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AUTOMOTIVE
GLASS SPECIFICATIONS
The
Federal Government establishes requirements for many products that the
public uses on a daily basis in order to make sure prudent steps are
taken to ensure the safety of the public. The automotive
industry is no exception and there are numerous requirements and
standards that must be met before a vehicle can ever reach the road.
The glass that is in your car has a series of test requirements and
each piece of glass must be trademarked to show it meets these
regulations.
A
couple of the key characters to look for in the trademark are the
"DOT" and "AS" numbers. The DOT number identifies
the manufacturer of the glass, and every company that produces glass
for sale within the U.S. must have a number registered with the
Department of Transportation., the PPG number is DOT 18. Another
important item is the "AS" number which indicates what
series of tests that part has been qualified to. The
"AS" is the abbreviation for American National Standard that
is required in section 6 of the ANSI Z26.1-1997 specification.
To
provide a general summary, the windshield of your car will carry an
AS1 designation while the other pieces of glass will be AS2. In
sunroofs, SUVs and vans the AS3 designation would apply to the deep
tint glass that is often used in these vehicles. While not a
substitute for the complete text of the applicable legal requirements,
the following sections will give you some details as to the
requirements for the most common "AS" numbers used.
Safety
glazing materials in motor vehicles shall comply with the applicable
requirements listed in this section.
Test
Number
1.
Luminous transmittance
2. Humidity test
3. Boil test
4. Bake test
5. Impact, ball, 10 ft (3.05m)
6. Light stability
7. Fracture Test
8. Impact, shot bag, 8ft (2.44m)
9. Impact, dart, 30ft (9.14m)
10. Impact, dart
11. Impact dart, 10 ft. (3.05m)
12. Impact, ball, 30 ft. (9.14m)
13. Impact, ball
14. Deviation and distortion
18. Abrasion resistance
26. Penetration resistance
28. Temperature Change
29. Abrasion resistance
30. Abrasion resistance
AS1
– Safety Glazing Material for Use Anywhere in Motor Vehicle. Safety
glazing materials that comply with the following may be used anywhere
in a motor vehicle:
- 1,
2, 3, 4, 9, 12, 15, 16, and 26;
OR
- Multiple
glazed units, Class 1, the individual component units of which
comply with the set of tests designated in (a), and the
assembled unit of which complies with Tests 1, 2, and 15;
OR
- Multiple
glazed units, Class 2, that comply with Tests 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 12,
14, 15, 18, and 26, 28, 33, and 34 may be used in windshields.
AS2
– Safety Glazing Material for Use Anywhere in Motor Vehicle Except
Windshields. Safety glazing materials that comply with the
following may be used anywhere in a motor vehicle except windshields:
- Tests
1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 12 and 18;
OR
- Tests
1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 18; or
- Multiple
glazed units, Class 1, the individual component units of which
comply with one or another of the sets of tests immediately
above designated; and the assembled unit of which complies with
Tests 1 and 2;
OR
- Multiple
glazed units, Class 2, that comply with Tests 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 12,
14 and 18; or Tests 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, and 18.
AS3
– Safety Glazing Material for Use Anywhere in Motor Vehicle Except
Windshields and Certain Specified Locations. Safety glazing
materials that comply with the tests listed in (a), (b), (c), or (d)
below may be used anywhere in a motor vehicle except in windshields
and in the following locations at levels requisite for driving
visibility.
- Buses,
Trucks, and Truck Tractors. Glazing of windows to the immediate
right and left of the driver and in rearmost window if the latter
is used for driving visibility.
- Passenger
Automobiles and Taxicabs. Glazing of all windows, including rear
window, all interior partitions, and all apertures created for
window purposes. a) Tests 1, 3, 4, 9, 12 and 18;
OR
- Test
1, 6, 7, 8 and 18;
OR
- Multiple
glazed units, Class 1, the individual component units of which
comply with one or another of the sets of tests designated in
(a) and (b), and the assembled unit of which complies with Test
1;
OR
- Multiple
glazed units, Class 2, that comply with Tests 1, 3, 5, 9, 12, 14
and 18; or Tests 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, and 18.;
- Where
Test 18 is specified in (a), (b), (c), and (d) above, it shall
be waived as not applicable for obscure safety glazing, either
textured or with a translucent coating or interlayer, in
applications such as rest rooms of buses, trailers, campers, or
motor homes.
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