| How does one test the latest UV blocking
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| | measurements used for creams. For
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| fabrics emerging on the market?
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| | reasons of economy, the new rating system
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| Curiously, a number of light and laser
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| | will use an invitro (lab) technique only,
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| testing facilities do not currently use
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| | and includes wash, stretch and abrasion
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| the latest pending standard involving the
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| | testing controls - as textiles are
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| averaging of invitro (lab) and invivo
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| | generally static in nature and do not
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| (human) field-testing and instead,
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| | change over time.
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| choose to measure using the singleÂ
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| | However while consistent in protocol,
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| standard Menzies/Az 1994 protocol, which
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| | standard control testing methods may not
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| is much more economical but far less
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| | yield similar results from lab to lab.Â
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| accurate for the lightweight but complex
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| |  While it is currently the most cost
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| yarn fabrications such as those employed
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| | effective method to determine UPF, the
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| in some highly regarded apparel
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| | test method will not recognize a textile
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| products). Based on the laboratory
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| | with an averaged number less than UPF 15:
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| credentials, some manufacturers have
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| | for example, even if the fabric might
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| chosen to use an independent photonics
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| | test average a "19", this number is
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| lab that is well respected
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| | always rounded down by 5 digits, in this
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| internationally in their field and is
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| | case - rendering a "14" . Because of the
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| known to be very comprehensive in their
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| | minimum UPF level of 15, mentioned above,
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| test results. The facility created
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| | this result will render say a "19" to
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| disciplined parameters for UV testing
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| | become a "0". Therefore, this example
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| based more on the future interests of the
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| | would view the swatch or article as under
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| industry. However, this method is also
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| | the minimum value for a UPF rating, and
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| a much more expensive testing process.
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| | not yield a rating at all even though
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| The method employed by textile
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| | averaging a 19 in the initial tests. The
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| manufacturers seeking UV ratings for
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| | same could be said for a tested level of
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| "woven yarns" is perhaps the one that is
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| | "20", which by the prescribed margin of
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| more incorrectly but commonly used today
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| | error would result in a UPF of 15. The
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| - and the test protocol is measured for
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| | maximum rating designate for a textile is
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| stretch type fabrics used mainly for swim
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| | UPF50+; however, 30 is more than adequate
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| and active-wear. As leno fabric is a
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| | for the majority of individuals with
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| woven, with various degrees of porosity,
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| | sun-sensitive conditions.
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| such tests can still produce erratic
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| | What are the differences in fabric types
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| results, especially with ventilated
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| | available?
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| weaves and if the dyeing process
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| | Today, people interested in sun-care
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| involves optical brighteners and/or
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| | products have different demands. Like
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| titanium dioxides in the pigments. These
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| | the protective blocks and lotions, there
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| variables can wreak havoc on accurate
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| | are many types of textiles used in
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| results.Â
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| | apparel that are available to meet
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| Â
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| | various degrees of desired performance
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| What can create controversy with the new
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| | based on lifestyle. Tighter (opaque)
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| fabrics?
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| | weaves and darker colours are usually
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| As with any consumer goods purchase
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| | designed to be worn close to the skin,
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| involving new and evolving technologies,
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| | and can assist in blocking a higher
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| one must be careful in relying on poorly
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| | proportion of ultraviolet light for
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| researched magazine or newspaper
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| | longer periods. Whether stretch or
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| articles, which can be quite misleading.
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| | woven, these fabrics are used in clothing
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| Be sure to read the product detail
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| | that is opaque and is worn alone as a
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| descriptions on clothing tags or, if
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| | fashion lifestyle or as swimwear. A
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| purchasing on-line, the description of a
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| | drawback to the tighter weaves and
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| product on the web site. If a product
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| | stretch fabrics is reduced ventilation
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| does not say, for example, that it offers
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| | and increased heat retention - which can
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| up to a 97% block, one should not assume
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| | be a serious liability to certain
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| that it does, even if other items within
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| | individuals in hot climates.
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| that product line so say so on the tag or
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| | Â
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| in the on-line product description.
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| | Other fabrics employ a complex
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| Do colors affect the UV protection level?
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| | lightweight weave and design structure
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| Yes, color is also an important point
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| | that is somewhat looser to encourage
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| when considering clothing for the purpose
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| | cooling airflow, and will provide
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| of sun-block: Darker colors (especially
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| | additional coverage. These garments are
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| indigo, navy and black) perform better
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| | designed to be worn over other favourite
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| because they can absorb more UV; however
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| | summer-weight weather apparel. This type
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| the trade-off is that they can create
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| | of clothing is a sun-care "booster" but
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| heat as a by-product. Lighter colors
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| | might not be an appropriate
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| will reflect more, especially fabrics
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| | recommendation for persons requiring a
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| with optical brighteners. All everyday
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| | high degree of opaque protection or have
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| existing fabrics can be considered to
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| | prescriptive conditions that renders one
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| have a sun-protective value, but unlike
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| | particularly light sensitive - a drawback
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| the creams that can have lower values,
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| | to the looser weaves and (lighter
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| the current UPF rating system begins at
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| | colours) will be the allowance of more UV
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| the minimum UPF level of 15 to permit an
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| | transmission than the opaque fabrics for
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| independent classification.
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| | areas of bare skin under a single layer
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| When the ASTM D13.65 committee was
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| | of fabric, especially if the area is
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| created for the addendum to
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| | pulled tightly over the skin and exposed
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| sun-protective fabrics in 1996, a number
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| | to prolonged time in the sun. This
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| of textile manufacturers and light and
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| | drawback is remedied in the careful
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| laser specialists invested about 5 years
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| | construct and loose design of such
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| in planning the testing protocol. Even
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| | apparel, as the UV light transmittance
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| today, it is still a work in progress and
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| | decreases exponentially and dramatically,
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| will be updated annually because the
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| | every millimetre away from the skin.
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| results are still inconclusive and merit
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| | Some manufacturers' hats and accessories,
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| more study. Naturally, some of the
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| | through their fabrication, have a much
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| unique textiles being created today are,
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| | higher level of protection, and certain
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| under current lab conditions,
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| | styles with multiple layering and fusing
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| misunderstood.
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| | agents will afford a UPF rating up to
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| What exactly is done in-lab to obtain a
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| | 40+. While the clothing is a protective &
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| UPF rating? Is it different from "SPF"?
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| | effective adjunct as long as it is worn
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| Yes, UPF involves a different criterion.
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| | as designed, with the appropriate size
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| While still a work in progress, the UPF
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| | chosen by the individual for the
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| [ultraviolet protection factor] is based
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| | particular activity and worn loosely over
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| on an entirely different curriculum of
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| | other summer-weight apparel.
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| testing methods than the "SPF"
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