Next Draft of California Auto Glass Regulations Expected in Mid-March

The next draft of the California "Cool Cars" auto glass regulations are due out in mid-March, according to Dr. Marijke Bekken, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) representative overseeing the process. The last draft of the regulations, designed to mandate reflective properties of auto glass in new cars sold in the state models 2012 and later, was released in late-December, followed by a 15-day public comment period. (

"We are working to finalize the 15-day changes and hope to have them out soon for public comment," Bekken told glassBYTEs.com™/AGRR magazine today.

Bekken said the group originally had hoped to release the latest draft this month. She was unable to comment on what types of comments had been received.

"The draft nature of the release allowed the comments to be confidential, so in many instances I cannot say who suggested what," she said. "However, comments to the 15-day will be made part of the official rulemaking record and will be posted on the web."
 

The latest draft of the regulations released in December included several key requirements:

• "For 2012 model year vehicles, at least 25 percent of each manufacturer's projected California vehile sales volume must use a windshield with a (total solar transmittance (Tts) less than or equal to 50 percent;"
• "For 2013 model year vehicles, at least 50 percent of each manufacturer's projected California vehicle sales volume must use a windshield with a Tts less than or equal to 50 percent;" and
• "For 2014 and 2015 model-year vehicles, all windshields must have a Tts less than or equal to 50 percent."

In addition, the latest draft would permit an option for 2016 and subsequent model-year vehicles that allows manufacturers to "demonstrate equivalent solar control using the specified alternative test procedure approved in advance."

The goal of the regulations is to reduce the amount of heat that is transmitted through the glass, thus easing the load on a vehicle's air conditioner and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state, as part of an initiative taken on by the state with its passing of AB 32 in 2006-also known as the Global Warming Solutions Act.