UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) is a numerical rating given to clothing to indicate how effectively the fabric blocks ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
The highest UPF rating a garment can be assigned is UPF50+, a product that provides “excellent” protection from UV radiation.
UPF testing involves exposing a fabric to Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) and measuring how much is transmitted through the sample. Different wavelengths of radiation in the UVR spectrum have different effects on human skin and this is taken into consideration when calculating the UPF rating.
Samples of our sun protected Emthunzini hats are tested by the Photobiology Laboratory at MEDUNSA and carry the in vitro SPF Test Certificate, symbolising that they have undergone the SPF-testing procedure as developed by Diffey and Robson, and meet the requirements of the Australian and South African test methods on the Optometrics SPF 290 Analyser.
CANCER SEAL OF RECOGNITION
Most Emthunzini Hats have been awarded the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) Seal of Recognition (CSOR) symbolising that our products offer the assurance of protection against the harmful effects of the sun. Hats that carry the UPF50+ swing ticket have been specially tested and verified as meeting the UPF50+ requirements.
We are committed to providing quality products made from High Grade ARPANSA (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency) approved materials.
HATS THAT YOU CAN SEE THROUGH OR HAVE “HOLES” IN THEM
The holes in the fabric will make a difference depending on whether the fabric absorbs or scatters the UVR. It is difficult to tell how protective clothing is by looking at it or holding it up to the light because the human eye responds to visible radiation and not to UVR, and the transmission through fabrics in the visible range is often higher than in the UVR range. Laboratory UPF testing simulates a worst case situation, where the UVR is incident at right angles to the fabric and transmission is therefore maximal.
In general wear situations, clothing often provides protection in excess of the UPF rating because the incoming UVR will be a range of different angles and only at right angles a fraction of the time.
Thus, when consumers see a UPF label on an item of clothing, they can be confident about the listed level of protection.