Why You Need to Change the Windshield, or Glass on an Imported Car

OEM Nissan Skyline GT-R windshield. DOT23 - Made in Osaka. AS1- Laminated safety glass

This is an example of telephone. The old style phones. With rotary dials.   We still see people mention this fallacy, at least once or twice a month.  "The glass on imported cars must be changed. "

Not true if it already meets US DOT requirements. This probably came into being, many, many years ago, when people used to do private imports of vehicles(prior to 1989). Every middle 1980's Japanese car we have seen, all has AS1, AS2, DOT glass.  So if anyone tells you, they had to replace the windows on their car to meet US standards, stab them in the eye with a piece of AS2 glass.  If the cars are over 25 years old, they are also NHTSA exempt, so they don't need to meet FMVSS requirements, that includes glass requirements for the DOT.

FMVSS 205 applies to glazing materials, or windows to the layperson. The full
49 CFR 571.205 - STANDARD NO. 205, GLAZING MATERIALS, is below.

OEM Nissan Skyline side glass. AS2- tempered  DOT20 - Made in Tokyo

The important markings for windows

AS1 - Laminated windows typically only used on the windshield
AS2 - Tempered windows typically side and rear windows

The AS number stands for American Standard, and is “AS” (or “American Standard”) followed by a number indicating the position in which the glass may be used, based on its optical quality. AS1 is the clearest glass (at least 70% light transmission), is laminated, and can be used anywhere in a motor vehicle (typically just the windshield), AS2 is tempered with at least 70% light transmissions, and can be used anywhere except the windshield, and AS3 can be used in certain locations in certain vehicles (and can be laminated or tempered, and has less than 70% light transmission). There are higher numbers used for other purposes, but are not normally encountered in cars. This number must be near the manufacturer’s name/logo, preferably below it (per Z26.1996). - See more at: http://www.carwindshields.info/windshieldmarkings#sthash.qPQRKIZc.dpuf

DOT Code - Says it meets DOT requirements, and where it was made

The DOT code (DOT number) is the letters “DOT” followed by a number that the Department of Transportation (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) assigns to the manufacturer of the glass. This is required by FMVSS205 section S6.2. If you have a DOT code, we have a page that lists all known DOT codes. - See more at: http://www.carwindshields.info/windshieldmarkings#sthash.qPQRKIZc.dpuf

