Up to Standards

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May/June 2002

AGRSS Council
Board of Directors
• Cindy Minon Kercherside, JC’S Glass, Chairperson & President
• Robert Birkhauser, Auto Glass Specialists, Treasurer
• Tim Smale, Independent Glass Association, Director
• Donald Day, Texas Glass & Tinting, Director
• Jeff Bull, Creative Extruded    Products Inc., Director
• Rick Church, CMS Services, Secretariat
• William Ives, Michael Best & Friedrich, Legal Counsel

Members
Michael Bays, Adco Products Inc.
Hank Chamberlin, AGE
Debra Levy, AGRR Magazine, chairperson, AGRSS Marketing Committee
Bob Beranek, Auto Glass Consultants
Brian Burkart, Auto Glass Journal
Marc Anderson, All Glass
Heather Setler, Best Glass
Steve Pierick, Binswanger Glass
Ron Watson, Carlite by Visteon
Roger Pickett, Cindy Rowe Auto Glass
Scott Owens,              Council for Auto Glass Safety
Charles Turiello,             Diamond Triumph Auto Glass
Dave Eldridge, Dinol (US) Inc.
Dale Malcolm,             Dow Automotive/Essex AGR
Chuck Bibbiano, Glass America
Thom Inman,Harmon Auto Glass
Carl Joliff, Joliff Glass
Sally Custer, NAGC
Bud Oliver, NAGS International
Henri Goudsmit, Performance Achievement Group
Monica Mathews, Pilkington
Russ Corsi, PPG Industries
Shari Gerber, Pro-Tech Auto Glass Inc.
Dave Burns, Ray Sands Auto Glass
Glen Moses, Safelite Glass Corp.
Mark Formentini, Serf Associates
Dino Lanno, Service Auto Glass
Carl Tompkins, Sika Corp., Chairperson, Credentialing Committee
Jim Johnson, Sommer & Maca
John Fryxell, 3M Company

AGRSS
Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council

Dear Reader:

This issue of AGRR: the magazine driving the auto glass repair and replacement industry includes expanded coverage of the new AGRSS/ANSI Standard for Safe Auto Glass Replacements. This unprecedented emphasis is designed to make every one of AGRR’s more than 10,000 subscribers aware of the standard, how important it is, and how they can learn about and follow it. This issue includes articles and columns about AGRSS, along with the actual AGRSS Standard following this page directly.

Because safety is such an important issue for our industry, AGRR is printing additional copies of this issue and mailing it to key insurance companies and contacts around the country. You’ll also see a number of suppliers who have placed advertisements around the theme.

I believe that, excluding produce enhancements, the development of the Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard (the AGRSS Standard) is the single most important development in AGR safety in the past fifty years. It is the culmination of four years of hard work that reached across all segments of the AGR business—large companies and small, networks and mom-and-pops, adhesive and glass manufacturers (see AGRSS Council members at above.) Adhering to the AGRSS Standard will make our industry better and stronger. It is also the right thing to do for the safety of the general public.

In coming months, you’ll hear news about the AGRSS credentialing program and marketing and promotional efforts to the auto glass industry and to consumers. I urge you to review the Standard and become familiar with it—and to watch for information about registering your company as compliant with the Standard.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, you can feel free to visit the AGRSS industry website, at http://www.agrss.com or the website designed for consumers at http://www.windshieldsafety.com. Both will be operational by June 30, 2002. You may also contact the AGRSS Secretariat:

Rick Church
AGRSS Secretariat
800 Roosevelt Road, Building C, Suite 20
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Phone: (630) 858-7337
Fax: (630) 790-3095
rickc@cmservnet.com                                                                                                                                                                             Sincerely,
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Deb Levy
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Publisher

ANSI/AGRSS 002-2002

Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard

1. Scope and purpose

1.1    Scope

To develop and publish nationally-recognized automotive glass replacement safety standards addressing procedures, education, and product performance.

1.2 Purpose

• To improve the performance and practices of industry technicians and raise their level of professionalism.

• To guide the industry in auto glass replacement procedures that meet the pertinent Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements.

• To provide guidelines and objectives for groups that supply products, education, and training for the industry.

• To promote public awareness of the need for safe installation procedures, which will reduce the risk of personal injury and/or death from traffic accidents.

