AGRSS Validation Preparation

Are you asking yourself if AGRSS is a hoax? Do you think maybe AGRSS is a waste of your time, a waste of your money?

Well, the time is here and the auditors have been trained. They are getting their processes together. They are getting scenarios figured out so that they can walk into any glass replacement shop and figure out by asking a few questions and spending a day or less with your crew to analyze whether your shop is abiding by the AGRSS Standards. They will look at your crew and your processes in black and white; they will not ask trick questions, they are merely there to assess your everyday practices.

The number-one reason the Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS) and AGRSS Council exist is to promote the safe installation of windshields and auto glass. My belief is that if you can embrace that the heart of AGRSS is in the right place, and that they want your family to be safe in your car once you have had a piece of glass replaced, then I believe that you can embrace the validation process.

I know that there are so many of us out there that are having a hard time truly embracing change—embracing the fact that someone is going to come into your shop and tell you whether you and your crew know how to install auto glass. I truly think this is where most of us as installers and shop owners put on the proverbial brakes and say “Wait just one second, I have been doing this for 30 years (or whatever number of years you want to input there), and you want to tell me I do not know how to do my job. What experience do you have?”

I know it is hard, I have been on working on myself the last few years realizing that this is good for me, and that this is good for our industry. To be honest they have brought things to my attention that I may not have even considered, maybe ignored or turned my back on. We must remember that the intent of AGRSS is to promote safe installation of auto glass. I know you have seen more than once a replacement that a “hack” installed—an install that made it quite clear that the installer had no idea what the heck he was doing. Butyl sets, round beads, narrow beads, lack of primer on the glass, lack of primer on the body, the list goes on, and on, and on …

I know that some of us are thinking “What do a few seconds matter?” Maybe it is a few minutes, days or degrees. All of this stuff matters to the manufacturer that produces the urethane and primers that we use to install auto glass. They have spent multiple thousands of dollars on research, of which I have no idea, but my guess is that it is beyond what any of us would imagine. Based on their research they have given us guidelines to use when using their products. They know their products work when used according to their recommendations; they have done scientific tests to prove it. If your argument is that you have been doing it a different way for years and you have not had a problem, then you have a problem. Even if you did your own testing in your shop I would be willing to bet that the unapproved way is not the best way. It may not even be a safe installation. You may never know if someone died because you did not want to follow the manufacturer’s directions and specifications.

Here is my frustration. I can tell my own technicians that they need to shake the primer stick for thirty seconds and I can have the manufacture rep tell them to shake it for thirty seconds, they may even answer the question properly on a test to shake that same primer stick for thirty seconds, but when it comes to the actual install they may only shake it for four seconds. Four seconds! That does not follow the manufacturer’s specifications and it is wrong. The windshield may not leak today and the windshield may not fly out tomorrow, but it is still not right. You know how to do it right, so do it right.

There are also specifications as to the temperature your urethane and primer need to be kept so that you have product that is useful to the full extent of its shelf life. We need to know the product we are using and use it properly. Unless you are on Fear Factor you will probably not drink a glass of milk that is past its expiration or one that has been sitting on the counter all day or all week. Most of us will not use product if the product is beyond the expiration. Did you know that some products’ shelf life is cut in half if it is stored in too high of temperature? Did you know that some products should be destroyed if it is stored at below zero degrees? If you are storing product at 48 degrees and its minimum storage temperature is 50 degrees that is a no-no; you would get written up. It may be a major violation or it may be a minor one; these things and more are being decided right now.

If anyone is wondering, I am of the mindset that I will abide by the AGRSS and my manufacturer’s recommendations so that I can provide the safest auto glass installs in my market. I can only hope and pray that others are doing the same. I am sure many are, but I also know that many of my peers are merely testing the water, which is fine in my eyes. Do your homework and look for the benefits. If you’re sole reason to join AGRSS is to get an extra dollar on every invoice you may end up disappointed. I can only hope that that is a residual benefit since it takes more of my employees and my time to do the job right in the eyes of ARGSS and my urethane manufacturer.

I want to thank SIKA publicly because the company has gone out of its way to provide AGRSS required documents, training material and hands-on support to my company. Overall they continue to improve their product to make my life easier.

Spring has sprung for those of us in the northern hemisphere; work hard, make money and have fun.

Many blessings in your endeavors!