I can only imagine the excitement of the first motoring public. It must have been overwhelming joy mixed with a bit of fear and wonderment. The “joy” part of that mix of emotions may have quickly fleeted if you were hit in the face with rain, bugs, rocks, birds, leaves—or worse yet, manure. Remember that the early days of the motoring public were using roads or paths mainly for animals. The “emissions” from those with whom you shared the road were not welcome inside the car. Concrete and asphalt were not the norms. Brick paved roads were the best you could get in and near cities.
That notion of desiring protection from the elements led to what we know today as windshields and later glass being placed all around the vehicle. As with everything else, changes and improvements have led the way to where we are today. It's comforting to know windshields come as standard equipment now and not an option as they once were early in motoring history. Glass, as it relates to collision repair, is not immune to the technology improvements we are experiencing at a rapid pace. We'll look at the history, some basics, and what's coming down the road!
Glass in automobiles has evolved but also performs the same basic function it was used for. It keeps the elements out. Of course, It also does a lot more than just that basic function nowadays. It can play to the comfort and, more importantly, safety of the occupants. As far as the comfort aspect goes, it will keep elements out, but it also is designed to help keep the desired temperature inside the vehicle. Noise control is also a function of glass design. The most important role glass plays in vehicles is, of course, safety.
As we are in a business that is connected by accidents, it's a bit ironic that one of the improvements in glass design was created as a result of an accident. It wasn't on a road or parking lot though. It happened in a laboratory. You see, the first use of glass in automobiles was that of ordinary plate glass. You can only imagine the horrific injuries and even death that was common in a wreck. It's not likely any of us would take the common plate glass out of a house window and go running down the road with it held at face level. The invention that was discovered in the laboratory made that visual reference a much safer scenario. It gave us a laminated glass.
The story goes like this. An inventor in his lab dropped a glass beaker onto the floor. As it smashed against the floor the pieces of glass stayed somewhat together. Cellulose nitrate had been unknowingly left in the beaker, which is clear liquid plastic. After further experiments based on that discovery, laminated glass was developed. In a simple description, it is two pieces of glass with a layer of cellulose between them. The patent was granted in 1909. Another form of glass we are familiar with is that of tempered glass. It came into use in the 1930s and was touted to be more shatter-resistant. Tempered glass is made through a heating process which in turn hardens it. It's rapidly cooled after formation, which gives it a tough outer skin. Also, when it breaks it shatters into small pieces that are less likely to cut or injury a human body than ordinary plate glass.
Now that we've covered a brief history as to how we got here with the basics of automotive glass, let's do a recap. For most parts, there are two types of glass in use today. Laminated, which is two pieces of glass with a film in between, and tempered, which is a hardened glass that breaks into small pieces. Most of us today are familiar with laminated glass being used in windshields, and tempered glass is the most commonly used in back glass, door windows, and other areas. Lately, vehicle manufacturers have moved to more commonly using laminated glass in door windows as well. The point here is to make you aware that there are changes to what used to be the norm. This should shock no one in our industry. It's part of what keeps our industry fresh. That's my take on it, and I'm sticking to it.
The most important thing to keep in mind is the safety of the vehicle occupants; there is no exception when it comes to things related to glass. We now, of course, have ADAS systems that can be directly linked to the glass in a vehicle—particularly the windshield, most commonly. Cameras and other electronics may use the windshield during their particular function. Other aspects of safety relating to glass is that of structural integrity and occupant retention in the event of a rollover or other types of collision. Worthy of note here is that there are federal standards in which the glass used in automobiles must meet certain criteria as it relates to safety.
If one thinks that glass is just there to keep elements out and temperatures in, you would be sadly mistaken. There are a whole host of functions and criteria for glass in a vehicle. I hope you think of it to be as important as any safety device in the car. It's worth repeating here: Glass can and does play a role in the structural integrity of a vehicle. It is paramount to refer to the OEM guidelines when it comes to removal and replacement of glass anywhere on the vehicle. Specific procedures and adhesives may be required for the glass to perform as designed in a subsequent collision, rollover, or any other event. It can also be tied to performance longevity. We need repairs, made in any form, to last as designed.
Make no mistake, there will be advancements to come as well. Nanotechnology ismost certainly the wave of the future. The glass itself will be able to “change” when it comes to controlling IR and the amount of heat/light it allows to pass through it. Heads-up displays and “self-cleaning” windshields may become the norm in the not-too-distant future. We've had electronically controlled heat and antennas in glass for some time, but those, too, and other sensor-related components will likely advance as everything else does. There already exists a glass that can be controlled by the driver, or automatically, that can increase or decrease the amount of light that passes through. It functions between the two layers of glass in the laminate, so there is no care or maintenance by the user required.
