Mitchell provides feedback to refinishing parts on or off the vehicle with recent DEG Inquiry 41302

“The Collision Estimating Guide (CEG) refinish labor times are developed under standardized assumptions to ensure consistency and comparability across the industry. One of those baseline assumptions is that the part being refinished is mounted in its normal service position on the vehicle or otherwise positioned using common shop methods.

The CEG does not differentiate refinish time based on the type of support used (e.g., bumper stand, folding rack, hanging fixture, or custom stand.)

As a result, hanging a replacement component on a stand in the booth is deemed part of normal refinish setup and is inherent to the performance of the refinish operation. As such, consideration is already encompassed within the published refinish time.

Published CEG refinish times already include routine spray preparation activities such as:

• Standard masking of adjacent panels (up to the defined limits),
• Positioning the part for access to all refinish surfaces,
• Normal handling required to apply primer, basecoat, and clearcoat.

If a repair facility elects to use specialized stands or fixtures that go beyond these assumptions, that decision reflects a shop specific process choice. Any additional labor associated with configuring or using such equipment is not inherently required to perform the refinish operation.

In summary, CEG refinish times are based on parts being mounted to the vehicle or supported in a conventional manner. The choice to use novel or unconventional equipment alone does not, by itself, establish entitlement to additional refinish labor.”