ESTIMATING TIPS Audatex: Combination, Front or Rear Suspension (raise and support) Duplicate Labor – The Audatex DBRM, Section 5-5 glossary of Audatex Terms, defines the term Combination Suspension as: “The Audatex term for raising and supporting a vehicle.” Labor to raise and support the front and/or rear is assigned a value of 0.2 hours in Audatex and is only accounted ONE TIME. If the repairer needs to raise and support either the front or the rear of the vehicle multiple times during the repair process, the additional labor is considered a duplicate effort. Duplicate efforts are NOT INCLUDED in the labor report and would need to be captured on the estimate with a manual entry. The labor report will show “Combination, Frt Susp” or “Combination, Rear Susp” listed with .2 hours for the first occurrence, and 0.0 hours in net value column for any additional occurrences. CCC/MOTOR: Lowering Headliner to Gain Access – In DEG Inquiry 18510, MOTOR updated the labor to NOT INCLUDED for lowering the headliner for Roof Rack R&I labor. Both labor operations are now independent of each other, allowing the repairer to determine what specific parts and trim pieces need to be removed to lower or R&I the complete liner. When OEM repair manuals are not specific to which trim panels need to be removed to lower a headliner and no footnote exists, but the time is identified as INCLUDED in CCC, please submit a DEG Inquiry to get clarification or database correction. All Three Systems: Crack Inspection Using Dye Penetrant – Dye penetrant testing to inspect for non-visible cracks or defects is a process that may need to be performed during damage diagnosis, part inspection or in-process after welding work is completed. Labor and material costs to perform a dye penetrant crack inspection are NOT INCLUDED in published labor times and would
require an on-the-spot evaluation. Areas where crack inspections are commonly performed include vehicle structures, castings, suspension and engine components where cracks may not be visible without aid. All Three Systems: Recycled Assembly Considerations – Utilization of a recycled part for a repair is a decision between the vehicle owner and their chosen repair facility. When considering the costs associated with a recycled part, it is important to understand the additional labor, parts and materials that may be necessary to bring the part to usable condition. Visit degweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/RecycledAssembly-Considerations.jpg for a sampling of considerations that are NOT INCLUDED in any of the three estimating systems. Audatex: Vapor Barrier May Be NOT INCLUDED – Audatex DBRM States that when replacing a new door shell, labor to R&I “Vapor Barrier” is included. An example where the vapor barrier may be NOT INCLUDED, is when the vapor barrier needs R&I or R&R to gain access to an inner door shell component for a repair/refinish scenario when the door is not being replaced. Audatex RFR team has clarified non “drawn in parts” (parts not listed or in the parts schematic) in Audatex database and not identified in Audatex DBRM Section 4-3. This may also include ancillary parts attached to a major component. Users can submit a DEG Inquiry for additional feedback from Audatex when an operation in question is not addressed by the labor report. Final DEG note: If adhesive-backed vapor barriers are to be reused, any additional labor and materials to clean and reapply adhesive to bring the vapor barrier to the condition of new and ready for reinstall is NOT INCLUDED.
Note: The estimating databases are all intended to be used as a GUIDE ONLY - it is important to remember that the auto body professional performing the repair is in a position to thoroughly inspect, diagnose and identify the methodology and their unique cost of the vehicle damage repair. You can view these tips and others on the DEG website, DEGWEB.ORG.
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