Brinks Trucks

[ricky reed]

b]I was asked by a friend at Brinks if I would like to inspected there fleet of vehicles and do the repair work. However they also asked me about repairing windshield if one of the truck are bullet prof.

Is there a difference is the windshield of the bullet proof and regular vehicles?[/b] have anyone ever repair one of these vehicles.

[mepoozer]

Hello- I don't know if this helps but just a thought- My husband has done windshields for years but no bullet proof. His thoughts are-In most states(if not all) require a windshield to be laminated with "plastic" between the 2 pieces so maybe bullet proof is just alot thicker? Therefore it could probably be repaired. Don't know if this makes sence but we were discussing it and are interested to hear other thoughts on it. Maybe someone at Brinks could get some info. from the manufactuer. This one will be really interesting to follow...
Any other ideas???? Karen

[ChipDoctor]

The following comes from the National Windshield Repair Association's Recommended Practices for windshield repair:

"Windshield repair is not recommended under the following circumstances:

Damage penetrating both layers of laminated glass
Damage with three or more extended long cracks
Damage or crack contaminated by chemicals which inhibit repair
Damage or crack on the inside layer of glass
Damage or crack that is dirty
Damage or crack in a heated wiper rest area
Damage or crack in a fully heated windshield
Damage with pit size larger than 3/8 of an inch (9.525 mm.)
Damage with pit depth to the laminate
Cracks that run through the acute area of the windshield
Edge cracks that intersect more than once with an edge
Stress cracks
Bulletproof windshields"

I guess this may be another reason to become certified through the NWRA program since you would need to know this information to pass the exam.

Regards,
Mike Burstein
Dominion Windshield Repair Inc
http://www.ChipDr.com

[Delta Kits]

Interesting info on bulletproof glass:

How Stuff Works - "How does bulletproof glass work?

[Repair1]

Mike


I have repaired bulletproof glass I don

[DaveC]

While many of you repair folks are much more experienced than I am at WR, quite some time ago I was Military Police.

Unless there have been changes in the manufacture of bulletproof since then (and there very may have been), here's my two cents, sorry for the imaginarrative....

Bulletproof glass isn't really bulletproof. By using multiple layers of glass and PCB the impact from rounds is dissipated throughout the layers of glass/PCB.

Now, in theory, I can only assume that if the damage to the piece of bulletproof glass doesn't penetrate the first PCB layer, then a normal repair could be made.

On the other hand... imagine "Joe the Armored Car Driver," just tooling down the road with megabucks in the back. He feels reasonably confident that he is protected 'cause his employer has provided him with excellent training and the best of equipment

All of a sudden...BAM , a terrorist group, still upset over the whole "Classic Coke, New Coke" issue, in dire need of funds to promote their Cola Cause, fires an RPG or LAW into a windshield you had recently just repaired.

The results are disastrous. The 75mm HE round penetrates the windshield resulting in Joe's untimely demise and a full investigation of the events. Naturally, the lawyers representing Joe's family discover that the windshield had been repaired. . .

While you may point out in court that the extent of your liability (as stated in your invoice) is to refund the repair fee, something in the back of my mind says that the lawyers are probably going to want a bit more than 50 bucks!!!

[Robert06]

Some other possiblities:

A repair introduces a change in the the uniformity of the glass - or maybe a weak point if the repair wasn't done properly. The energy of the bullet may or may not be absorbed correctly by the glass, maybe resulting in less bullet resistance. The repair may look ok, but will it stop a rifle bullet?

Remember, this glass has the unusual job of having to stop an incredibly powerful projectile from piercing it and going into a person - this isn't your ordinary windshield. Not much room for error either, its a matter of life or death.

Another reason for manufacturers not recommending repairing bulletproof glass - they have no idea how good the person doing the repair is going to be. Maybe a good tech could repair one ok, but what if they're not so good? Again its a matter of life or death so maybe they just don't want to take the chance.

[GlassStarz]

So its bullet proof but not rock proof? LOL

[sydfloyd44]

Damage or crack in a fully heated windshield:
(Another expensive windshield I get it now, who wrote this recommendations If I’m not mistaken ford had a service release on this topic I believe they even said it was ok.)
--This link will take you to a copy of the Ford Bulletin. Has never been recommended and never will. http://www.glasslinks.com/tips/repheat.htm

Damage or crack in a heated wiper rest area: (What! I see no reasoning for this)
--I agree with you in part. If you are familiar with installing auto glass and know from experience or can tell how a windshield is heated, there are some that can be repaired safely. Take for instance the 1226 Dodge Caravan. These heater elements are on the inside of the windshield and not affected by repair. One the other hand, certain Range Rover windshields are heated in the laminate layer and a repair can cause enough $$ in damage that you may be calling your insurance company to see if you have coverages to pay for it. It is safer to make it policy to NOT recommend the repair of these windshields since not everyone has repair and replacement experience. Heck, people are still repairing the Ford Insta-Clear windshields even after Ford put it in writing to not repair them.

Damage with pit depth to the laminate:
(This is tricky because if you think about 99% of all the repairs you do break down to the laminate? Some of them are to damaged however very very few)
--They are talking about the PIT damage extending down to the laminate. If the glass is that crushed that while you probe the loose glass out, you find yourself to or even close to the laminate layer, it is a replacement situation, not repair.

I can appreciate where you are coming from. But, it is ultimately the repair persons responsibility to be informed of our profession and to not only know what is right and wrong, but to actual do it. Anything otherwise can be viewed as negligence.

As far as the bulletproof windshields, I have no experience with them. About 12 or 13 years ago I remember seeing an armored vehicle at a dealership being serviced. I noticed the windshield had MANY, MANY stone chips in it. When I got up on side of the truck (with permission), I was surprised to find that the vehicle had a normal flat lami windshield and then a THICK (about 1 1/2") layer of Lexan(?) bolted from the inside covering the windshield and door windows.

[screenman]

Just my thoughts on this, reading back to far more intelligent postings than mine I read that is is the lexan or pvb layers that stop the bullet, not the glass.

The resin manufacturers tell us that a properly repaired chip will be stronger than the original glass.

The make up of most heated front screens now allow for repair. Ford have never to my knowledge made much money from windshield repair.

Have a lot of repair regulations been written by replacement guys I wonder??