About the Auto Glass Safety Council™ (AGSC)
The Auto Glass Safety Council™ (formerly the AGRSS Council) is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in suburban D.C. and dedicated to the proper repair and replacement of auto glass. The Auto Glass Safety Council was founded and is supported by companies in auto glass repair and replacement, insurers, safety officials and other stakeholders who keep safe repair and replacement as their primary goal.
The Auto Glass Safety Council is an accredited American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards development organization. It has developed North America’s only auto glass replacement standard, the AGRSS™ Standard (ANSI/AGSC/AGRSS 005-2022 Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard). The AGRSS Standard addresses procedures, education and product performance.
Through its National Windshield Repair Division (NWRD), it has also developed the Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass Safety Standard 002 (ANSI/AGSC/NWRD/ROLAGS 002-2022), which addresses procedures, education and product performance relating to auto glass repair. Both the AGRSS Standard™ and the ROLAGS Standard are continuous maintenance standards.
History of the AGSC
The Auto Glass Safety Council™ (AGSC) was founded in the late 1990s when installation professionals together with windshield manufacturers, car makers, adhesive companies, insurers and auto glass retailers came together with the goal of defining proper auto glass replacement protocols. This group began the process of establishing a safety standard for the auto glass industry.
Prior to the formation of the AGSC, the auto glass replacement industry had no standard for windshield installation. There was no consensus in the industry regarding proper installation methods. Unfortunately, this resulted in lives lost and serious injuries that could have been prevented. The lack of responsibility for providing a proper windshield replacement has also exposed many auto glass shops and their insurance providers to legal actions from unsuspecting automobile passengers who thought their glass replacement was performed correctly and safely.
By 2000, AGSC had developed the first Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard™ (AGRSS Standard for short) under the auspices of the American National Standards Institute. Since that time, many safety-conscious auto glass retailers have voluntarily agreed to follow the AGRSS Standard, giving the consumer increased confidence in the safety of their auto glass installation. The AGSC has provided the necessary standard for auto glass retailers to follow to make sure all precautions are taken to ensure driver and passenger safety.
The AGRSS Standard™ was updated in 2002, 2015, 2018 and again in 2022 and is continuously monitored by the Council. The AGRSS Standard addresses six critical areas relative to the installation process, including:
- Vehicle assessment;
- Selection of glass, retention systems, and ADAS recalibration/calibration equipment;
- Installation standards for adhesive-bonded glass;
- Installation standards for rubber-gasket-set glass;
- Additional requirements including requirements for all other glass in a vehicle; and
- Continuing education for auto glass and ADAS recalibration/calibration technicians as well as other company employees.
In an effort to increase consumer safety even further, the AGSC developed an independent third-party audit program for its Registered Member shops. Every AGSC Registered Member is required to undergo an extensive, onsite audit. These audits are conducted on a regular and random basis and validate the commitment of each member company to follow the AGRSS Standard.
In 2011, the AGSC began to administer a technician certification program by which comprehensive testing is provided to auto glass technicians. AGSC not only continuously updates the technician certification test but it also provides continuing education and training to technicians throughout the country.
In an effort to harmonize the company registration and technician certification programs and to provide a unified message to consumers and insurance agents, the AGSC membership requires that all auto glass replacement technicians employed by AGSC Registered Member Companies must be AGSC Certified or AGSC Certified Master Technicians.
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