UV Protection, UV Standard 801
In the UV Standard 801, a new independent testing and certification system has been developed with which textile products can be assessed in regard to the effect of UV protection. The publisher of the standard is the "International test association for applied UV protection". The association was formed in 1997 by the ÖTI, the Hohenstein Research Institute and the Swiss textile test institute Testex.
>Investigations have shown that the UV protection effect of a wet textile, for example, can diminish considerably compared to the dry material. Expansion of the material when worn also causes a drop in UV protection. Forces and stresses that the material is subjected to in everyday situations are taken into account so as not to give consumers a false sense of security. This means UV Standard 801 goes far beyond the requirements of the Australian-New Zealand test standard, and resolves its major weak points.
After proper sample preparation, all samples submitted (condition as new) are subjected to a screening measurement of the UV protection factor and the sample size for subsequent steps is determined. For article group "Sun protection textiles", the UV protection factor is determined for new material and weathered material when extended out or spanned and when moistened. For article group "Clothing and clothing fabrics", the UV protection factor is determined for new material and for rubbed, washed and/or cleaned material when spread out and then when wet. In line with the objective of UV Standard 801, certification is in accordance with the lowest value determined for the UV protection factor in categories 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60 and 80.
