SR19 Estimates of the durability of building plastics and rubbers in exterior applications (2007)

In New Zealand, the production and use of plastics-based building materials has generally not been accompanied by a good understanding of the behaviour of such materials in use. In particular, the factors that are important in resistance to weathering are not widely known. There is also a popular myth that the New Zealand climate is unusually severe on plastics.

The intent of this report is to summarise the potential reaction to the weather of plastics likely to be used in building products, to explain the effects of the New Zealand climate and to briefly indicate methods of testing the resistance of plastics to weathering.

The use of rubber products in building and the resistance of rubbers to weathering are also briefly discussed.