How To Choose An Auto Glass Repair Company

What You Should Know About Your Car's Windshield

Your car has been built to not only provide a means of transportation, but also to help protect you in the event of an accident. All repair work done to your car is regulated by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to ensure that all parts and their installation meet the performance requirements that contribute to your safety.
Your windshield is secured to the body of your car by specially formulated auto glass adhesives that have been tested and approved to meet all applicable FMVSS requirements.
Your windshield is classified as 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 is, so too is the quality and proper installation of the auto glass adhesive.

It is there to protect you and the quality of your car. Everyone should understand it and everyone is expected to follow it!
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act makes it illegal for anyone to return your car for use prior to all safety devices being fully operational.
Since your windshield is a safety device, your car cannot be safely driven until the adhesive has had enough cure time to meet FMVSS performance requirements.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) define the required performance of all parts classified as "safety devices." FMVSS is the governing authority for all OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and aftermarket work and requires auto glass adhesives to be strong enough to hold the windshield to the car under certain crash conditions.
FMVSS requires adhesives to be nearly 6 times stronger for cars with passenger side airbags.

SDAT defines the amount of time that your car is required to remain out of service until the windshield installed can properly operate as a safety device.
Cars with passenger side airbags require either more time or a faster acting auto glass adhesive to reach Safe Drive Away Time because of the additional strength necessary to support the deployment of the passenger side airbag.
By adhering to the auto glass adhesive manufacturer's Safe Drive Away Time calculations, FMVSS requirements are met and your car is safe to drive.

There are a number of brands and types of adhesives to choose from. The judgement and determining factor for acceptable adhesives is based on their certified ability to pass all applicable FMVSS requirements.
The lower the temperature and humidity, the longer it takes for standard one-part adhesives to cure. If you are not able to wait the prescribed amount of time to meet Safe Drive Away Time, there are new high performance adhesives that cure much faster due to the special accelerator components. These types of adhesives are typically more expensive than standard one-part products.

Only those businesses that meet the following professional standards should be trusted with your car:

A clear discussion concerning how your installation work will be completed
How long your car will need to be held out of service to protect your safety
The type of auto glass adhesive that you and the glass shop decide to use should be one that, based on weather conditions, allows your car to be safely driven within the time frame you require.