When windshields are installed at the factory, an appropriate adhesive is applied to a clean and viable channel surface and then a robot installs a windshield glass free of any human body oil contamination. By virtue of a new vehicle's production and delivery sequence, the windshield adhesive is provided more than enough time to cure before the new vehicle is put into service.

When windshields are replaced, the molding and lower windshield cowl panel should be removed and then the glass is cut out. The previous urethane adhesive is removed leaving no more than 1/16" of the original urethane bed. The channel area should be primed to inhibit rust. An appropriate (1-part or 2-part) urethane adhesive would then be applied to the replacement windshield (free of any body oil or other contaminates) and the windshield installed. Depending on the type of urethane adhesive used, "cure" time would range from 1 hour (for 2-part urethane) to 24 hours (for 1-part urethane). Moldings, necessarily damaged in this process, are to be replaced. Failure to do any of these steps completely could cause the windshield to dis-bond.

Here is a list of facts about windshields you should know.

• Seventy percent ( 7 out of 10) windshields are improperly replaced. - Source ABC 20/20
• On average 3 out of 4 windshields that are replaced could have been saved had the car owner simply taken time to get a chip repaired.
• Vehicle manufactures rely on the windshield for 30% of roof strength. - Source Ralph Nader
• It is known that at least once every 2 weeks a death occurs in an auto accident in which the windshield had been replaced within the last 48 hours. - Source AGRR Magazine, a leading publication to the auto glass repair and replacement industry.
• In an investigation by the Lousiana Speaker Of The House, it was found that mishandled and improper windshield installations were common.
• The fact is that most automotive safety experts rank the windshield as the third most important safety component in today’s cars and trucks. Seatbelts and airbags rank first and second.” - Car Care Council
•  “Many people just don’t realize that their car’s windshield contributes to the vehicle’s structural integrity by supporting the roof during a rollover.” - Leo Cyr, Vice President of the NGA’s Auto Division
• "This suggests windshield integrity may be a crucial factor in crash survivability". - AAA

Safety First

In an accident, your vehicle's safety restraint system, of which your windshield is its most vital component, must work perfectly in less than a heartbeat. There is no rehearsal, there is no second chance.

So make the safest choice for you and your family.

"There are over eleven (11) million windshield replacements done every year.

It's a complicated job that requires skill and training in the use of primers, adhesives, and proper handling.

Unfortunately, installers don't have to be licensed or certified.

And as experts say, installers are making mistakes.

. mistakes you may not know about until its too late."
-Arnold Diaz from the ABC News program 20/20

FACT: The NHTSA classifies the Windshield as the primary component of a vehicle's safety restraint system.

FACT: National statistics show nearly

8 out of 10 auto glass replacements fail to be installed properly and safely.

Today’s vehicles are engineered so the windshield has become a major structural component of the chassis. It is designed to keep passengers inside the vehicle during an accident as well as prevent roof-crush in a rollover.
A properly installed windshield will stay bonded to the vehicle during an accident. Without your windshield in place your airbags are useless. It is also imperative in an accident the occupants remain inside the vehicle.

SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT that become ejected do not survive.

Ten percent of all accidents are rollovers.

Should the windshield release from the vehicle during the rollover, the a-pillars by themselves cannot support the weight of the vehicle and the roof will crush down on the occupants causing serious injury or worse. Proper windshield installation requires a properly trained professional using the correct materials and procedures.

The auto glass industry has developed the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards (AGRSS) which have quickly become the benchmark for insuring a properly installed windshield. If you would like to view a copy of the AGRSS Standard visit www.agrss.com

We highly recommend that you make sure your windshield is replaced by a company that is familiar with these standards and abides by them.

What you should know about safe windshield installations.

Your car has been built to not only provide a means of transportation but to also help protect you in the event of an accident. Some repair work done to your car is regulated by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to ensure that all parts and their installation meet the required performance requirements that contribute to your safety. Your factory installed windshield is secured to the body of your car by special designed auto glass adhesives that have been tested and approved to meet all applicable FMVSS requirements.

Your windshield is classified a "safety device" because it provides structural strength to your car body, helps keep passengers inside the car if an accident should occur, and supports the inflation and performance of passenger side airbags. As important as the windshield quality, so too is the quality and proper installation of the auto glass adhesive.

