Weathering of white external PVC-U (Scanned copy)
THIS PUBLICATION HAS BEEN ARCHIVED.
Whilst this publication can still be purchased some of the information in it has been superseded by more recent research and standards. The BRE Group does not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any loss or damage, including - without limitation - indirect or consequential loss or damage arising from use, or loss of use, of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this document.
Please note that this is a scanned copy of a paper originally published in 1999, so the text is not as clear as in documents created as pdf files.
PVC-U is one of the most widely used plastics materials for building components. This Digest describes the weathering qualities of self-coloured PVC-U used externally. White is by far the most common colour for most applications, having the advantage over dark colours of remaining much cooler in strong sunshine.
The principal cause of degradation of PVC-U used externally on buildings is the action of UV light, which is present in direct sunlight and, at lesser intensities, in daylight scattered from the sky and clouds. The effect of weathering on appearance and on the mechanical properties is discussed. The Digest then describes artificial weathering tests and relevant standards for PVC-U products.