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If you’ve done a quick Google search or called your local vehicle glass company and felt like they were speaking another language and all of the information went right over your head, you’re not alone. Any good auto glass expert will speak in terms that potential customers can easily understand, but some industry experts don’t always know when they are speaking jargon because it’s their primary language. Here at Jet Black Tint and Glass in San Leandro, we like to keep things simple and use terms that everyone can understand, but we also like to educate our customers to better understand the industry. In today’s post, we’ll review some of the more common auto-glass terms and break down their meaning.
Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards (AGRSS) council is the former name of the now Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC). This organization is responsible for setting and enforcing minimum safety standards for the auto glass industry. These standards detail every part of auto glass repair and replacement including materials, technique, and current best practices. You may see either of these acronyms on your window certification stickers or in your car’s manual. AGRSS was the name of the council through 2012 and has since been referred to as AGSC.
AGR windows are the aftermarket windows used to replace manufacturers’ glass on vehicles. Some companies, such as Pilkington Glass, make both OEM and AGR windows, while some companies only make one or the other. Getting an AGR windshield means you’ll need to ensure that the product specifications match your manufactured window (or are better), as recommended by the AGRSS.
The very thin web of tungsten wire layered in the glass conduct electricity to generate heat to provide rapid defrosting and efficient defogging with lower energy consumption.
Most newer windshields are outlined with painted black enamel that’s baked around the borders of a windscreen during the manufacturing process. They may start as solid bands and dissolve into smaller dots as they move inward on the glass panel. The purpose of the frit band is to provide an etched surface that allows adhesive to bond to the glass
A head-up display, also known as a HUD, is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their main objective through the windshield. Some newer vehicle models offer this feature, which projects the instrument panel measurements onto the glass so that the driver can watch the road and check the vehicle’s performance at the same time. If your car has a HUD system, you’ll need to ensure that the auto glass repair and replacement company you reach out to can fix your issue.
Vehicle windshields are made of laminated glass for durability and safety. Laminated glass differs from tempered glass in that it is several layers of thin glass bonded together by an invisible film between the glass layers. The film is fused with the glass under incredibly high heat and pressure to become one single sheet of glass. The multi-layer feature along with the film prevents the glass from shattering when broken and allows for other technology (such as HUD or heated wires) to be installed directly into the windshield.
This is one of the most important things to pay attention to during auto glass replacement. Some vehicle window repair companies will size a generic windshield to fit your car, rather than using a windshield that is made specifically for your vehicle make and model. While the issues may not seem apparent at first, poorly-made OEM glass is often more flimsy and does not sit exactly as it’s supposed to. Over time, this may cause leaking and compromise the structural integrity of your vehicle. By working with an auto glass company like Jet Black Tint and Glass that uses glass produced by Pilkington, the industry leader in both OEM and AGR, you know you’re getting a product that comes straight from the manufacturer and is made for your exact vehicle.
This small window is the last piece of glass on either side of your vehicle. In cars, it is often just a small triangle that helps mitigate blind spots, while in large SUVs, this “quarter” glass may be as large as the rear window, but will not roll down.
This sensor is built into your windshield and detects the amount of rain hitting your windshield to automatically adjust the speed of your windshield wipers. Having this feature usually increases the cost of windshield replacement due to the reinstallation and calibration of the sensor.
If your auto glass is chipped or cracked, a glass technician will use this hardener to repair the damage. After it has filled the chip or crack, it is treated with UV light to cure and completely harden the resin.
This is the amount of time it takes for your windshield to cure after a replacement is completed before it’s safe for you to drive the vehicle again. Some adhesives have shorter SDATs than others. At Jet Black Tint and Glass, our adhesive allows you to be back on the road in about an hour after installation.
The vent window also referred to as the valance window, is the small triangular piece of glass that is often located on the rear side doors next to the main rear window. These vent or valance windows do not roll down but may open by swinging.
If your windshield isn’t damaged enough to warrant replacement (a small chip, for example), your glass may be repaired instead. Repairing minor damage as soon as it occurs prevents major damage resulting from an expanding crack.
At Jet Black Tint and Glass in San Leandro, we offer top-rated auto glass repair and replacement services on all vehicles using Pilkington Glass. We offer next-day appointments for most current models and can complete the replacement in about an hour. If you’ve got damaged auto glass, give our glass experts a call today!