The evaluation of paint performance for exterior applications in Singaporeʹs tropical environment

Two water-base paints, a regular non-algae and an algae resistant emulsion for decorative purposes, were exposed to artificial, i.e. accelerated, and natural weathering tests and the deterioration compared to that for similar paint applied to exterior walls on multi-unit buildings in Singapore. The artificial weathering test was found not to provide a good representation of actual performance since it only monitors the deterioration due to chemical weathering and not that due to mechanical or biological weathering. The rate of deterioration of paint exposed in natural weathering tests in an industrial region in Singapore was faster than that for paint exposed in-service on multi-unit housing situated in industrial, central or coastal regions in Singapore.