In a world where products are expected to perform reliably across diverse climates and increasingly extreme weather conditions, the role of weather services in testing and certification has never been more critical. Modern industries — from automotive and aerospace to plastics, textiles, and coatings — depend on sophisticated weathering assessments to verify durability, safety and long-term performance. These assessments simulate the environmental stresses that materials encounter throughout their lifecycle, confirming that products meet strict global standards and customer expectations.
Understanding weathering in product testing
Weathering refers to the targeted exposure of materials or products to environmental conditions to evaluate performance over time. In practice, this means replicating the effects of sunlight, humidity, heat, cold, and temperature fluctuations to determine how these variables influence a product’s degradation.
The goal is simple but essential:
Predict service life as accurately as possible for products that will be exposed to real-world weather.
A key metric in these evaluations is weather resistance — the degree to which material properties remain stable over time. This differs from lightfastness, which only measures the impact of radiation. Weather resistance goes further, incorporating humidity, temperature cycles and other environmental stresses. As climate conditions grow increasingly unpredictable, understanding this full spectrum of influences has become indispensable.
Natural vs. artificial weathering
Weathering tests fall into two major categories:
- Natural (outdoor) weathering
Materials are placed outdoors in specific climates and monitored for degradation.
Natural weathering can be:
- Real-time, reflecting actual exposure durations.
- Accelerated, in which more intense conditions or optimized placements speed up the aging process.
- Artificial (laboratory) weathering
Here, exposure is controlled and intensified using specialized equipment. Artificial testing is always accelerated, enabling manufacturers to predict long-term performance within weeks or months rather than years.
State-of-the-art laboratory weathering instruments — such as the Atlas Weather-Ometer Ci4000 & Ci5000, Xenotest Alpha HE, Beta+, 440, and Suntest XXL+ — simulate sunlight, moisture and temperature cycles with high precision. These tools allow laboratories to replicate both global climate patterns and specific environmental stressors, enabling highly repeatable results.
Why Weather Services Are Essential Across Industries
Weathering tests have become fundamental in multiple sectors:
Automotive and aviation
Exterior components, structural plastics, coatings, composites, and interior trims must withstand UV radiation, humidity, temperature fluctuations, and corrosive conditions. Weather services support long-term safety and appearance — critical for consumer trust and regulatory approval.
Paints, coatings and printing inks
Color stability, gloss retention, and resistance to chalking or fading are all tested under simulated weather. High‑quality printing inks and industrial coatings must maintain their performance even in harsh climates.
Plastics and composites
Mechanical strength, elasticity, and surface integrity degrade under environmental stress. Weathering tests to evaluate materials used in construction, packaging, consumer products, and electronics so you can demonstrate that they remain reliable throughout their lifespan.
Textiles
Outdoor fabrics, sportswear, and technical textiles must endure UV exposure, moisture, and temperature changes without losing color or structural integrity.
Across all these sectors, weather services help manufacturers minimize material failures, reduce warranty claims, comply with international regulations, and maintain strong brand reputations.
Standards that guide weathering testing
To deliver consistent, reliable results, weathering tests adhere to globally recognized standards. While there are many, widely used examples include:
ISO 4892-2, ISO 16474
ISO 105 series (B02, B04, B06)
PV1303, PV1306, PV3929, PV3930
VDA 75202
SAE J2412, SAE J2527
Ford FLTM BO 116-01
FIAT 50451/01 A-2
ASTM G155
BMW AA-0235, BMW AA-0236
These standards promote compatibility across industries and help manufacturers demonstrate that products meet performance expectations in global markets.
How UL Solutions can support the industry
We provide an extensive portfolio of laboratory weathering tests tailored to the needs of modern manufacturers. With advanced equipment and expert support, we help clients evaluate durability, verify compliance with international standards, and achieve reliable product certification.
Whether a company is testing coatings for color stability, plastics for mechanical endurance, or automotive components for long-term weather resistance, our weathering services offer trusted outcomes.
If you require testing aligned with specific standards or face unique environmental exposure challenges, our experts can guide you toward the right methodology. To learn more about our weathering service visit UL.com/environmentaltesting
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