National guidelines on salvage air bags released

The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) has released its guidelines for salvage air bags, according to a press release from John Norris of the Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association (HARA).The release notes that some public insurers in Western Canada have been using the air bags, which while salvage, have never been deployed, and are original equipment. But the issue really came to a head because other “rebuilt” bags were being sold in Canada bags which had been altered in some way – causing several provinces to ban rebuilt bags. Quebec went so far as to ban salvage bags as well.”Air bag standards became a major issue for the Drivers and Vehicles Committee of CCMTA after is was found that a Quebec-based company had been manufacturing and selling “rebuilt” air bags,” the release notes.The Quebec auto insurance board, SAAQ, successfully sought an injunction against the company selling the rebuilt bags, National Air Bags Inc. HARA notes that in Ontario, where rebuilt bags have been banned, company records show 1,600 rebuilt bags have been sold to 547 shops or parts suppliers in the province.