FMVSS requires factory adhesives to be nearly 6 times stronger for cars with passenger side airbags.

Cars with passenger side airbags require either more time or a faster acting glass adhesive to reach safe drive away because of the additional strength to support the deployment of the airbag.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED MOTORHOME AND CAR/TRUCK WINDSHIELDS ARE INSTALLED DIFFERENTLY!

MOTORHOME WINDSHIELDS ARE MOUNTED IN A "H" CHANNEL THAT IS MOUNTED ONTO THE FIBERGLASS CAP. THIS ALLOWS THE WINDSHIELD TO SHIFT AS WE TRAVEL DOWN ROUGH ROADS, AND LEVELING.

Questions to ask before making an appointment with a glass shop.

• Do you offer windshield repairs?
• If so, how big of a break can you repair?
• Can you repair a cracked windshield?
• How many repairs do you do per week?
• Do you offer mobile service?
• If the windshield is replaced, how long will the car have to sit before it can be driven?
• Do you offer a warranty if the windshield leaks (either water or air) after you replace it?
• Do you have a lifetime money back guarantee on your repairs or is it just applied towards a new windshield?

DID YOU SEE THE 20/20 REPORT ON WINDSHIELD SAFETY THAT AIRED ON FEBRUARY 25, 2000?

It is shocking at how some auto glass installers are willing to risk your life - only to save a few minutes of their time.

Your replacement windshield could be a risk, and you may not even know it.

Even if you wear your seatbelt and have a properly functioning airbag, without a windshield firmly bonded to your car, any safety precautions are worthless. Your factory-installed windshield prevents the car's roof from caving in and deflects your airbag. An improperly installed windshield is likely to come out during an accident - just when you need its protection most.

Jeanne Fransway, featured on 20/20, ran off a Wisconsin road late one night. She was later found seventy feet away from her car on top of her windshield. A properly installed windshield could have saved Ms. Fransway's life.

Experts say that millions of replacement windshields are not installed properly - as many as seven out of ten.

What can you do to ensure a safe windshield installation? Choose an auto glass company that values your safety, not cutting a few more dollars of their bottom line. Educate yourself and ask questions. Pick a shop that is well established and stands behind their work.

Fatal mistakes in the 20/20 program that no auto glass service company should make:

Not wearing disposable rubber gloves when handling a windshield. Oils and dirt from the installers' hands can contaminate the bonding service of the windshield, causing it not to adhere properly.

We recommend that anyone installing a windshield wear a new pair of gloves with every job so that your new windshield does not become contaminated.
Not properly preparing the pinch weld, causing it not to bond fully.

We recommend that your technician inspect the pinch weld and make sure that it is clean and free of scratches. If scratches are present the technician should eliminate exposed metal with a primer. We also recommend that the technician prepare the surface on the windshield with a primer or use an adhesive that does not require this. One example would be Essex U418 primer less urethane. Proper preparation avoids the typical rust problems that arise from replacement windshields.
Not cleaning the windshield properly - wiping it down with a dirty rag. Again, this dirt can contaminate the windshield's bonding surface.

All installers should clean your glass with new paper towels and glass cleaner.
Installer doesn't warn the customer that the car is not safe to drive until the adhesive has had sufficient time to bond the windshield to the automobile.

Your technician should discuss with you the adhesive used and the time it takes for it to properly bond the windshield to your vehicle. This lets you make an informed decision as to when you feel the car is safe to drive.
Using butyl tape instead of urethane. Butyl tape is an inferior adhesive, only holding to 60lbs per square inch. Urethane, by contrast, holds to 600lbs per square inch.

It is not recommended that Butyl tape be used in modern automobiles for adhering the windshield to the automobile.
Your safety is of primary importance. If you have any safety questions, do not hesitate to contact a professional windshield installer!

CBC Television's "Market Place":
Story on Windshield Replacement and Safety.

Market Place, a Canadian Television program, aired a very interesting story on after-market windshield replacements. Market Place is a 'consumers affair type' show, similar to the popular US 60 Minutes TV program.
The feature included on-air interviews with some replacement shops and employees / owners, a "tour" of a salvage yard documenting improperly installed windshields, and pointed remarks and observations. There are several video copies of the program floating around, which originally aired on October 24, 1995.

