Standards Department Conducts Biannual Inspection Meeting

The RV Industry Association’s standards inspection program remains one of the organization’s signature initiatives and a premier 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. Last week, the inspection team gathered in Elkhart, IN, for its bi-annual staff meeting to sync on enforcement consistency, review technical updates, and strategize on proactive manufacturer education.

The primary focus of the intensive three-day session was preparing for the upcoming September 1, 2026, enforcement deadline for the new editions of NFPA 1192 and NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code).

“Twice a year, the entire standards team gets together to review technical matters and work through field issues to ensure the team remains completely uniform and consistent in our enforcement positions,” said Bryan Ritchie. “With our team conducting more than 2,000 unannounced inspections annually, establishing clear, unified interpretations ahead of the September 1st implementation date is critical to providing smooth, predictable support to our manufacturer members.”

Beyond upcoming code shifts, the team spent time reviewing recent technical inquiries and questions of staff and members. By analyzing these real-world scenarios alongside the latest industry data and trend information, the inspection team was able to identify key areas to target for education and inspection areas.

The team reviewed performance metrics dashboards to reference specific discipline training opportunities. These data-driven insights allow the department to see where deviation trends are occurring, helping inspectors tailor their hands-on instruction to the specific needs of plant contacts.

“The field staff’s role is as much about education as it is about enforcement," noted Curt Richardson. "These meetings provide a great forum to fine-tune our collective understanding of new safety requirements and leverage future development of education for our members."