New Regulation Adopted on Windshield Installation
Windshields are critical to the safety of vehicles’ occupants because they interact with air bag systems and provide structural support. Effective January 1, 2017, a new regulation (Title 16, California Code of Regulations section 3365.1) affects the installation of automotive windshields.
The regulation defines “cure time” as the length of time that the adhesive needs to cure until the windshield can properly function as a safety device pursuant to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and vehicle manufacturer specifications. The new regulation also requires that the adhesive itself meet or exceed vehicle manufacturer specifications. Adhesive systems or products shall be used in accordance with adhesive manufacturer specifications and adhesives shall be applied in accordance with vehicle manufacturer specifications.
Under the new regulation, Automotive Repair Dealers (ARDs) are required to notify the customer on the estimate that replacement of the windshield will prevent operation of the vehicle for a period of time and whether the windshield is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) part or a non-OEM part. Once the windshield installation is complete, the repair facility is required to notify the customer on the invoice of the adhesive cure time, the date and time upon which the windshield installation was completed, and whether the windshield is an OEM or non-OEM part. Additional information is on the Regulatory Actions page at www.bar.ca.gov.