A collaborative task force of automotive aftermarket associations and leadership representing brake pad manufacturers, distributors, retailers, dealerships and service providers announced the launch of an informational website to provide assistance to the vehicle repair industry in complying with the “better brake laws” enacted in California and Washington state.
These laws were designed to reduce the amount of copper, cadmium, chromium VI, mercury, lead and abestiform fibers contained in brake pads sold in those states beginning in 2014.
The website is now live. It contains information and links to help suppliers, distributors and service providers know what is expected of them in regards to the manufacture, sale and installation of brake pads in those states. Manufacturers of brake friction materials are required to undergo a self-certification process through an approved registrar and to have their materials tested for the level of those contents specified. Ultimately all brake pads manufactured after 2021 will contain less than 5% copper by weight. By 2025, brake pads sold in California will contain less than .05% copper by weight. A similar industry task force is working on implementing a memorandum of understanding that would make the Washington regulations a standard across all states.
President and CEO Rodney Pierini of CAWA – a nonprofit trade association representing automotive aftermarket parts manufacturers, jobbers, warehouse distributors and retailers in California, Nevada and Arizona – said he is excited the website is live, as it is a "dynamic environment" for the information. He said regulations should be made accessible on one webpage.
"We will be continually adding materials, including a frequently asked question page to the site once they become available or if regulations have changed," Pierini said.
Other participants who collaborated in the website creation include the following: Automotive Aftermarket Supplier’s Association (AASA), Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), CAWA – Representing the Automotive Parts Industry, Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA), California Automotive Business Coalition (CalABC), California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), Automotive Service Association of Washington (ASA- Washington) and the Washington Automotive Industry Association (WAIA).
Both Washington state and California provided content for the site, and encourage visitors to use the information to ensure their own particular compliancy to the legislation.
