TRUSTED BY THE DOT FOR OVER 28 YEARS
Since 1994, ABIC Testing Laboratories, a subsidiary of ABIC International Consultants, has been the only DOT-approved contractor offering brake fluid testing services to U.S. and international clients.
WHAT IS FMVSS 116?
In the U.S., Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 116 (FMVSS 116) sets the minimal safety requirements for brake fluids. The FMVSS 116 standard is administered by the Department of Transportation‘s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA issues Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and other regulations to which all manufacturers of motor vehicles and equipment must conform and certify compliance.
ADDITIONAL BRAKE FLUID REQUIREMENTS SET BY STATES
Although some states may have more stringent regulations for brake fluid than the federal standard, it is important to know that state requirements only apply to products sold within that state and its jurisdiction. It’s worth noting that most manufacturers of brake fluid products aim to meet the requirements of all applicable regulations in order to sell their products in all states.
HISTORY OF BRAKE FLUID REGULATION IN THE U.S.
In response to these concerns, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 116 in 1967, which established minimum requirements for brake fluid performance. These requirements were based on the ability of brake fluid to resist boiling, corrosion, and contamination, and they were designed to ensure that brake fluid would not fail under normal driving conditions. The first list of standards applied to all vehicles and products produced after January 1, 1968. New standards and amendments are published in the Federal Register.
Standard 116 is the part of the FMVSS that specifies the requirements and regulations of fluids for use in hydraulic brake systems of motor vehicles (brake fluids), containers, and labeling of the containers. The standard was designed to reduce failures in motor vehicles’ hydraulic systems, which may occur because of the manufacture of improper or contaminated fluids. This standard applies to all fluids for use in hydraulic brake systems of motor vehicles, which include passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, and motorcycles. Manufacturers of brake fluid must comply with the requirements of FMVSS 116 to ensure that their products meet the necessary standards for safety and performance for sale in the U.S. markets.