• To provide a comprehensive automotive glass replacement standard.

• To achieve a higher degree of consistency among installation practices.

• To create an automotive glass installation benchmark for anyone engaged in the replacement of automotive glass.

2. Normative References

The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this American National Standard. At the time of publication, the editions indicated were valid. All standards are subject to revision, and parties to agreements based on this American National Standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the standards indicated below.

ANSI Z26.1 version currently incorporated in FMVSS 205, Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment Operating on Land Highways - Safety Standard 1)

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 2)

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205 2)

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 2)

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 212 2)

1) For electronic copies of some standards, visit ANSI's Electronic Standards Store (ESS) at www.ansi.org. For printed versions of all these standards, contact Globe Engineering Documents, 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, CO 80112-5704, (800) 854-7179.

2) Available from the Superintendent of Documents, US Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250.

3. Definitions and Acronyms
3.1 adhesive bonding system: an engineered system using chemical products, used together as a technique or process, to bond substrates.

3.2 AGR: automotive glass replacement.

3.3 ARG: automotive replacement glass.

3.4 butyl sealant: a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene.

3.5 equivalent retention system: a system that meets or exceeds the vehicle manufacturer's performance strength specifications, or has been certified by the retention system manufacturer or private labeler as appropriate for the specific application.

3.6 final exam: a comprehensive exam that evaluates the individual's knowledge and skills including but not limited to retention system specific replacement procedures, a variety of automotive safety issues, minimum drive-away time, environmental conditions as they affect retention system performance, federal safety requirements, and the basics of safe and effective automotive glass replacement.

3.7 full cut: removing existing bead of urethane to a height of approximately 1 to 2mm wherever the residual bead is structurally sound and the substrate condition is not defective.

3.8 minimum drive-away strength: The minimum properties as defined and specified by the retention systems manufacturer or private labeler to meet the requirements of FMVSS 208 and 212.

3.9 minimum drive-away time: The time necessary for a given adhesive system to attain minimum drive-away strength after an adhesive bonded glass part is set in place.

3.10    OE: original equipment.

3.11    OEM: original equipment manufacturer.

3.12 polysulfide adhesive: an adhesive containing sulfur that cures to a cross-linked rubber compound.

3.13 polyurethane adhesive: a thermoplastic polymer adhesive produced by the condensation reaction of polyisocyanate and a hydroxyl containing material.

3.14 primer: an agent that is designed specifically by the adhesive manufacturer to either promote adhesion between the substrate and the adhesive or provide shielding from environmental factors.

3.15 private labeler: any individual, corporation or the entity engaged in sale or distribution of a product labeled as their own, but manufactured by any different entity.

3.16 retention system: refers to any original equipment or equivalent method of glazing attachment.

3.17 those engaged in automotive glass replacement: refers to any individual, business, or organization that replaces automotive glass; examples include but are not limited to individual technicians, automotive glass replacement businesses, automotive body shops, and dealerships.

4. Vehicle Assessment before Replacement

Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall not undertake or complete such installation when any related condition would compromise the retention system and the owner/operator shall be so notified.

5. Selection of Glass and Retention Systems

Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall use retention systems that are produced under documented quality assurance standards.

Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall use glass products meeting the requirements of ANSI Z26.l as required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205.

Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall use either an OEM approved retention system or equivalent retention system as certified in writing by the equivalent retention system manufacturer directly or through a private labeler.

Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall obtain and follow written comprehensive and current application instructions from the retention systems manufacturer or private labeler. These instructions shall include at least the proper use of the retention system storage specifications, minimum drive-away time charts containing temperature and humidity variables if applicable, and any special procedures required for adverse weather conditions.

Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall require that lot numbers and expiration dates be printed on appropriate products.

6. Installation Standards - Adhesive Bonded
Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall follow the adhesive manufacturer's application instructions as provided by the manufacturer directly, or through the private labeler. All in-shop or mobile installations shall be performed under environmental and other conditions that are compatible with the application instructions required in Section 6.

Products shall be stored and controlled according to manufacturers' requirements as provided directly or through a private labeler.
No automotive glass replacement shall be undertaken using an adhesive glass retention bonding system that would not achieve minimum drive-away strength by the time the vehicle may be reasonably expected to be operated.

