Part four in our series of ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS™ Standard 003-2015 changes is related to adhesives and their importance to the safety of the installation.

6.4 The vehicle owner/operator shall be notified prior to and after the installation process of the minimum drive-away time under the circumstances of the replacement.

The Safe-Drive-Away Time (SDAT) is one of the most important issues the mobile technician must communicate to the vehicle owner. If the vehicle is driven pre-maturely, there could be safety and performance problems with serious ramifications. We all know that the adhesives must be cured to the point of providing safety as defined by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 208 and 212. We must communicate to the customer that driving or moving the vehicle could cause the glass to shift, thus creating possible leaks and bonding problems as well.

This portion of the Standard assures that there is no mistake in communication when it comes to the customer’s use of the vehicle. Notifying the customer before the installation commences ensures that the customer is prepared to keep the vehicle stationary as prescribed by the cure rates and climatic conditions of the day. It also ensures the customer’s schedule will not be in conflict with the requirements. Reminding the customer after the installation reinforces the importance of SDAT and demonstrates its importance.

6.5 Adhesive must be applied so that the finished bead cross section profile and dimensions meet or exceed original equipment configuration or recommendation of adhesive system manufacturer.

Section 6.5 is the directive to replicate the original installation as closely as possible. However, all technicians know that obtaining the exact bead configuration and dimension can be difficult to do in the aftermarket. A robot can be programmed to extrude a specific amount of adhesive at the point of application. However, as the vehicle continues down the assembly line, the glass is leaned on and pressed in areas where other parts are assembled and the exact width and height can be changed. This directive is meant to ensure that the technician matches the original bead as closely as possible.

The change in this directive reflects the adhesive manufacturers’ role in determining the urethane’s proper performance features as designed by the automaker. Due to this involvement and the knowledge put forth in design, we, as aftermarket service providers, must respect their recommendations and follow their instructions to insure proper results.