The organization, which will be composed of automotive OEMs and glass industry suppliers, will work to educate the automotive industry and the public about Enhanced Protective Glass (EPG), a new class of laminated glass technologies being developed for side and rear vehicle windows. EPGAA plans to announce the association details, introduce initial members and demonstrate the technology in October.

    Safety and security glass -- Enhanced Protective Glass (EPG) -- consists of a plastic interlayer or film composite that is factory laminated to heat strengthened or tempered glass. Developed specifically for use in the side and rear windows of automobiles, EPG is similar to the glass currently used in windshields and provides four key benefits: security, safety, solar (ultraviolet and infrared) protection, and sound reduction and dampening.

    EPG technologies are currently offered in the U.S. as standard equipment on the Mercedes Benz S-Class, Audi A8 and as an available option on the Volvo S80. In Mexico, EPG is offered on the DaimlerChrysler Cirrus and Stratus. In Europe, EPG is also available on the Audi A6 and Peugeot 206 and 607.

SECURITY
    With a tough plastic interlayer or film composite, Enhanced Protective Glass provides significant increases in intrusion resistance -- enough to deter most would-be-thieves. While the glass will crack after repeated impacts, the construction provides effective resistance against intruders. This is a major development in terms of creating a truly secure vehicle design. With EPG, it takes repeated blows to begin to break through the plastic layer, meaning side and rear windows can now offer an extension of the protective barrier currently provided by the windshield. In the U.S. alone in 1997, 1.3 million cars were stolen at an expense of $7 billion, and 2.0 million more had contents stolen at an expense of $1.5 billion, according to the FBI. In the U.K., 423,000 cars were stolen, and 2.5 million thefts of possessions left inside cars, according to the 1996 British Crime Survey. Police documentation shows that 50% of all these thefts involved a thief breaking a side window to gain access to the vehicle. EPG can go a long way toward helping reduce these numbers.

SAFETY
    EPG also helps to reduce the potential that passengers will be ejected from a vehicle in case of an accident. Because the glass tends to stay adhered to the interlayer, even when cracked, the window should stay mainly in the frame of a properly designed door system. Building EPG into a vehicle design extends the safety benefits similar to windshields.

SOLAR -- ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT
    In addition, Enhanced Protective Glass blocks up to 95 percent of harmful ultraviolet (UV) light, helping to protect occupants -- as well as interior materials -- from the damaging effects of UV. By helping to deter the degradation of interior materials, including fabrics, leather and plastics, EPG provides an exciting opportunity for more flexibility in the use of materials and designs in vehicle interiors.

SOLAR -- INFRARED LIGHT
    With a complementary treatment to the glass or interlayer, EPG technologies can also significantly reduce interior heat build-up by rejecting up to 55 percent of infrared (IR) light. According to glass industry testing, EPG with IR-reflective treatment can initially reduce the temperature in a vehicle sitting out in the sun by up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or 22 degrees Centigrade. That can reduce the amount of energy used by the air conditioner, not to mention reducing the discomfort of getting into a car with a hot steering wheel or seats.

SOUND
    Enhanced Protective Glass also provides up to a four-decibel reduction in wind and road noise, giving drivers and passengers a quieter, more comfortable ride. For OEM engineers this can mean greater design flexibility in door materials. EPG acts like an acoustic shield, dampening the wind and road noise.

ABOUT THE EPGAA
    The Enhanced Protective Glass Automotive Association (EPGAA) will be composed of OEMs, laminated glass providers and their suppliers to share information and provide overall education on the development of high-impact resistant glass for added vehicle security and occupant safety.