Vehicle glass

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- Vehicle glass includes the windshield, side and rear windows (including small windows like quarter glass and opera windows), and glass roof panels such as sunroofs.
- It’s held in place by glass run channels, which also help contain glass fragments if the glass breaks.
- Back glass, or the rear window, is tempered safety glass and breaks into small rounded pieces.
- Windscreens (windshields) are made of laminated glass: two glass layers with a vinyl interlayer (PVB) in between.
- Some vehicle glass may have heating coils or built-in antennas.
- Repairs: chips or cracks in the outer windscreen layer can be fixed. Cracks up to about 2 inches (5.1 cm) are often repairable, depending on size, position, type, and depth. Local laws vary.
- The repair process usually involves cleaning the area, removing air, filling the crack with a clear resin, and curing it with UV light. Good repairs can restore up to about 95% of clarity and maintain strength.
- Glass other than the windshield generally shatters on impact and must be replaced.
- Most body glass isn’t bonded to the frame and can be installed without adhesive, but windscreens, sunroofs, and rear windows are usually bonded with adhesive.
- In the US, safety standards FMVSS 212/208 regulate the reliability of the adhesives used.
- Replacing bonded glass can take about an hour, but the adhesive must cure before driving. This waiting period is often called Safe Drive Away Time or Minimum Drive Away Time.