In the 1970s, Australia had the highest skin cancer rates in the world. To protect public health, the Australian government established the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). ARPANSA studies the effects of radiation on humans and the environment and sets the standards for UV-protective clothing testing, known as AS/NZ4399:1996, to ensure the effectiveness of sun-protective garments.

Trusted Professional Testing

The standard unit for rating sun-protective clothing is UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor). ARPANSA uses a spectro radiometer to scan the test fabric multiple times, measuring UVA and UVB transmission rates and calculating the UPF value. As the most authoritative sun protection certification body globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopts ARPANSA's research as an international standard.

Fabric Testing Process

Once UV100 fabrics are developed, they are sent to ARPANSA in Australia for testing:

1. Sample Recording: Test fabric samples are logged into the computer system for tracking.
   
2. Sample Labeling: More than eight pieces of fabric are cut, weighed, and labeled for testing.
   
3. Repeated Testing: Each fabric sample undergoes six scans to measure UV transmission, and all data is recorded.
   
4. Certification Completion: A UV testing report is provided based on the collected data.
   
5. Tag Issuance: UPF certification tags are issued according to the test results.

UPF Sun Protection Tags

UV100 applies for ARPANSA-issued UPF tags based on test results, not self-printed. ARPANSA's UPF tags range across nine levels: UPF 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 50+, with higher numbers indicating better sun protection.