Below is a synopsis of the program (updated 1996).
[Notes are direct from CBC / Market Place summary that appeared on the Web.]

Summary:
The windshield in a car does more than keep the wind and rain out. It also helps protect you in case of accidents. It will keep a passenger inside the vehicle and prevent an ejection. In case of a rollover it also helps maintain the structural integrity of the roof. But a lot of shops are installing replacement windshields the wrong way. The adhesive they use is not the proper one, or they don't allow it to cure properly. In order to save a few dollars they are jeopardizing people's lives.
More Information:
Depending on the make and model, a windshield provides anywhere from 18 to 20 percent of the structural integrity of the vehicle. Passenger-side air bags rely on the windshield for support. If the windshield pops out during an accident the air bag will inflate out onto the hood of the car and become totally ineffective. That's just one more reason why it is important to have the windshield installed properly. The air bag inflates with such power that if the windshield hasn't been installed properly it can push the windshield right off the car. Also the structural support the windshield provides could prevent the roof from caving in on the passengers during an accident. A cave-in could inhibit any help, i.e. firefighters, from getting a passenger free from the vehicle.

Close to a million windshields are replaced each year in Canada. Thousands of those are installed improperly. A windshield is not difficult to install. There are steps which should be followed to make sure it is done right: the old adhesive has to be taken off; primers need to go on the body and on the glass; then the adhesive, urethane, is applied; and the windshield is put in place and left to sit so the urethane can cure. Curing time is one of the major problems with improper installations. Many installers don't let cars sit long enough to make sure they're safe to drive away. If it is not properly cured the urethane will be wet in the centre. This means weak points and the windshield will let go at its weakest point. Urethanes need up to six hours to cure safely. For maximum protection, to prevent roof crush, urethane has to cure for 24 hours, a lot longer than that in the winter. But for most shop owners time means money and annoyed customers.

There are government standards which govern the installation of windshields when a vehicle is being manufactured but these regulations do not legally apply to replacement windshields or after-market installations. The goal of these standards is to reduce crash injuries and fatalities by making sure as much of the windshield stays attached to the car as possible. Body shops and glass shops can be, and have been, held liable when they don't follow the vehicle manufacturers replacement recommendations.

Some shops don't even use urethane. To cut corners and save money they use things like silicon, bathtub caulking, and various types of adhesives that we don't even recognize to hold the windshields in place. The most common is Butyl. Butyl was used in the early 1970's but it is only a sealant not an adhesive and it never cures. Butyl is half the cost of urethane. But with Butyl there is no strength, it just pulls apart.

There are no government regulations which require an autoglass installer be certified or trained. To combat lack of training the National Glass Association in the United States established a certification program. Also, the glass division of the Ford Motor Company, called Carlite, holds one week installation schools throughout the year which are available free to anyone working within the industry.

So if you have a windshield that needs to be replaced, try to get it replaced the same way the car-maker installed it.

Ask the shop if they follow the car-maker's specifications.
Make sure they use urethane.
If they keep the car for only a short time, ask questions.
Find out what the proper cure time is for the adhesive they use. Remember it takes 24 hours - longer in winter - to reach a full cure.
If the shop tells you they use Butyl, take your car elsewhere.

ABC's 20/20 News Magazine has Concluded Unsafe Windshield Installations
By Nov 25, 2005, 23:55

(ARA) - ABC's 20/20 news magazine has concluded unsafe windshield installations can cause unnecessary deaths and catastrophic personal injuries. "Windshield is an outdated, misleading term, says Leo Cyr, Vice President of Marketing for NOVUS Windshield Repair. "Bumpers still bump and brakes still brake but windshields have evolved from passive weather barriers to indispensable components in the structural integrity and safety of a vehicle's passenger compartment."

35 million crashes and $9 billion in annual repairs have influenced insurance companies to seek creative ways to reduce costs. However, "windshields, seat belts and airbags are inappropriate cost-cutting targets," says Cyr, "because each is an integral component in the vehicle's engineered system for passenger protection. If one fails, vehicle occupants are at risk."
Safety experts agree with 20/20. Optimum consumer safety is achieved when the factory's original windshield installation is preserved. Two conclusions are unavoidable:

1.) Damaged windshields that can be repaired should be repaired to preserve the OEM windshield and the factory safety seal.

