Flexisteel^TM has three key characteristics that make it an ideal material for many Architectural and Metal Building components. First, it has the ability to withstand extreme outdoor exposure conditions as proven by laboratory and field-testing. Secondly, its elastomeric qualities make it ideal for water-sealing applications such as end closures, gutter end caps, and any other penetration or transitional features on Metal Buildings that are exposed to thermal expansion/contraction stresses. Thirdly, it easily forms and molds into complex shapes that, otherwise, may be expensive or difficult to fabricate from metal.

One of the major advantages of Flexisteel^TM, an elastomeric polymer, is its excellent weatherability as measured by retention of physical properties and surface appearance after prolonged exposure to outdoor weathering conditions. In addition to laboratory testing, Flexisteel^TM has proven itself in the field with successful roofing component installations in extreme locations such as Alaska, Arizona, Vermont and Saudi Arabia for more than 20 years.

For the laboratory evaluation, Ciba-Geigy Laboratories used the Accelerated QUV testing method. This method allows technicians to accumulate weathering test data in a relatively short period compared to actual outdoor exposure testing. Test data obtained from accelerated QUV testing in a matter of months, may take years to obtain in a comparable outdoor exposure test. For this reason, accelerated QUV testing, regarded as the most severe accelerated test, is generally accepted as a valid test of the weatherability of polymeric materials.