delivery and Installation
“You only need the equipment when the floor is ready....”
To ensure that the builder has a clear work area for undertaking the necessary civil works, Tecalemit MOT specialists will schedule the equipment delivery at an appropriate time in the project. A sizeable delivery is an MOT bay with a vehicle lift, brake tester and all associated equipment. You only need the equipment when the floor is ready to accept the installation and the engineers are scheduled to attend.
Upgrading to OPTL & ATL
“The MOT test assistant can be redeployed into other revenue-earning work.”
Established MOT testing facilities might consider updating their current test bay from two-person to one-person testing or increasing their testing class coverage. Whilst the existing bay may operate under the term “Grandfather Rights”, things have changed slightly since your centre was signed off for MOT testing in the 1970s. Test stations still need to adhere to the application process. This means that the addition of extra classes or a change to one-person testing, either through an OPTL upgrade or an entire ATL, will need to go through a similar process to a new MOT bay. Tecalemit’s MOT specialists can guide you through the process to ensure your downtime for the conversion is minimalised.
