Windshield and Auto Glass Safety

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Why is safe windshield replacement so important?

Car maintenance isn’t just under the hood.  Windshields do more than just protect you from weather and insects.

The windshield acts as a safety shield for the passengers in the vehicle. To protect properly, it must be installed properly.

Most automotive safety experts rank the windshield as the third most important safety component in today’s vehicles, right behind seatbelts and airbags. Laws require seatbelt use and prevent tampering with airbags, but there are no laws about quality windshield replacements.

Since there are no laws regarding auto glass safety, the Auto Glass Safety Council (formerly the AGRSS® Council), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the safe replacement of auto glass, was founded and is supported by Glass Doctor of Barrie and the auto glass replacement industry.

The Council, which has developed North America’s only auto glass replacement standard, promotes safe auto glass industry standards, which an auto glass technician should follow.

Glass Doctor of Barrie voluntarily supports the standard glass replacement procedures approved by AGSC, and offers original equipment manufacturer (OEM) windshields. Windshields are not all made the same. Only OEM glass can provide the quality necessary to ensure a proper fit, which greatly reduces safety risks.

Consumers should ask these questions before a replacement windshield installation:

1. Will the old adhesive be removed from the vehicle frame? If the adhesive isn’t removed down to the adhesive manufacturer’s recommended level, the fit may not be tight and the new adhesive won’t bond correctly.
2. Will the technician wear gloves to keep from contaminating the glass? If oil and dirt get on the edges, the new adhesive (called urethane) may not bond correctly.
3. Will the new urethane adhesive stand up to the high deployment pressure of airbags? The best available manufacturer equivalent urethane adhesive should be used, not butyl tape. Ask for adhesive made by Dow, Sika or the original car maker’s adhesive supplier.
4. How long does the urethane adhesive need to set until the vehicle can be driven? Every urethane has a “safe drive-away time.”

As a final test, make sure you choose a company that is registered with AGSC for any of your auto glass replacement needs. Look for the AGSC logo at quality glass shops, or visit the safety council’s Website at www.safewindshields.org.

Your windshield is a safety shield. Make sure it is replaced by a company that has a commitment to safety.

Call Glass Doctor of Barrie at 705-721-4527 or send a service request.