To comply with new laws in Washington and California, the Brake Manufacturers Council (BMC) developed an industry-wide, self-certification program. The Brake Friction Materials Self Certification Compliance Program confirms that friction material suppliers comply with the applicable legislation, regulations and requirements in those states in a phased approach.
Terry Heffelfinger, Vice President, Product Development, R&D, and Quality, Brake Parts Inc, said, “As part of the BMC, the Brake Pad Partnership and the Better Brakes Working Group… Brake Parts Inc LLC has been actively engaged for more than 10 years to implement the Better Brake Rule.
The Washington Better Brakes Law requires a phase-out of copper and other chemical constituents from brake friction materials sold or offered for sale in that state. For nearly two years, the Dept. of Ecology has been engaged in a consensus-based process to develop rules to implement the Better Brakes Law.
BPI worked in collaboration with stakeholders that represented interests in Washington State and around the globe. They included the Washington Dept. of Ecology, brake and motor vehicle manufacturers, water quality interests, wholesalers, distributors, retailers and installers of brakes. BPI is pleased to announce the adoption of the Better Brakes Rule.
As a part of the BMC, Brake Parts Inc has taken its first step and is fully compliant with Phase 1 of the certification program. As required by law, BPI provided baseline data to NSF International (an independent third party industry-sponsored registrar) before the deadline of January 1, 2013. Then, NSF Int’l provided the data to the WA Dept. of Ecology, in compliance with the Washington Better Brake Rule.
Phase 2 of the new law limits heavy metals such as Cadmium, Chromium, Mercury, Lead and Asbestiform fibers when tested to SAE J2975 by an independent third party lab. This happens in 2014 for California, and in 2015 for Washington. The new laws further limit copper to less than 5% by weight in Phase 3 on or after January 1, 2021. On January 1, 2025, California will limit copper to 0.5% by weight in Phase 4. That same requirement becomes effective in Washington on January 1, 2032 unless an advisory committee determines that alternatives brake friction materials are available.
Heffelfinger said, “All BPI brake friction materials will be tested and certified compliant by NSF International, which serves as the industry-sponsored registrar for the BMC.” By doing so, BPI will meet the second phase of the legislation, which takes effect January 1, 2014.
