Category: Did you know

Original Equipment Equivalent (OEE) glass has become a hot topic in the South African insurance industry recently, as market leaders start moving to specify OEE glass instead of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) glass for auto glass and windscreen replacement.

For insurers and their clients, this is a welcome development and a move we have been at the forefront of advocating for since 2013, as we believe it offers significant benefits to insurers and vehicle owners.

Cost and quality considerations

Because OEM glass is significantly more expensive than OEE glass, using OEM glass increases the cost of claims for insurers, and hikes premiums and excess payments for their clients. In contrast, OEE glass is significantly more cost effective than the cost of OEM glass, even though genuine OEE glass is made in the same factory and same production line as the OEM glass. However, cost is not the only consideration when it comes to auto glass – quality and safety are crucial, so it is important that genuine OEE glass and OEM-authorised bonding agents are used for the fitment.

Clear differences in replacement glass

 When looking at alternatives to OEM, it should be noted that not all aftermarket glass is equal to OEE glass. It is not enough for auto glass to carry the SABS mark, as this only addresses the glass manufacturing process, and does not confirm that the glass will perfectly fit the cross curvature of the vehicle it is intended for. If the glass is not a perfect fit, it may crack from the movement of the vehicle. Using inferior quality auto glass and bonding agents that are not OEM approved can present serious safety risks for passengers. OEE glass differs from inferior replacement glass in that it is approved by the OEM, and top quality, authentic OEE glass uses the same materials, production and quality control standards used for OEM products, providing exactly the same quality and performance as OEM products. In short – authentic OEE glass is the same as OEM glass without the brand – and the high price tag. This is recognised by regulatory bodies around the world, with the industry’s leading OEE glass – Fuyao – featuring many homologations.

Tried and trusted OEE glass

We’ve promoted the use of genuine OEE glass since inception, due to its high quality and lower cost. Over more than a decade, this OEE glass has been tried and trusted by thousands of South African motorists and is increasingly becoming the product of choice of leading South African insurers in their efforts to reduce costs while still assuring the comfort and safety of their clients. It was also ‘race tested’ during our sponsorship of the recent VW Polo Cup Series, where it performed flawlessly.

 

Chantàl Jance Van Rensburg

Group Operations Manager

A chipped windscreen has the potential to make a car illegal to drive, but only if the chip obstructs the driver’s view of the road and their surroundings.

 

 

Regulation 204 of the National Road Traffic Act stipulates: “No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle which is not so constructed and maintained as to afford the driver thereof a full and clear view of the roadway ahead and to his or her right and left when the vehicle is in use.”

As such, the size and shape of the crack aren’t of vital importance – unless, of course, it stretches across the bulk of the window – but rather, the location thereof.

 

So, if your car’s windscreen does have a little imperfection somewhere on the passenger side where it’s out of your peripheral vision, rest assured that you don’t have to run out immediately and get it fixed. However, if there is one slap bang in front of your eyes when you’re sitting in the driver seat, it would be best to get it patched up before having to smooth talk your way out of a ticket.

Regulation 204 applies. As long as the driver’s view is not obstructed a chip is not illegal. It is only when it affects the visibility that it becomes an unroadworthy vehicle.

Driving view to be unobstructed

Reg 204. (1) No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle-

(a) which is not so constructed and maintained as to afford the driver thereof a full and clear view of the roadway ahead and to his or her right and left when the vehicle is in use;

(b) which is not fitted with a rear-view mirror or mirrors enabling the driver of such vehicle, when he or she is in the driving position, to see in clear weather a clear reflection of traffic to the rear: Provided that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply in respect of a tractor;

(c) which is a motor car, minibus, bus or goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which does not exceed 3 500 kilograms and which, according to the registration certificate thereof, was registered for the first time on or after 1 January 1987, unless it is fitted with an exterior rear-view mirror on the driving side and an interior rear-view mirror: Provided that where the interior rear-view mirror does not enable the driver, when he or she is in the driving position, to see in clear weather, a clear reflection of traffic to the rear, an additional exterior rear-view mirror shall be fitted on the side opposite to the driving seat and in such a case it shall not be necessary to fit an interior rear-view mirror;

(d) which is a mini-bus, bus or goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 3 500 kilograms and which, according to the registration certificate thereof, was registered for the first time on or after 1 January 1987, unless it is fitted with an exterior rear-view mirror on the driving side and an exterior rear-view mirror on the side opposite to the driving seat; or

(e) which is a motor cycle, a motor tricycle or motor quadrucycle unless it is fitted with a rear-view mirror on the right side of the handlebars thereof, and such cycle shall also be fitted with a rear-view mirror on the left side of its handlebars.

(2) Every rear-view mirror of a motor vehicle-

(a) which-
(i) is a motor car, minibus, bus or goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which does not exceed 3 500 kilograms and which, according to the registration certificate thereof, was registered for the first time on or after 1 January 1976; or
(ii) is a minibus, bus or a goods vehicle, the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 3 500 kilograms and which, according to the registration certificate thereof, was registered for the first time during the period 1 January 1976 to 31 December 1986,
shall be either flat or spherically convex and have an average radius of curvature of not less than one comma two metres; or
(b) contemplated in subregulation (1)(d) shall be either flat or spherically convex and have an average radius or curvature of not less than one comma eight metres.