2.) Windshields damaged beyond repair must be replaced using materials and techniques which approximate factory conditions as closely as possible.

Arnold Diaz, the reporter on the February 25 edition of ABC Television's 20/20" concluded, "A windshield can be as important to auto safety as seat belts, air bags and anti-lock brakes. But installation is key: the difference between a properly affixed windshield and a poor job can be the difference between life and death."

When Barbara Walters asked Diaz, "What about asking your insurance agent to recommend a reliable installer," Diaz responded, "That could be a problem because sometimes they (agents) steer you to a place that does it cheap and that means they could be cutting corners."

Cyr disagrees with Mr. Diaz' conclusion. "A few years ago, agents did use their knowledge and experience to provide policyholders with a choice of several responsible auto glass companies. Personally, I liked that system because my agent knows the quality of work produced by every glass shop in town. She has a vested interest in ensuring my satisfaction because she wants me to renew my policy next year," Cyr says.

Contrary to 20/20's conclusion, few agents today are empowered to refer customers to glass shops. They are instructed by their companies to have customers call a centralized glass claims processing center. The center actually assigns a shop to perform the work. If the customer has a preference of glass shops that preference is supposed to be respected.

The problems reported by 20/20 occur primarily because "most motorists are not glass experts so assessing the quality of the glass and the installation is a problem," says Cyr. Insurance companies have contractual commitments with policyholders to restore their property to pre-damaged condition. But replacing a windshield is not like replacing a bumper. Consumers rarely know if substandard materials or procedures are used on their vehicles.

Cyr advises, "Motorists can protect themselves in several ways. First, any windshield that can be repaired should be repaired. That saves both the windshield and the factory's seal of windshield to auto body. Second, if the windshield must be replaced, be emphatic and insist on an OEM or equivalent windshield that is properly installed by a reputable glass dealer. If you are unsure who is reputable, ask for the names of several glass shops in your area. Check with the Better Business Bureau. Call your own insurance agent - and even several others - and ask who they use. Finally, ask if the installer is certified by the National Glass Association (NGA)."

Cyr, who is also Chairman of the NGA Windshield Repair Technician Certification Committee, cautions that "No certification program, auto glass or otherwise, is an iron clad guarantee. Our testing can only show that a technician has the knowledge to perform a safe and effective repair or replacement. It cannot guarantee that the knowledge is fully and properly utilized on every job.

The fact is there are thousands of responsible glass shops and tens of thousands of conscientious windshield installers in the United States. Because a properly installed windshield can save your life, people should invest a few minutes to check glass shop references just as they would a surgeon's references before surgery.

Of course, you may be able to avoid surgery on your car's windshield. Cyr strongly advises that windshields only slightly damaged by rock chips, scratches and cracks be repaired. "Repair not only eliminates unsightly flaws, preventing further spread, it also allows you to keep the factory installed windshield, which is safer, sounder, leak proof, etc. That is always the better option when possible," concludes Cyr.

Auto Glass Replacement: Windshield Safety

Why You Should You be Concerned About Safety when getting your windshield replaced . . .

Today's windshield does more than keep the rain, wind and bugs out while providing good visibility... It is an engineered system performing critical functions in the design of your vehicle.

Keeps passengers safe
- Part of the airbag system
- provides roof-crush resistance
- prevents passenger ejection

Provides aesthetics and comfort
- contour shapes
- tinted and solar control glass
- built-in antennas
- defogging and defrosting

Increases visibility
- large glass parts with precise, complex bends
Getting a new windshield in your car can be as simple as making one phone call... Just be sure the auto glass company you choose understands and follows the federal safety standards for auto glass installation.

Deals Glass Services guarantees you of a safe and properly installed windshield because we follow those procedures and acknowledge them in our Windshield Checklist for your convenience.

Use Approved installation techniques
Use Proper Adhesives
Follow Cold weather installation guidelines
Adhere to "Safe Drive-away" Times