Is my windscreen shatterproof?
Glasfit sources its products primarily from Shatterprufe™ (Pty) Ltd.
Shatterprufe™ has been in business in South Africa since 1935. It is the only local manufacturer and supplier of the Shatterprufe™ and Armourplate™ automotive safety glass products.
All motor glass that bears the Shatterprufe™ or Armourplate™ logo conforms to the specifications of the South African Bureau of Standards, the British Standards Institute and the United States Department of Transport (D.O.T). Shatterprufe™ (Pty) Ltd also carries the ISO 9002 certification.
Only Shatterprufe™ products meet the rigid quality and safety requirements of all local vehicle manufacturers. As a result, virtually all locally manufactured vehicles have Shatterprufe™ windscreens installed, in the factory. Therefore they are known as Original Equipment or an O.E. part.
Glasfit proudly associates itself with this leading brand and strives through their national network of Fitment Centres to install only original parts manufactured to the highest quality standards and motor vehicle specifications. This ensures that the structural integrity of your vehicle is maintained, and that your safety is not compromised in anyway.
Is it safe to drive my car with a cracked windscreen?
Your windscreen is a vital component in the structural integrity of your car. It adds strength to the body shell and acts as an initial barrier in the event of an accident. It also prevents occupants from being flung out on impact.
For your own safety, it is advisable to replace or repair your windscreen as soon as possible after any damage has occurred.
Can you repair my cracked windscreen?
Cracks affect your windscreen's structural integrity. Every crack should be assessed by a qualified Glasfit Repair Specialist to determine whether it is safe to repair it.
Certain factors make repairing your windscreen unsafe. These include; position, extent of the damage and the length of time that the damage has been there.
As a general rule, a crack in Zone B may be repaired if:
- It is not longer than 150mm in length
- It is not situated within the driver's line of vision (Zone A)
- It does not run from the edge of the windscreen
- It does not extend through more than the outer layer of glass
Note: No repairs are permitted in Zone A.
Get to your nearest Glasfit Fitment Centre and ask your Glasfit Repair Specialist to assess the damage to your windscreen.
What is a chip and how is it repaired?
When an object (for e.g., a stone), hits a windscreen, small bits of glass are removed and this creates a visual distortion. A small chip can grow into a larger break or even a crack - at a rapid pace. For this reason, it is advisable to have chips attended to as soon as possible once noticing them.
To repair the damaged area, the air is forced out of the glass and replaced with a resin. This resin cures to restoring the windscreen to the same strength as it was originally.
By repairing a chip, you can save up to 75% on the cost of a windscreen replacement! Furthermore, most insurance companies cover the entire cost of the repair, without it affecting your premiums or your no-claims bonus.
If the following types of chip damage are not situated in the driver's line of vision, they may be repaired:
When the car windscreen mists up, is it best to blow hot or cold air on the windscreen?
In most cases, it is better to blow warm/hot air onto your windscreen to clear it. Warm air collects more moisture than cool air and this will remove mist more effectively.
If the dew point is high and the ambient air is saturated, the initial blast on the windscreen may fog it up even more. Purge the system first of steamed-up air by venting full hot air to the floor, then proceed switching to defrost.
If you just turned off the air conditioner, you may find steamy air flows first from the upper vents.
Where can I get a windscreen fitted?
Please check the Glasfit National Network Map for a list of all our Fitment Centres.