The vehicle owner / operator shall be advised of the minimum drive-away time under the circumstances of the replacement.

Adhesive shall be applied so that the finished bead cross section profile and dimensions meet or exceed original equipment configuration.

If the OEM installation was polyurethane, then the glass shall be replaced with polyurethane or an equivalent adhesive bonding system. If the OEM installation was butyl, polysulfide, or other non-polyurethane, and the vehicle is licensed for highway use, adhesive bonded stationary glass installations shall be performed using polyurethane or an equivalent retention system unless in conflict with current OEM specifications.

All adhesive system component lot numbers shall be traceable to each job.

All glass parts shall be traceable to the installation by a DOT number and part number.

No product that has exceeded its expiration date, open shelf life, or active shelf life shall be used.

All supplemental mechanical glass retention devices shall be replaced to original equipment specifications.

When inappropriate replacement materials or methods are detected, those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall report their findings to the vehicle owner/operator.

When those engaged in automotive glass replacement correct inappropriate glass installations, they shall remove any inappropriate materials that would compromise the retention system. They shall fully correct any adverse glass installation related condition(s) caused by the use of inappropriate materials or methods, and they shall use appropriate methods described elsewhere within Section 6 of this document.

When sealing air or water leaks within a polyurethane retention system, only compatible polyurethane adhesive shall be used. (No silicone or butyl may be used).

Only the full cut method should be used for polyurethane retention systems.

7. Installation Standards - Rubber Gasket
If the OEM utilizes the combination of a rubber gasket and polyurethane as a retention system, an equivalent adhesive bonding system shall be used in the installation. In cases when the OEM didn't include polyurethane or an equivalent adhesive system, such systems shall be used if later production models included the addition of adhesive systems without body style modification.

If the OEM gasket installation did not include adhesive and the vehicle is licensed for highway use, the installation shall include polyurethane or an equivalent adhesive bonding system. The following are permissible exceptions: egress applications, antique restorations, the customer's requirements differ even after being informed about the safety implications, or in cases in which this practice conflicts with current vehicle manufacturer specifications.

When sealing air or water leaks within a rubber gasket/polyurethane ADHESIVE SYSTEM only compatible polyurethane shall be used. (No silicone or butyl may be used).

When sealing air or water leaks within a rubber gasket/SEALANT SYSTEM only OE compatible sealant shall be used.

8. Additional Requirements

All mechanically-fastened automotive glass parts shall be replaced according to original equipment specifications.

Glass parts, including custom cut parts, shall be marked in compliance with the certification requirements specified in FMVSS 205 and the marking requirements of ANSI Z26.1 incorporated by reference therein for those vehicles licensed for highway use.

Those engaged in automotive mirror replacement shall install external and internal replacement mirrors that meet or exceed original equipment specifications and the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111.

Whenever OEM retention systems are modified on later production models without body style modification, the most current retention system shall be used in the replacement unless otherwise specified by the OEM.

The failure of any product used in the glass installation process that the installer believes could jeopardize customer safety shall be reported promptly to the manufacturer or supplier of the product.

Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall not introduce any chemical agents, such as cleaners, solvents, lubricants, release agents, or utilize any installation practice, which will adversely affect the glass retention system.

Those engaged in automotive glass replacement shall maintain documentation to demonstrate compliance with this standard.

9. Education

Technicians installing replacement automotive glass shall be fully qualified for the tasks they are required to perform. Such qualifications shall include, at a minimum, completion of a comprehensive training program with a final exam and a continuing education component. The program shall include, among other things:

a)    AGR safety issues.

b)    an understanding of OEM installation standards and procedures.

c)     relevant technical specifications.

d)    comprehensive retention system specific training.

e)    the opportunity to apply and demonstrate the skills technicians learn.

                                                            ANNEX A
                                                               (Informative) - Bibliography
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 216
Any other applicable FMVSS standards.

ANSI/AGRSS 002-2002. Final Document. All rights reserved.
©2002 Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council.

Editor's Note: This Standard is for your personal, educational use only and may not be copied, distributed or used for other purposes without the prior written consent of AGRSS. You may not add, subtract or otherwise modify any content of the Standard. Please write AGRSS at rickc@cmservnet.com for further information. Thank you.

AGRR