CAPA Adds Requirements for Identification of Plastic Parts

Feb. 7, 2013—New parts submitted for Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) certification will now have to comply with requirements to identify the types of plastic used to the make the part.

The CAPA 201 Plastic Standard, CAPA 301 Lighting Standard and CAPA 501 Bumper Parts Standard have all been updated to include part-making requirements for the plastic material or blend standard symbol.

The CAPA Technical Committee approved the new requirement in order to ensure that CAPA certified parts reflect the industry’s need for uniform identification of plastic components, and proper selection of materials and procedures during repairs of plastic parts. CAPA said the new requirements will also assist with the handling of parts for recycling.

“While the manufacturers of CAPA certified parts have adopted a variety of part-marking methods over the years, having a set of requirements based on SAE specifications will further increase the value of CAPA Certified parts to the market,” said Jack Gillis, CAPA’s executive director.