There are times when you need to replace your vehicle components with units that match the quality and function of your original part. You may have been in a minor fender-bender and your body panels have been damaged or you are looking for an aftermarket upgrade that meets your desired styling. Either way, you will need a quality part that is designed to last long and will offer excellent performance on your vehicle. Third-party organizations like NSF (National Sanitation Foundation – Consumer Products) and CAPA (Certified Automotive Parts Association) set quality standards for automotive parts. The automotive parts are tested and certified if they meet these standards. The certification offered by these organizations is an assurance that the part has high manufacturing integrity and is a quality replacement. Read on and learn about what NSF-certified auto parts are and how you can identify them.
In this article:
2. What Are NSF Certified Auto Parts?
3. Discontinuation Of NSF Certified Automotive Parts
1 What Is NSF Certification?
NSF International is an organization established in 1944 as the National Sanitation Foundation. With over 75 American National Standards and 95 published protocols for food and drinking appliances, NSF offers certification to ensure the products you use meet strict standards of safety and public health protection. Any product certified by NSF International means it has undergone extensive testing, material analysis, and complete evaluation throughout the product development process. In 2010, NSF launched certification for automotive aftermarket collision parts that was designed to verify the quality, safety, and performance of automotive parts. This allowed the customers to opt for a reliable alternative equivalent to Orignal Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) auto parts.
NSF also worked on an Automotive Distributor Program that was designed to meet the need of collision repair shops, insurance companies, and customers. Today NSF International certifies products and writes standards for food water and consumer goods to ensure proper health and a clean environment but has discontinued its automotive parts certification program since September 30, 2019.
2 What Are NSF Certified Auto Parts?
NSF Certification of automotive parts ensures that all parts meet the rigorous certification requirements and offer perfect form, fit, and function. NSF-certified auto parts are evaluated based on the material used, performance, vehicle fit, thickness, adhesion, dimension, and strength requirements. These automotive collision parts also feature a two-piece tamper-proof certification label that is an identification that the part has been manufactured to meet numerous testing standards. While purchasing NSF-certified car parts, an easy way to identify them is to check for the letter N at the end of the part number. For example, HO1106180N is an NSF-certified rear bumper cover.
3 Discontinuation Of NSF Certified Automotive Parts
A few years ago, NSF International announced that the Automotive Parts Certification Program (APCP) and affiliated programs will be discontinued on September 30, 2019. All the NSF automotive parts manufactured on or before Sept 30, 2019, are considered NSF certified and the existing inventories can be sold after the date as well. However, parts manufactured after Sept 30, 2019, are not eligible to be NSF certified, and the use of stickers bearing the NSF mark is also prohibited. The NSF had various automotive parts protocols that were discontinued. They are as follows:
- NSF Protocol P367: Light Duty Multi-Purpose Vehicle Step Bumper
- NSF Protocol P368: Vehicle Reinforcing Beam (Rebar)
- NSF Protocol P369: Vehicle Bumper Brackets
- NSF Protocol P370: Vehicle Energy Absorber
- NSF Protocol P371: Front Bumper For Multi-Purpose Vehicle
- NSF Protocol P377: Automotive Exterior Lighting Parts
- NSF Protocol P378: Automotive Exterior Plastic Body Parts
- NSF Protocol P379: Automotive Exterior Sheet Metal Body Parts
- NSF Protocol P472: Front and Rear Bumper Proximity Sensors
- NSF Protocol P471: Radiator Support Assemblies
- NSF Protocol P474: Rearview Cameras
- NSF Protocol P436: Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensor
When it comes to auto repair parts, you have to decide between OEM and aftermarket parts. Although the benefits of choosing an aftermarket part are numerous, it is important to choose a high-quality part as well. Auto collision body parts like fenders, bumpers, etc are components that reduce or prevent physical damage to the vehicle in an accident. Certification programs like NSF ensure the quality of these parts is guaranteed to meet or exceed OEM levels. NSF and CAPA-certified auto parts, through their detailed testing and inspecting procedures, have set a standard in the aftermarket parts industry and have provided the market with the ability to choose a quality part.
