Rear screen as windscreen

[Compo_Simmonite]

Anyone know if the rear screen off a production car can be used as the windscreen on a homebuilt car design ?

Thanks.

Paul H

[530dTPhil]

It's been done on a couple of occasions that I know of, BUT it's not a good idea. Rear screens are invariably toughened glass which will shatter into thousands of pieces if hit by a stone etc.
Front screens are almost always laminated glass which will provide much better protection for the occupants and will not shatter from stone damage.

You would be far better off finding an existing screen which is close to what you would ideally like. We have cut down screens, produced one offs and small production runs for many different types of vehicles. It doesn't have to be an expensive exercise.

What type of car are you thinking of?

[Compo_Simmonite]

Having a toughtened windscreen instead of laminated is nothing new to me as I've a 1968 Land Rover, 1967 Morris Minor, 1956 Austin A35, 1983 Microcar RJ125 and 1968 Triumph Herald convertible - none of which have laminated screens :-)

I'm at the planning stages of a microcar project and have spotted several rear screens which could be suitable.
Depending on style I go for the complete rear tailgate / glass of a Ka has the look of an Isetta about it (I owned an original years ago but had to sell when short of money for eldest childs first birthday :-( ), and a Land Rover rear door glass / large van door could be used as well for other styles / designs.
Problem as far as I know, cutting down a lamitated screen is that it would have to be done so the marking were still visible for SVA etc. If they are on one edge on the original then it rules cutting one down.

Paul H

[530dTPhil]

Compo_Simmonite said:

Problem as far as I know, cutting down a lamitated screen is that it would have to be done so the marking were still visible for SVA etc. If they are on one edge on the original then it rules cutting one down.
Paul H

The kite mark doesn't have to be a problem, depending on what you pick as the original glass. It should be possible to get a standard screen manufactured with the kite mark suitably 'relocated'.

[Compo_Simmonite]

530dTPhil said:

The kite mark doesn't have to be a problem, depending on what you pick as the original glass. It should be possible to get a standard screen manufactured with the kite mark suitably 'relocated'.

What about flat glass - can a kite mark be added or would it have to be a screen already marked cut down ?

Paul H

[530dTPhil]

For one-offs we would try to cut from an existing flat screen as the first option. If this cannot be done, then manufacture is the next step. It's fairly straightforward (and relatively inexpensive) to have a screen manufactured to your pattern with the proper approvals and kitemark in the right place.

[Compo_Simmonite]

530dTPhil said:

For one-offs we would try to cut from an existing flat screen as the first option. If this cannot be done, then manufacture is the next step. It's fairly straightforward (and relatively inexpensive) to have a screen manufactured to your pattern with the proper approvals and kitemark in the right place.

Thanks for clarifying.
It opens up a lot more options.

Paul H

[530dTPhil]

Compo_Simmonite said:

530dTPhil said:

For one-offs we would try to cut from an existing flat screen as the first option. If this cannot be done, then manufacture is the next step. It's fairly straightforward (and relatively inexpensive) to have a flat screen manufactured to your pattern with the proper approvals and kitemark in the right place.

Thanks for clarifying.
It opens up a lot more options.

Paul H

Edited for accuracy

Phil

[andygtt]

Im fairly sure the front screen has to be laminated and kite marked etc to prove this in order to get through SVA etc.

[Steve_D]

andygtt said:

Im fairly sure the front screen has to be laminated and kite marked etc to prove this in order to get through SVA etc.

The actual wording says 'Glass constructed or treated that if it fractures it does not fly into fragments likely to cause severe cuts'.
From that I would say it could be toughened.

It does say it has to be marked E4 43R-002439 which infers that the kite mark and BS markings are not now acceptable where they were in SVA.
I've Googled the spec above but not found a definitive answer.

Steve