HGV Brake Testing DVSA

DVSA has now published an updated and improved Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness. Section 5 on decelerometer testing and Temperature testing: It is acceptable to use an approved and calibrated decelerometer to measure overall brake efficiency values for rigid vehicles without trailers or for vehicles that cannot be tested on an RBT. A decelerometer will measure the overall brake efficiency but it may not identify individual braking issues. A temperature check needs to be carried out at the same time as a decelerometer test to help identify if individual brakes are operational. Brake temperature readings would need to be well above ambient temperature with relatively consistent readings taken for each brake across an axle. Brakes which are cold (ambient temperature) or showing an inconsistent reading from the brake on the opposite side on the same axle, need to be investigated further.