ISO 4892-2-2013 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 4892-2:2013 — Plastics — Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources — Part 2: Xenon-arc lamps. This International Standard specifies controlled laboratory methods for exposing plastic specimens to xenon‑arc radiation (with appropriate filtering and moisture conditions) to reproduce the weathering effects of daylight or daylight filtered through glazing on materials used in end‑use environments.

Abstract

ISO 4892-2:2013 defines procedures for exposing specimens to xenon‑arc light in the presence of moisture so as to reproduce weathering effects (temperature, humidity and/or wetting) that occur in actual use when materials are exposed to daylight or daylight through window glass. The standard describes exposure equipment, control and calibration of irradiance, typical exposure cycles (including wetting or moisture application), and general guidance for comparative testing; specimen preparation and specific evaluation methods are covered in material‑specific standards.

General information

• Status: Published (current edition confirmed on review).
• Publication date: 2013 (Edition 3, 2013‑03).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 83.080.01 (Plastics in general).
• Edition / version: Edition 3 (2013); amended by ISO 4892-2:2013/Amd1:2021.
• Number of pages: 13 (official ISO edition data).

These bibliographic and lifecycle details are drawn from the ISO catalog and official distributors; the 2013 edition replaced earlier editions (1994, 2006) and has a published amendment in 2021.

Scope

This part of ISO 4892 specifies methods for exposing specimens to xenon‑arc light in the presence of moisture to reproduce the weathering effects (temperature, humidity and/or wetting) that occur when materials are exposed in actual end‑use environments to daylight or to daylight filtered through window glass. The standard provides requirements for the light source, filters, irradiance measurement and control, moisture application (spray or condensation cycles), and general test procedures; it refers users to ISO 4892‑1 for general guidance and to material‑specific standards for specimen preparation and evaluation.

Key topics and requirements

• Xenon‑arc lamp equipment specifications, lamp conditioning and ageing.
• Selection and classification of filters to simulate direct daylight or window‑filtered daylight (amendment addresses daylight filter classification).
• Irradiance measurement, calibration procedures and monitoring (spectral matching to sunlight in the UV/visible range).
• Control of specimen temperature (including black‑panel temperature) and chamber environment.
• Moisture application cycles: water spray, condensation/relative humidity cycles and their scheduling.
• Recommended exposure cycles and durations for comparative accelerated weathering tests.
• Requirements to include reference materials or control specimens and to report test conditions for reproducibility.
• Cross‑references to material‑specific evaluation methods (colour change, loss of gloss, mechanical property changes, cracking, etc.).

These topics summarise the main normative and informative elements users must control to achieve reproducible accelerated xenon‑arc exposures.

Typical use and users

ISO 4892-2:2013 is used by materials and polymer manufacturers, independent test laboratories, automotive and building‑product test groups, coatings and plastics R&D, quality assurance teams, and regulatory/testing bodies that need reproducible accelerated weathering data to assess resistance to daylight and moisture. It is typically applied when laboratory simulation of outdoor daylight plus moisture is required for comparative evaluation, specification compliance, or failure investigation.

Related standards

ISO 4892 is a multipart series; relevant related documents include ISO 4892‑1 (General guidance), ISO 4892‑3 (Fluorescent UV lamps), and ISO 11341 (paints and varnishes — xenon arc exposure guidance). The 2013 part 2 edition has an amendment (ISO 4892‑2:2013/Amd1:2021) covering classification of daylight filters; national adoptions (EN/ISO versions) and later technical work (work items for revision) are also associated with the series.

Keywords

xenon‑arc, accelerated weathering, plastics, light fastness, irradiance, daylight simulation, moisture cycling, black panel temperature, daylight filters, ISO 4892

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 4892‑2:2013 is the ISO test method for exposing plastic specimens to xenon‑arc light under controlled moisture conditions to simulate the effects of daylight and window‑filtered daylight on materials.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the xenon‑arc light source requirements, filters, irradiance measurement and control, environmental (temperature and moisture) control, exposure cycles and general procedural requirements; it does not prescribe specific evaluation criteria for every material — those are given in material‑specific standards.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Materials manufacturers, independent test labs, product developers, coatings and plastics researchers, automotive and construction test groups, and quality/acceptance testing organizations use this standard for accelerated daylight/moisture weathering tests.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2013 edition (Edition 3) is the published edition; it was reviewed and confirmed by ISO (status information indicates the edition remains current) and was amended in 2021 (Amd 1) to address daylight filter classification. Revision work items have been recorded for future updates. For procurement or compliance, always confirm the edition and any applicable amendments or national adoptions before use.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 4892 is a multipart series on laboratory light source exposure for plastics. Part 1 provides general guidance, Part 2 covers xenon‑arc lamps, Part 3 covers fluorescent UV lamps, and other parts address different light sources or test situations.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Xenon‑arc, accelerated weathering, daylight simulation, moisture cycling, irradiance, plastics testing, black panel temperature, filters, ISO 4892.