This repair should have been an easy repair if done correctly. Here we look at many reasons why it could have happened. To a new repair technician this may look like a repairable damage as did the customer on this occasion. One of the hardest tasks as a trainer is training new techs how to recognise old damage. To be honest, it is something you learn with experience. Repairing this damage in the way described for fresh damage would result in zero improvement. Whilst it is obvious to us we will try to explain to help you when starting out. How can we tell? The centre impact is filled with pit filler. It looks fairly smooth on the impact (centre) although it could have been crusty if it was an older repair. If you drilled this impact it would powder up differently (cured resin) than if you was drilling glass without cured resin in it. It would drill quite easily compared to glass. You can not drill through the resin to reopen the damage The clear ring in the middle is where cured resin did get in. The outer ring with black in it is where the resin did not get in and remains as unrepaired damage. The black in the outer damage shows that air still is trapped in the damage. Why would this happen? A DIY repair kit used. Untrained technician-no accreditation to BS AU 242b:2022 Substandard windscreen repair resin-Not Compliant to BS AU 242b:2022 Poor quality repair kit-Not compliant to BS AU 242b:2022 Resin used could have been too thick and not of good quality Old resin used and use by date surpassed. 2 years is the optimum peak performance date. Heat was used in an attempt to make the resin thinner ( Naked flame is very common). Some uncontrolled heat sources (Naked flame) closes the damage up to stop the resin flowing. No UV shield used if it was done outside. Its started to cure and thus thicken the resin so that the resin stops flowing. A none UV resistant syringe and needle used outside which has compromised the resin during the dispensing. Air has not been removed before resin injected to create a void. Air out resin is known as VP-vacuum and pressure Some systems try to squeeze resin into the void where air still exists. Resin in before air out known as displacement/direct pressure Dirt and water present in the damage and adhesion has been compromised with contamination. The water could have hydrophobic contamination (Rain X) within it which could have repelled the resin within the damage. The points above are some of the factors which could have contributed to such a poor outcome. These types of repairs are within most technicians capability if they comply with the 4M principal of BS AU 242b:2022 which has addressed some common bad practice.

After a years transition from the run down of BS AU 242A:1998 starting on the 31/3/22 the new windscreen repair standard BS AU 242B:2022 became the only standard in the UK to work to on 31/03/23 if you claim to be compliant to British Standards. The industry at a glance seems to be carrying on "as they were". Numerous websites still claim to work to BS AU 242B:1998 and other websites think that by adopting the new "repair zones only" makes them compliant to work to BS AU 242B:2022. Its a simple adjustment. Working to 2022 British Standards is voluntary. However saying you are something your are not is an unsafe practice in 2023. The unassuming general public could needlessly end up having a windscreen replacement through a sub standard windscreen repair not being carried out to new British Standards. We will keep watching so that 4M registered companies who are compliant can be congratulated on their continued drive of excellence and hope that the rest of the industry keep up with the requirements of the insurance industry.

Consumer, Fleet and Insurers compliance checks at a glance. Repairs outside with spring and summer here 1. If your insured vehicle is repaired outside (even on a cloudy day) using a plastic syringe (similar looking to what a doctor or dentist may use) it is possible that your windscreen repair outcome will be compromised and not as safe as it could have been. Guessing a resin dosage is not a British Standard 2.Some newer orange coloured syringes when used more than once lose their measuring gauge on the barrel when the resin comes into contact with it from a technicians contaminated glove. The resin strips the technicians ability to measure the dosage correctly Insurance companies sustainable drive from contractors 3.Using a single use plastic syringe in the correct way (not more than once) is not a sustainable method of dispensing repair resin (there are 5, sometimes hidden, plastic parts to a syringe and needle). That's 500 parts of plastic for every 100 repairs when using a "single use syringe" as instructed. If you use a "single use syringe" this will mean you would need 100 of them if you did 100 repairs. Compliance claims simplified 4.If you have not had your windscreen repaired to the BS AU 242b:2022 that is a choice which you and your windscreen company will have made together, as it is a voluntary standard to opt in or out of. We would however advise you that you may need to notify your insurance company "as the consumer" and your liability insurer "as the repairer" that the work carried out on the vehicle is not compliant to BS AU 242b:2022. GP surgery, dental practice or professional windscreen company? 5.If a resin syringe is (Clear-Doctors vaccine type or orange-Dentist type) it is widely known across the industry that some of these types of resin dispensing methods do not protect the resin from natural UV when working outside. The repair glue, sometimes referred to in the industry as "special glue", with the refraction and strength of the original glass. Resin only remains "Special" if it is protected from natural UV from the start of the repair before the resin is dispensed, to the end of the repair, when the resin is artificially cured with a specific UV wavelength curing lamp/source. Astronauts hat 5. If a windscreen company uses a very impressive looking clear dome over the repair area when working you should also be aware that following tests by the BWSC that some of these domes may not be UV resistant either. With a third of the side missing and the material not 100% UV resistant. Call in and see us at Automechanica 2023 in Birmingham- 06/06/23 to 08/06/23 on Stand 20 G108

