What are the differences between Shatterprufe Original Equipment (OE) standard and SABS standards?
The windscreen in my car is cracked. Is it safe to drive with it in this condition?
How will I know if a glass fitment company will do a good job installing my glass?
How does my windscreen protect me in the event of an accident?
What is the difference between toughened and laminated glass?
Is it safe to repair cracks in my car’s windscreen?
Is it safe to repair chips in my car’s windscreen?
My windscreen is pitted with tiny marks. How does this happen and how can I prevent it?
My windscreen wipers have scratched my windscreen. How do I remove these scratches?
How do I tell a genuine Shatterprufe windscreen from other, non-original equipment windscreens?
What is the best way to demist a windscreen?
What is the best method of cleaning the windscreen and other glass in my car?--------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are the differences between Shatterprufe Original Equipment (OE) standard a SABS standards?
SABS quality standards are the absolute minimum standards for automotive glass required by law. These do not, however, take into account the higher standards OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) require in order to comply with their particular safety and design parameters.
All Shatterprufe automotive glass exceeds SABS specifications and meets the higher standards demanded by motor manufacturers. We are currently the only automotive glass manufacturer in South Africa that is able to meet OEM standards. For example, while SABS tests make no reference to the following criteria, motor manufacturers set strict standards for:
- Glass thickness
- Cross bend (curvature)
- Size and shape
- Light transmission
- Mould marks
- Material conformance
- Shade band positioning
The windscreen in my car is cracked. Is it safe to drive with it in this condition?
The short answer is NO. Modern windscreens are designed to add strength to your car (like a door pillar). In an accident, a cracked windscreen will not provide the structural integrity your car’s original design called for. In the event of a roll over, your car’s roof may collapse or the occupants flung out if the windscreen is in a weakened state.
How will I know if a glass fitment company will do a good job installing my glass?
Firstly, you must establish whether the fitment centre installs genuine Shatterprufe windscreens or “grey” products. Glass fitment centres that fit Shatterprufe windscreens or display the Shatterprufe logo have usually undergone an official training course at our training centre.
Secondly, ask for a written guarantee that protects you in the event of water leaks, wind noises or poor workmanship.
How does my windscreen protect me in the event of an accident?
Firstly, a windscreen forms an integral part of the structural integrity of your car. When designed in compliance with the car manufacturer’s original specifications (as all Shatterprufe and Armourplate glass is), your windscreen will help prevent the roof from collapsing in a roll over accident.
Secondly, a correctly fitted windscreen is designed to comply with car manufacturers’ original specifications and will not pop out in the event of an impact, thus preventing occupants being flung out of the front of the car.
Thirdly, modern cars fitted with airbags use the windscreen as a support surface against which the pasenger airbag inflates. The windscreen helps ensure that the airbag is properly positioned to protect the occupants when it deploys. A badly fitted windscreen may pop out when subjected to the airbag pressure, thus rendering both airbag and windscreen useless.
What is the difference between toughened and laminated glass?
To begin with, laminated glass is used in windscreens while toughened glass is used for the side and rear glass. Laminated glass, as used in Shatterprufe windscreens, is actually made up of three layers. Two outer layers of high impact glass sandwich an incredibly strong vinyl interlayer between them. On impact, Shatterprufe windscreens may crack but, thanks to their triple layer construction, they will not shatter.
Armourplate toughened glass is five times stronger than ordinary glass. It is a single layered glass that is subjected to an exacting manufacturing process that radically alters its molecular structure and characteristics. The result is a stronger glass that, when broken, disintegrates into small relatively harmless pieces, thus minimising the chance of serious injury.
Is it safe to repair cracks in my car’s windscreen?
As a rule of thumb, it is not advisable to repair a cracked windscreen. Because the structural integrity of your car is largely dependent on the windscreen, you could be putting you and your family at risk in the event of an accident. Although some fitment centres do repair cracks, for safety reasons we cannot endorse this practice.
Is it safe to repair chips in my car’s windscreen?
It is possible to repair chips in your windscreen as long as they have not developed into cracks and they are not in the driver’s field of direct vision known as the A zone. (See diagram below)
It is advisable to repair chips as soon as possible to prevent them from turning into cracks. Also it is important to have chips repaired by a reputable fitment centre, preferably one that displays the Shatterprufe logo, as they would have received the proper training.
My windscreen is pitted with tiny marks. How does this happen and how can I prevent it?
Pitting is an inevitable consequence of driving and can never be avoided entirely. It occurs when your vehicle travels through an area where sand or other hard, similar sized particles, have been made airborne and collide with your windscreen at high speed, leaving microscopic pit marks.
Insist on a genuine Shatterprufe windscreen that should delay the onset of pitting. This is because Shatterprufe windscreens are made to the highest standards.
My windscreen wipers have scratched my windscreen. How do I remove these scratches?
It is not advisable to attempt to remove scratch marks on windscreens, as this could result in distorted vision. The best thing to do is to avoid situations where windscreen wipers can scratch the windscreen. Scratching can occur when:
- the rubber has worn away and the windscreen is exposed to the bare metal of the wiper
- windscreen wipers are used on dry windscreens
- dirt is allowed to collect on windscreen wiper blades
Renew your windscreen wiper blades regularly.
How do I tell a genuine Shatterprufe windscreen from other, non-original equipment windscreens?
Just look for the Shatterprufe logo etched into the windscreen near the edge. Some sales people may tell you the glass they fit is “Shatterproof”, but the only way to be sure you’re getting the best quality, is to look for the genuine Shatterprufe logo. The simple truth is that if it doesn’t say Shatterprufe® on the windscreen, it’s not genuine Shatterprufe safety glass. Always ask for “prufe”.
What is the best way to demist a windscreen?
Although demisting fluids are available, they seldom last for long and require constant reapplication. The most convenient method to demist a windscreen is as follows: If the windscreen is already misted, use the heater with the blower fan to clear it quickly. To prevent further misting, switch to cold air.
Never use the recirculate setting on your heater/airconditioner because that will allow water vapour to build up in the car.
What is the best method of cleaning the windscreen and other glass in my car?
Depending on how dirty your windscreen is or what it has been contaminated with, there are a number of options. A windscreen or side glass that resists cleaning with ordinary soap and water probably has oil or grease on it. In this instance you could use methylated spirits diluted 1:1 with water.
Or you can purchase a few bottles of Shatterprufe windscreen wash from your local Shatterprufe fitment centre and add some to your windscreen washer reservoir every time you fill it up. This solution is specially formulated for automotive glass and can also be used safely in its undiluted form where contamination is stubborn.
