NWRA news release

[Dave M]

Brent,
Perhaps it would be possible for you to copy and release to the forum members the just released draft Z26.1 standard. I read it on Glassbytes tonight.
Hopefully, we can have some discussion on this topic.

[Brent Deines]

This is the link to the glassbytes article. http://www.glassbytes.com/documents/newsZ2620071109.pdf

As this is a draft I don't know that I can get access to the entire standard, but for those of you that have asked if the NWRA is worth joining I will simply say, this is why I am a member. Things like this can get slipped through without most of us ever being aware of it unless we have an organization looking our for our best interests.

I look forward to the discussion that is sure to follow here on the forum, and I encourage all of you to contact the NWRA and the NGA to see what they are doing about this issue, and how you can help. I'm quite certain these organizations will be happy to furnish more information as it becomes available.

[SGT]

Read about this in the current issue of AGRR. Certainly alarming to say the least.

Perhaps NWRA or DK Forum could set up an online petition for any and all techs, members or not to electroniclly sign and then could be forwarded to the powers that be. This certainly seems like an oppotunity for us here on the world's largest windshield repair forum to all come together as one and be heard through representaion from DK or NWRA. Numbers can speak louder than words. Just a thought.

[Brent Deines]

I think that's a good idea, but will let the NWRA take the lead. They are always welcome to post here, and I would be happy to post a link to their site if they choose to start a petition. I know several of the NWRA board members watch this forum, but so far neither the NWRA or the NGA have chosen to participate, probably due to the fact that it may appear that they are showing some favoritism to Delta Kits which could make other windshield repair manufacturers and suppliers unhappy.

Still, I have always thought they were missing the boat by not using this audience to post answers to questions about their organizations and spread the word about crazy ideas like this one. I also think this audience is perhaps the best representation of the diversity that makes up the windshield repair profession, but unfortunately not too many windshield repair forum members have gotten involved with either the NGA or the NWRA, so the leadership of these organizations lacks the diversity that we see here. That's a shame in my opinion, but it's not their fault that windshield repair forum members have not shown more of an interest in those organizations.

There has been some disagreement between the NGA and the NWRA about the need for concern over this issue, so I hope both organizations will come forward with everything they know, and at some point come to an agreement on what, if anything should be done' so they can work together for the betterment of our industry rather than butt heads.

Regardless of your feelings about this matter, I would suggest that you monitor the NGA and NWRA websites to see what happens next. Can you imagine what it would do to our industry if we really did need to apply a marking to the glass every time we did a repair? It would be bad enough if we had to etch something into the corner of the glass, but what if it had to be close to the repair? The etching would then be more of a cosmetic issue than the completed repair!

[glassdoctor]

They would not really mandate an etching at the spot of repair would they? That is so bizzare it's seems impossible... and it surely would not hold up if they did do it?

Who exactly would be policing this type of "law"?

[Brent Deines]

I would certainly hope not, but that is the fear, and when you read the proposal that certainly sounds like the intent.

As for who would police it, who knows? I think it would be very difficult to enforce, but it could be used as a tool to scare customers away from windshield repair if marketed by groups that seem determined to destroy the windshield repair industry.

Frankly I don't think it will happen, but I am also not willing to bury my head in the sand and pretend that it "can't" happen.

[glassdoctor]

Yeah... it's unfortunate, but that is the world we live and work in isn't it?

[Dave M]

Keeping in mind that this is only a draft of Z26.1 one of many questions I have is this....the codes that will be used to mark the windshield as per the example in the draft, how will the location of the repair be marked? It states in the draft "the location in which the change occurred". Can this only refer to repairs (I assume).
Maybe we can put little diagrams with measurements and arrows like some of us do on our invoices! /_*_\

[ChipperFixer]

I read the draft.....I'm still not understanding their reasoning. What exactly is their intent? Is it to protect the manufacturers of windshields?

[Dave M]

My understanding of this draft is for consumer knowledge when purchasing a vehicle, used or new. When a carfax is used to see what has been done to a vehicle prior to purchase (flood damage, body damage, etc.) any changes to the windshield are not specified. If this draft passes than the purchaser will know by simply looking at the windshield.
Will the average consumer even be aware of the windshield being etched for changes? If they are aware, will they know what the codes mean?
Also, replacement companies will be able to see who and when the windshield was changed, helping them in warranty issues.