AGSC Standards Committee Updates Members at Auto Glass Week

The Auto Glass Safety Council (formerly the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council Inc.) held it AGRSS Standards Committee meeting today in Louisville, Ky., as part of the opening of Auto Glass Week™. In looking back at what has been acomplished since last year's event, it was mentioned that by January 2013 the council will have completed its name change.

Lots has changed along with the name. Among the moves that AGRSS-registered companies may already have seen is that the council has moved from a few selected audits of random companies to audits of all companies, to ascertain that all members are performing auto glass replacements to the standards to which they agree as certified members. One company has, in fact, had its certification removed, indicating that this auditing move is better upholding technicians to the best industry practices.

Council members also commented on some of the changes planned for the year ahead. In 2013 the board hopes to roll out an additional segment for retailers, a marketing component to that will help retailers to fully realize the benefits of AGSC membership. In addition, it was announced that the AGSC board voted yesterday to begin issuing continuing education units (CEU) credits to AGRSS-certified technicians. Installers who have been certified will be able to keep that certification alive not only by taking another test, but also keeping up with those CEUs.

Finally, the committee touched on the release of the next edition of the AGRSS standard. The "003" edition is nearing the end of its audit by ANSI International. The group is anticipating that the updated standard will be approved by ANSI by the end of November or early December 2012. That's not to say that the standard will go immediately into effect, council members cautioned. In 2013, installers will be audited to the current standard, as they become familiar with changes in the new standard.

Auto Glass Week continues through Saturday, September 22, with more educational seminars, the opening of the Exhibition/Extravaganza and the Pilkington Clear Advantage Auto Glass Technician Olympics and the Walt Gorman Memorial Windshield Repair Olympics. Stay tuned to glassBYTEs.com™ for updates straight from the show.