Sun protection standards in comparison
DESPITE T-SHIRT SKIN CAN SEE RED
Basically, every textile offers a certain amount of UV protection. The rule is: the denser the fabric and the darker the fabric, the higher the protection. But a heavy, black poncho is not everyone's idea of inviting summer clothing. A dry, white cotton shirt has a UPF (Ultra Violet Protection Factor) of just 10; when wet, the UPF melts down to 2.
Depending on the colour, fibre and weave as well as the condition of the garment, the protective effect varies considerably. While a pair of jeans has a high protection factor, but is reluctantly worn on the beach in summer temperatures, light summer clothing offers virtually no UV protection due to the thin fabric, the often light colours and the permeable weave. In addition, the UV protection of textiles is greatly reduced by wetness, stretching, abrasion and washing, as the graph shows:
So what about the other standards?
Overview
The UV STANDARD 801 thus certifies safe sun protection even when the clothing is wet, stretched and used. The certificate is reviewed annually. New fabrics and new colours are also retested.
The Australian-New Zealand standard AS/NZ is the oldest developed standard. It tests according to the Melbourne solar spectrum on 1 January. The test is not carried out under conditions of use, but only on the new textile.
The European standard EN 13758-1:2007-03 is based on the American standard AATCC TM 183-2000 with Albuquerque solar spectrum. The test is not carried out under conditions of use, but only on the new textile.
The CE marking indicates that the product to which it is affixed fulfils the requirements of all EC directives applicable to that product. The CE marking is primarily not a consumer label. It serves first of all as an "EU passport" for this product. This means that this product may be placed on the market in any Member State within the EU, unless it is obvious that the CE marking has been misused. The CE marking is usually affixed by the manufacturer himself. Does not say anything about UV protection.
TÜV - tested
Unfortunately, we do not know which criteria the TÜV uses to test the UV protection of clothing and for which period and under which conditions the test is valid.
Test methods in comparison
| UV Standard | Test in new condition | Test in wet condition | Test in used condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| UV STANDARD 801 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Australian / New Zealand Standard AS / NZS 4399 |
✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| European Standard DIN EN 13758-1 |
✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
That is why the UV STANDARD 801 is the only test method we use to guarantee excellent UV-protective clothing.
Explore our sun protection clothing
Why you should look more closely at the test seal
Good to know
The FI Hohenstein test label shows the level of UV protection (UPF) in the middle. This measures the sun protection factor (UPF) that textiles offer even under the worst conditions such as abrasion, stretching and wetness. The lowest value achieved in all tests is then certified.
The test label must contain a test number in the footer. If the test number is missing, it may indicate that only one product from the manufacturer's entire range was tested - but not necessarily this one.
