I submit that it is everything attached to the piping.
And I submit you are making up words. You, yourself, just stated that the rules say what you can do. Ergo, the words must be in there to allow/restrict what you can do, si?
And yet, take some time to search through the GCR PDF for the word "attach" and show me
anywhere where it applies to an "exhaust" and/or "system". In point of fact, that word does not exist in that context. And as you go through that search for that word - it's in a
lot of places in the GCR - you'll notice quite quickly that when the GCR intends for something to be "attached" they use the word "attach(ed)". It is not implied.
Remember, once things are allowed "they're bloody well allowed". Exhaust system is free. Unless you can find where in the GCR "exhaust system" is restricted to those things that are "attached" to an exhaust component, then
anything that has to do with
a reasonable interpretation of the exhaust system is free.
I personally think that exhaust heat shields are within a
reasonable interpretation of "exhaust system". You, apparently, do not.
(Royal) you guys are saying that
only things that are "attached" to the exhaust are part of the exhaust system, that the word "attach" is a limiting factor. Yet that word does not exist in the regs in that regard. You are simply POOMA'ing that word up.
GA