It's also important to understand that the surface area of glass being used is about 20 percent more by the OEMs used 20 years ago. As mentioned earlier, functions the glass may provide include those of antennas (radio, navigation, cellular, etc.), de-icing, de-misting, reducing solar glare, and a host of different sensors related to automatic wiper activation and the like. Panoramic glass is seeing wider spread use as of late. That trend will likely become more popular coupled with the new technology to “control” more functions within the glass itself.
It is and will be common practice to perform or, at the very least, check calibrations related to glass replacement or removal. Remember, a calibration is not the same as clearing a code. If the calibration is not correct, the system may still “function” but will not be accurate. There may not be an indicator that lets you know if the calibration is off. There has been a 300 percent growth in ADAS use in the last several years. Approximately over 40 percent of new automotive glass production will include ADAS features this year. This is an area where the vehicle manufacturer's requirements for servicing these systems should already be the norm in your shop. The days of “one size fits all” glass replacement are likely coming to an abrupt end. As I've stated many times before, the use of procedures for a specific vehicle serves several important purposes — not only documenting what was done, but it's overall more efficient to know what you will need to do before beginning the procedure.
Manufacturer's procedures oftentimes include specific preparations for the mounting flange where the adhesive will be in contact. The concern here is for gaining the proper bond and to ensure the desired performance later in the vehicle's life. If not done correctly, corrosion may begin and thus weaken the bond, which could fail down the road. The preparations for the glass surface are equally important and for similar reasons.
Heads up displays will likely be making a resurgence with the new glass technology wave. The concept is not new, but the way it's performed will be. In the past, images were projected onto the glass, whereas new technology will allow the displays to be embedded within the glass that will include overlays of sorts. Imagine having your navigation system incorporated onto your entire windshield while viewing it in real-time. Road signs, wrecks, pedestrians, and other similar “down the road” displays may be incorporated as well within your field of vision.
A much stronger form of glass will likely become prevalent in the automotive field. This glass is a newer breed of glass similar to that used in today's smartphone screens and the like. It's stronger and lighter than the glass used today and in the past. It touts that it is sharper and brighter than conventional glass. It's a chemically strengthened glass. It's an updated version of the “muscled glass” used in the 1968 Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Dart Hemi race cars that Hurst Performance converted for use in the NHRA Super Stock category. A recent form of This type of glass was used for the windshields and rear glass in the Ford GT beginning in 2016. It has recently been made available for the current generation of F-150s and newer Jeep Wranglers. It has been used in the supercar market as well of late.
Training is always important. This subject is no different. It may be worth considering bringing your glass work in-house if you have been subletting it up to this point. A static calibration may need a controlled environment such as indoors with specific lighting and a level surface. There may very well be a technician in your shop ready to specialize in these operations. For further online training, I-CAR offers several online courses relating to glass in general as well as ADAS as it relates to windshields:
- Damage Analysis of Stationary Glass
- Fixed Glass Removal and Installation
- Movable Glass Removal and Installation
- Windshields and Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS)
I-CAR Industry Training Alliance courses may be associated, such as Equalizer Industries Inc.-Equalizer Auto Glass Installation (Academy). The academy is a week-long training event that can certify you or your personnel in the proper methods for glass related operations. The Auto Glass Safety Council offers accreditation. Below is an excerpt from their website agsc.org:
The Auto Glass Safety Council™ (formerly the AGRSS Council) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the safe repair and replacement of auto glass. The Auto Glass Safety Council was founded and is supported by companies in the auto glass repair and replacement industry and other stakeholders who keep safe repair and replacement as their primary goal.The Auto Glass Safety Council is an accredited American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards development organization. It has developed North America’s only auto glass replacement standard, the AGRSS™ Standard (ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 004-2018 Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard). The AGRSS Standard addresses procedures, education and product performance. It is a continuous maintenance standard.Through its National Windshield Repair Division (NWRD), it is also developing the Repair of Laminated Auto Glass Standard 2 (ROLAGS™ 2) which addresses procedures, education and product performance relating to auto glass repair.
Just as with a lot of other changes that have happened in our industry, most are not new but will become more common in use. Technology will advance earlier ideas and allow more common and affordable acceptance. Most of the widespread improvements center around occupant safety and comfort. Challenge your shop to accept these newer trends and verify the procedures related to glass are being done correctly and documented as such. As your customers should enjoy safety and comfort “down the road” you should as well in knowing it has been done correctly!