Standard No. 205, Glazing materials.S1. Scope. This standard specifies requirements for glazing materials for use in motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment.S2. Purpose. The purpose of this standard is to reduce injuries resulting from impact to glazing surfaces, to ensure a necessary degree of transparency in motor vehicle windows for driver visibility, and to minimize the possibility of occupants being thrown through the vehicle windows in collisions.S3.Application and Incorporation by Reference.S3.1Application.(a) This standard applies to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, slide-in campers, pickup covers designed to carry persons while in motion and low speed vehicles, and to glazing materials for use in those vehicles.(b) For glazing materials manufactured before September 1, 2006, and for motor vehicles, slide-in campers and pickup covers designed to carry persons while in motion, manufactured before November 1, 2006, the manufacturer may, at its option, comply with 49 CFR 571.205(a) of this section.S3.2Incorporation by Reference.(a) “American National Standard for Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment Operating on Land Highways-Safety Standard” ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996, Approved by American National Standards Institute August 11, 1997 (ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996) is incorporated by reference in Section 5.1 and is hereby made part of this Standard. The Director of the Federal Register approved the material incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 (see § 571.5 of this part). A copy of ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996 may be obtained from the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0007. A copy of ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996 may be inspected at NHTSA's technical reference library, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5109, Washington, DC or at the Office of the Federal Register, 900 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC.(b) The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Recommended Practice J673, revised April 1993, “Automotive Safety Glasses” (SAE J673, rev. April 93) is incorporated by reference in Section S5.1, and is hereby made part of this Standard. The Director of the Federal Register approved the material incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 (see § 571.5 of this part). A copy of SAE J673, rev. April 93 may be obtained from SAE at the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096. A copy of SAE J673, rev. April 93 may be inspected at NHTSA's technical reference library, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5109, Washington, DC, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 900 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC.(c) The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Recommended Practice J100, revised June 1995, “Class ‘A’ Vehicle Glazing Shade Bands” (SAE J100, rev. June 95) is incorporated by reference in Section S5.3, and is hereby made part of this Standard. The Director of the Federal Register approved the material incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 (see § 571.5 of this part). A copy of SAE J100, rev. June 95 may be obtained from SAE at the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096. A copy of SAE J100, rev. 95 may be inspected at NHTSA's technical reference library, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5109, Washington, DC, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 900 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC.S4. Definitions.Bullet resistant shield means a shield or barrier that is installed completely inside a motor vehicle behind and separate from glazing materials that independently comply with the requirements of this standard.Camper means a structure designed to be mounted in the cargo area of a truck, or attached to an incomplete vehicle with motive power, for the purpose of providing shelter for persons.Glass-plastic glazing material means a laminate of one or more layers of glass and one or more layers of plastic in which a plastic surface of the glazing faces inward when the glazing is installed in a vehicle.Pickup cover means a camper having a roof and sides but without a floor, designed to be mounted on and removable from the cargo area of a truck by the user.Prime glazing manufacturer means a manufacturer that fabricates, laminates, or tempers glazing materials.Slide-in camper means a camper having a roof, floor, and sides, designed to be mounted on and removable from the cargo area of a truck by the user.S5. Requirements.S5.1Glazing materials for use in motor vehicles must conform to ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996 unless this standard provides otherwise.S5.1.1Multipurpose passenger vehicles. Except as otherwise specifically provided by this standard, glazing for use in multipurpose passenger vehicles shall conform to the requirements for glazing for use in trucks as specified in ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996.S5.1.2Aftermarket replacement glazing. Glazing intended for aftermarket replacement is required to meet the requirements of this standard or the requirements of 49 CFR 571.205(a) applicable to the glazing being replaced.S5.1.3Location of arrow within “AS” markings. In ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996 (August 11, 1997) Section 7. “Marking of Safety Glazing Materials,” on page 33, in the right column, in the first complete sentence, the example markings “AS↓1”, “AS↓14” and “AS↑2” are corrected to read “A↓S1”, “A↓S14” and “A↑S2”. Note that the arrow indicating the portion of the material that complies with Test 2 is placed with its base adjacent to a horizontal line.S5.2Each of the test specimens described in ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996 Section 5.7 (fracture test) must meet the fracture test requirements of that section when tested in accordance with the test procedure set forth in that section.S5.3Shade Bands. Shade band areas for windshields shall comply with the requirements of either S5.3.1 or S5.3.2.S5.3.1Shade bands for windshields shall comply with SAE J100 JUNE 1995.S5.3.2Except as provided in S5.3.2.1, the lower boundary of shade bands for windshields shall be a plane inclined upwards from the X axis of the vehicle at 7 degrees, passing through point V1, and parallel to the Y axis. The coordinate system and point V1 shall be as specified in Annexes 18 and 19 of European Commission for Europe (ECE) Regulation No. 43 Revision 2—Amendment 1.S5.3.2.1In the area 300 mm wide centered on the intersection of the windshield surface and longitudinal vertical median plane of the vehicle, the lower boundary of shade bands for windshields shall be a plane inclined upwards from the X axis of the vehicle at 3 degrees, passing through point V1, and parallel to the Y axis.S5.4Low speed vehicles. Windshields of low speed vehicles must meet the ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996 specifications for either AS-1 or AS-4 glazing.S5.5Item 4A Glazing. Item 4A glazing may be used in all areas in which Item 4 safety glazing may be used, and also for side windows rearward of the “C” pillar. I.e., Item 4A glazing may be used under Item 4A paragraph (b) of ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996 only in side windows rearward of the “C” pillar.S6. Certification and marking.S6.1A prime glazing material manufacturer must certify, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 30115, each piece of glazing material to which this standard applies that is designed—(a) As a component of any specific motor vehicle or camper; or(b) To be cut into components for use in motor vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment.S6.2A prime glazing manufacturer certifies its glazing by adding to the marks required by section 7 of ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996, in letters and numerals of the same size, the symbol “DOT” and a manufacturer's code mark that NHTSA assigns to the manufacturer. NHTSA will assign a code mark to a manufacturer after the manufacturer submits a written request to the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. The request must include the company name, address, and a statement from the manufacturer certifying its status as a prime glazing manufacturer as defined in S4.S6.3A manufacturer or distributor who cuts a section of glazing material to which this standard applies, for use in a motor vehicle or camper, must—(a) Mark that material in accordance with section 7 of ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996; and(b) Certify that its product complies with this standard in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 30115.