Safety

Your vehicle's windshield plays a very important role in keeping you safe when you're behind the wheel. In the event of an accident, windshields can prevent occupant ejection, prevent roof collapse in the event of a rollover, and can be a critical component in airbag deployment. Windshields that are improperly installed can compromise your safety, and the safety of everyone in your vehicle. When you need windshield replacement or repair, it is important that your windshield is installed by qualified technicians who use the best quality glass and adhesive system.

There are four important safety functions performed by the windshield that every vehicle owner should be aware of:

1. Provides clear visibility of the road. Windshields can become pitted and scratched from small dirt and sand particles as well as fractures/cracks caused by pebbles and stones. If left unattended, this pitting can affect vision.
2. Support passenger-side airbag during deployment. It is possible for an improperly replaced windshield to become detached from the vehicle in an accident. In the event the windshield becomes detached, the airbag will not deploy properly.
3. Cushions blow and keeps vehicle occupants contained in a crash. Windshield glass may break in the event of an accident, but the polyvinyl layer is flexible and cushions impact if an occupant is thrown forward. More importantly, it also keeps passengers within the vehicle prevention ejection and reducing the risk of injury – or worse – in the event of being ejected from a vehicle.
4. Increase structural integrity of the vehicle. Over time, the design and manufacturing of vehicles has changed dramatically. In the past, the steel structure of the vehicle design provided the structural integrity required in the case of an accident or a rollover. Due to the use of lighter materials and newer streamlined vehicle designs, the windshield now provides much of the support that prevents the roof’s collapse during vehicle roll-overs.

Certified Safe

For over 60 years Crystal Glass has specialized in repairing and replacing auto glass, windshields, residential and commercial glass. Our full line of services is backed by six decades of delivering quality workmanship and value to our customers.

You can be assured when you trust the technicians at Crystal Glass that your glass replacement is Certified Safe.

Our aim is to set a high standard of quality workmanship in the replacement of auto glass to restore your vehicle to OEM specifications for structural integrity and appearance. Our Auto Glass Technicians undergo continuing education through our technical trainers/advisers to keep them informed of new advances in the auto glass replacement industry as well as advances in auto design.

Crystal Glass is concerned about the safety of automobile passengers and will not perform a glass replacement that will compromise any OEM safety standards.

A visual and comprehensive inspection of your vehicle will be performed prior to and during any auto glass replacement to determine if there is any vehicle conditions that will comprise structural integrity of the vehicle. Any condition identified will be discussed with you, and if you decline to have the unsafe condition repaired,Crystal Glass may refuse to continue with the replacement until such condition is corrected.

Same Materials

With Crystal Glass, you can be guaranteed that no matter which location you visit, your windshield will be replaced using the same high quality Dow Automotive products which meet all applicable OEM standards.

At Crystal Glass we use urethane adhesives that meet OEM standards. All of our installers utilize glass preparation products to chemically prepare the glass bonding surface and eliminate bond degradation on your vehicle. Body primer is also applied to the painted surface of your vehicle to promote adhesion of the replacement glass to the body. This insures that the structural integrity of your vehicle is maintained.

There are many products available to auto glass replacement shops with varying specifications and results. Crystal Glass specifically uses Dow BETASEAL Express and BETASEAL One. These products are advanced-cure urethane adhesive with enhanced chemical cross linking to speed bonding for safe drive-away times of 1 hour in temperatures up to -17C.

Links

Don’t take our word for it. Here are some links to reports and other resources which outline the risks in driving with a cracked or improperly installed windshield. If you only watch one link below, we highly recommend you take the time to watch the 20/20 exposé Worry Over Windshields.

Risks

• CBS 2 Investigation: An Improper Windshield Installation Can Be Deadly
• Worry Over Windshields- 20/20 exposé on the dangers of improper windshield installation
• AAA Says Motorists Who Drive with Cracked or Damaged Windshields May Be Placing Themselves in Harms Way
• Windshields Under Fire – Safety of replacement auto glass debated
• Your Windshield IQ – What You Don’t Know Could Be Dangerous
• New Focus on Windshield Safety: Nader Calls on Federal Government to Inform the Public
• Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics: 2008
• An Evaluation of Windshield Glazing and Installation Methods for Passenger Cars (NHTSA)
• Safety Issues for Canadians: Air Bags
• Why Act on Windshield Replacement?

Installation

• Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 208: Occupant Crash Protection
• FMVSS 212: Windshield Mounting
• FMVSS 216: Roof Crush Resistance
• FMVSS 219: Windshield Zone Intrustion
• Dow Safe Windshield Replacement Facts
• Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standards (AGRSS) Council