Shading articles such as parasols, awnings or beach shelters promise cooling shade on sunny days, and protection from harmful UV radiation. But be careful: not every type of shade provides adequate UV protection.
The UV protection factor of shading materials varies between 5 and 80 according to the processed material and colour. Shading materials are also exposed to extreme factors for prolonged periods of time during everyday use, which can significantly reduce the initially high protective effect.
Weather conditions such as sun and rain play a major role in this, as they can lead to sustained, negative impacts on the UV protection. For this reason, articles from the group of shading materials are investigated in a new, used and aged state and the UPF determined for each.
Scope of testing programme
- new material
- stretched
- wetted
- after weathering
Testing process
- In the new state, the UV transmittance of the material is measured at several points over an area of 1 m².
- Random samples are then taken from the material.
- Some of the random samples are used to determine the UV protection factor in both the stretched and wetted states.
- The remaining material samples are first weathered and then measured using the same schema.
- With regard to consumer protection, the lowest determined value as per the worst-case scenario is used as the UV protection factor of the full test as the end result for the material.