What is the Test for Measuring the Durability of Paint? Introducing the Accelerated Weather Resistance Test You Should Check Before Construction!

Hello everyone!KakeruKoumuten Co., Ltd. is here!

This time, we will discuss important points in choosing paint

regarding ‘Durability’.

We will introduce ‘Exposure tests for comparing paint durability’.

How is the durability of paint determined?

When it comes to painting work, everyone is concerned about ‘How long does exterior wall painting last?‘ and ‘When is the right timing for the next exterior wall repainting?‘ It can be difficult to measure this accurately.

However, there is a standard that can give you an idea of how weather-resistant it is. That is the durability period indicated by the manufacturer.

But just because a paint has a high durability period doesn’t mean it’s the right choice. We hope you can find paint that suits your home, considering the characteristics of the paint and the location of your residence.

Paint tested under national standards

Do you know how the durability of paint is determined?

The expected service life indicated in paint catalogs is a guideline set by manufacturers based on their own standards for the longevity of the paint film.

Many people likely consider this durability period as a key point in choosing paint.

It is a common belief that ‘Paint with a longer service life is definitely better.’ This is also our company’s general perspective.

However, what if the paint manufacturer overestimates the service life compared to the actual years…

This is something to consider. In fact, there are paints that claim inaccurate service lives that have emerged in recent years.

So, how can we detect such dishonesty? It is whether they conduct tests using a formal method to accurately compare service lives.

Weather Resistance Testing

Here are two representative weather resistance tests to measure the durability of paint!

1. Outdoor Exposure Test

The outdoor exposure test involves exposing the paint outdoors under sunlight and measuring the degree of aging, such as color changes and deterioration speed, under environmental conditions throughout summer and winter.

This test is conducted by paint manufacturers and painting contractors.

However, this method measures the deterioration of the paint after three years, so it requires a period of about three years for measurement. Additionally, the test is conducted in regions with harsh weather conditions (such as Hokkaido, Miyako Island, and Chiba Prefecture).

2. Accelerated Weather Resistance Test

The accelerated weather resistance test involves spreading paint on a flat surface inside a machine to artificially accelerate the deterioration of the paint, measuring its appearance and weather resistance, and predicting the product’s lifespan.

First, weather resistance refers to the durability against deterioration caused by natural environments such as sunlight and rain. This is artificially accelerated to observe the state of deterioration.

Since the outdoor exposure test has a long duration of three years, it takes a considerable amount of time from development to release. Therefore, many paint manufacturers adopt this accelerated weather resistance test, which has a shorter duration and allows for the evaluation of weather resistance.

Xeon Lamp Test (Accelerated Weather Resistance Test)

The Xeon lamp weather resistance test has an acceleration factor of about 30 times that of the outdoor exposure test. Additionally, Xeon lamps are widely used internationally and are adopted in Japan due to their high reproducibility of natural environments, as per JIS A 6909 (Finishing Materials for Construction) for weather resistance classification.

The Xeon lamp test, which is a national standard primarily adopted by manufacturers in the accelerated weather resistance test, is aimed at predicting the lifespan of various products and materials.

Furthermore, we can accurately compare the service life and measure it using formal methods.

How to Confirm if the Paint has Passed the Xenon Lamp Test

So, how can you tell if the paint has undergone the xenon lamp test? You can easily find out by checking the paint catalog, as the test name is listed there.

Many catalogs indicateJIS A 6909 (Finishing Materials for Construction), so please check it!

However, please be cautious as there are paints that pretend to have a high durability despite not achieving high results in the xenon lamp test!

If you have any concerns, feel free to consult Kakeru Koumuten Co., Ltd. anytime!

Testing Method

Next, as mentioned briefly above, let me explain the testing method simply!

1. Place the paint film in the testing machine and perform irradiation with light (assuming sunlight) and spraying with water (assuming rainwater).
2. Damage the paint film in conditions close to the natural environment and measure the decrease in gloss on the surface of the paint film.
3. Results will be obtained after a few weeks.

Comparison of Exterior Wall Paints

Next, based on the clear time of the xenon lamp, we will introduce a simple comparison table of the durability of the paints!

Manufacturer	Product Name	Xenon Lamp Clear Time	Bottom Contamination Resistance	Heat Insulation
👑 Astec Paint	Fluorine REVO1000	Over 7000 hours	★★★	★★★
Astec Paint	Silicon REVO1000	Over 6000 hours	★★	★★★
Astec Paint	Super Radical Silicon GH	Over 3500 hours	★★
KF Chemical	Semi-Floron Super Clear	Over 5000 hours	★★★
SK Kaken	Clean Mild Fluorine	Over 5000 hours	★★★
Nippon Paint	Perfect Top	Over 3000 hours	★★★
SK Kaken	Premium Silicon	Over 5000 hours	★★★
SK Kaken	Ceramic Silicon	Over 4000 hours	★★
Rock Paint	Yume Rock	Over 4000 hours	★★
Rock Paint	Hyper Yume Rock	Over 5000 hours	★★

There are other paints not included in the table, but roughly speaking, the above table summarizes them.

Additionally, the above table only evaluates the clear time, bottom contamination resistance, and heat insulation of the xenon lamp type, so it does not determine the quality of the paint!

☟If you are interested, we also introduce our recommended paints, so please take a look!☟

↑ We will add the link once it is published

Summary

We introduced how the durability years are determined, but just because the number is high does not mean it is good, and a low number does not mean it is bad. The recommended paint may change depending on the sunlight and location of your home.

Our company wants to consult with customers to find out which paint is suitable and introduce the best paint for your home!

Instead of the contractor recommending a specific paint, we would like to narrow down the options to find the paint that best suits your home and discuss it together for a decision!

Please allow us to assist you in making your home an even better place to live!

Estimates and inspections are, of course, free of charge!

If you have any concerns, please consult Kakeru Koumuten Co., Ltd.!
We carry out everything from temporary scaffolding work to roof construction and exterior painting entirely in-house. We are confident that our costs, quality, and organization for exterior work are unmatched compared to other companies! We welcome competitive estimates with confidence!
You will be glad you chose us! We take every request seriously to ensure you feel that way.

We look forward to your inquiries. Thank you very much!

Helpful information about exterior renovations can be found here!

LINE consultations are also very welcome◎

 

For roofing, guttering, and exterior work and repairs in Kanagawa, contact Kakerukoumuten Co., Ltd..

AAA is a young company with an average age in the early 20s, but our technology is second to none.

One of our greatest strengths is that we can do all of our own scaffolding, roofing, and painting work. In this industry, where work is generally divided, we are able to provide a complete set of services, which saves time and effort in management and reduces costs. Above all, if there is any trouble, we will come to you right away!

We can confidently declare this. We are the youngest and most friendly renovator in Kanagawa!