Fleets and Insurance Companies can meet BWSC members at Automechanica on Stand 20 G108 This is what we do: Meet Tom, the first accredited windscreen repair technician in the UK on the 4M register. Tom is a "currently competent" windscreen repair technician working to the new British standard BS AU 242b:2022, compliant to all 4M components of the standard since the 31/03/23. Tom could not carry on claiming compliance to British Standards by "only adopting" the "windscreen repair zones" like he could with old 1998 standard. "Windscreen repair zones" is only 25% of 4M compliance Here is how Tom can claim 100% compliance to British Standard for windscreen repair since 31/03/23 25% Man x 25% Method x 25% Machinery x 25% Material Tom is now currently competent for the first time in 20 years working in the windscreen industry. Its a great credit to Tom on his achievement with distinction, commenting "its the first thing I have passed since my driving test". Check me out, I finally exist as an accredited professional in my industry. If you want to connect with Tom for compliant windscreen repair services in the EAST MIDLANDS please contact us through our contacts page. If you are currently competent please contact us to register for 4M as we will not contact you. To contact other quality assured and accredited windscreen replacement and repair companies or technicians across the UK please go to our contact page stating your location and service required. If we have an accredited technician in your area we will be happy to connect you.

As active members (x2) of BSI committee AUE1 sit on the Panel it is with interest they watch how the industry is shaping up for change in March 2023. Some common compliance mistakes to date: BSI Compliance questions with compliant answers Q1. Is a syringe and needle UV resistant for dispensing? A. No, syringes are not commonly UV resistant and therefore non compliant to BS AU242b:2022 Compliance(*4.5.2.1 a) Dispense with ultra violet (UV resistant applicators) Q2. Ever noticed that the syringe manufacturer has put the words "single use only" on the barrel? A. This avoids cross contamination of old and new fluids. Historically overlooked so that a single resin syringe could be used x20 times over. Compliance means If you do x20 repairs you need x20 separate syringes and needles if you work to syringe manufacturers recommendations. Compliance (*5.2) Identify ways of using less single use plastic Q3. Ever noticed how white bottles designed for dispensing ear drops have a natural (pictured), none UV resistant dropper plug for dispensing. A. New compliance requirements require bottles to be 100% UV resistant including the dropper plug (Commonly black in the UV resins industry) Compliance: (*4.5.2.1 a) Dispense with Ultra Violet- (UV resistant applicators) *All of the above link into 6.Claims of conformity of the standard: (Submitted by Ian Sprigg BSI AUE/1 Committee Member)

Following on BWSC survey 93% of windscreen companies who took part indicated that they would join the Master Tech, 4M Register on completion of their assessed outcome. Thank you to all those companies who took part and we look forward to your Master Tech accreditation from March 2023 onwards. To become a 4M Master Tech, evidence of an assessed outcome is all you will need to prove competence as a technician complying to BS AU 242b:2022. With the supporting evidence you will be enrolled onto the National 4M register of safe windscreen operatives.

Whilst some stone damage may be repairable, under the new standard BS au 242b:2022, carrying out a repair in certain areas may not be permitted if following compliance. Only a technician who has been assessed and certified as being compliant would know when and where not to carry out a windscreen repair so as not to compromise the safety features of the vehicle. The 4M register will evolve in the UK as the go to register for all compliant companies who claim compliance to BS au 242b:2021.

The new windscreen repair standard and new repair zones are nearly upon us on 31/03/2022. Claiming to be good in British Standards name will now have to be proven with an assessed outcome if you are working towards British Standards. Accreditation has been a long time in the making and long overdue.

Its nearly time for publication of the new windscreen repair standards after nearly 18 months of leading industry experts working through the technicalities of the new standard. We look forward to the new standards being published and the bar being raised in the field of competence. You can buy your new standard here when starting your journey of compliance