RV Industry Association Inspectors Meeting Critical To Maintaining Self-Regulation

The RV Industry Association’s standards inspection program is one of the organization’s signature industry initiatives and its greatest member benefit. The standards department maintains a professional team of full-time inspectors that promote the enhancement of safety by monitoring adherence to the standards adopted by the Board of Directors for the construction of RVs and Park Model RVs and advocates for the improvement of consumer safety.

To further these goals, the Standards team meets twice a year to review and align on enforcement positions for the standards within our industry and review enforcement timing on the latest edition of NFPA 1192 Standard for RVs.

Recently, the RV Industry Association Standards Department met in Elkhart for their first 2021 inspection staff meeting.  The team reviewed the status of code cycles for NEC (National Electrical Code), NFPA 1192, ANSI/RVIA Low Voltage standard, and ANSI 119.5, paying close attention to the 2021 NFPA 1192 changes and enforcement dates.

As we continued into the new year under the pandemic’s constraints, the team is on a track to complete over 2,000 unannounced inspections. The pandemic has presented unique challenges to the inspection process that the team has overcome by providing such options as virtual inspections for inspections unable to be completed in person. These biannual meetings are important to maintain enforcement positions and discuss relevant technical issues and topics that the team encountered in the field.

“It was a great opportunity for me to meet with our Inspection Team as a group for the first time and provided me a better understanding the day-to-day engagement and experiences of our staff,” said RV Industry Association Senior Director of Standards Bryan Ritchie who recently joined the team. “Coming out of this meeting I see why this team is our greatest asset to our members in continuing to partnering in compliance and safety requirements in the industry. These inspections provide added value by educating our members on standards and providing hands-on training during our on-site visits.”

The Inspection staff and their work is integral to maintaining self-regulation and these meetings are critical to providing a platform to nurture improvement and a positive experience to the consumers.