4.1 Tests conducted in accordance with this practice are used to evaluate the weatherability of construction seals and sealant materials when they are exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The weatherability of seals and sealants in actual outdoor use can be very different depending on the location because of differences in solar radiation, moisture, temperature, pollutants, and other factors. Sealant color may also affect weatherability.

4.2 This practice allows for three options: Option 1 - Procedure A in which the effect of movement during weathering is not considered; Option 2 - Procedure B in which specimens are weathered in conjunction with movement based on thermal changes. The applied strain is proportional to a combination of the temperature at the time the equipment is set up and subsequent thermal changes. This option closely mimics the actual movements that occur in many sealant installations, but is less repeatable than the movement in Procedure C; Option 3 - Procedure C in which the strain during weathering is manually applied. This procedure allows for excellent control and repeatability, but is less representative of movement in actual use conditions than the movement in Procedure B. Options 2 and 3 have been added to this practice based on peer reviewed scientific literature demonstrating that applied strain separately and in combination with other weathering stresses causes changes in the weatherability of sealants.

4.3 The type, frequency and amount of movement of sealants varies with location and may affect weatherability. It cannot be assumed, therefore, that results from one exposure in a single location will be useful for determining weatherability in a different location. Exposures in several locations with different climates (for example, solar radiation, moisture, temperature, pollutants, biological and other factors) that represent a broad range of anticipated service conditions are recommended.

4.4 It is strongly recommended that control materials of similar composition and construction to the test specimens and with known weatherability be exposed along with the test specimens for the purpose of comparing the performance of test materials to the controls. (See 6.2).

4.5 The results of short-term exposure tests can provide an indication of relative outdoor performance, but they shall not be used to predict the absolute long-term performance of a seal or sealant material. The results of tests conducted for less than 12 months will depend on the particular season of the year in which they begin.

4.6 Because of year-to-year climatatological variations, results from a single exposure test cannot be used to predict the absolute rate at which a seal or sealant degrades. Several years of repeat exposures are needed to determine an average test result for a given location.

4.7 Climatic and construction factors can impose cyclic movement upon sealed joints in use. This movement can impact the effects of outdoor weathering and often causes types of failure that are not produced by weathering without movement. Thus, the ability of building joint sealants to withstand temperature-induced movements of compression and expansion is an important property.

4.8 Outdoor weathering of specimens in combination with natural or forced cyclic movement during exposure can provide a more realistic assessment of the ability of a seal or sealant to withstand the combined effects of climate and movement encountered by seals and sealants in building construction applications.