Testing clothing for sun protection
Clothing and hats are some of the most convenient forms of sun protection but not all provide enough protection.
Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, or 'UVR', from the sun can cause sunburn, skin damage and an increased risk of developing skin cancers. All fabrics have some ability to block UVR but laboratory testing is needed to tell how useful different fabrics are for sun protection by measuring the Ultraviolet Protection Factor or 'UPF' rating of the fabric.
What is a UPF rating?
A UPF rating shows how effective fabrics are at blocking out the sun’s rays and reducing a person’s UVR exposure. A UPF rating of 15 is considered to provide 'Minimum Protection', a rating of 30 provides 'Good Protection', and ratings of 50 and 50+ provide 'Excellent Protection'.
UPF testing at ARPANSA
We test garments, fabrics, hats and other clothing materials to determine the UPF rating. UPF testing is done in accordance with the Australian Standard AS4399 'Sun protective clothing - Evaluation and classification' which was developed by Standards Australia.
Our UPF testing is accredited by the National Association of Testing Authority (NATA) to ensure the quality of results. Our test reports contain all the information required by the Australian standard for sun protective clothing and you can use the results to ensure your products are correctly labelled.
To proceed with testing, please fill out the testing request form via the link below.
UPF Testing Request Form
Send samples to:
UVR Services
ARPANSA
619 Lower Plenty Road
Yallambie VIC 3085
Australia
Notes about fabric sampling and identification
- For fabrics the preferred sample size is one meter by half a meter of fabric. The smallest sample size that ARPANSA accepts is 200mm x 300mm (A4 paper size).
- For garments and hats, one product is sufficient for testing.
Schedule of charges
Fabrics and single-colour garments:
| Number of samples | Cost per sample (including Australian GST) | Cost per sample (excluding Australian GST) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 10 | AUD $164.00 | AUD $149.09 |
| More than 10 | AUD $142.00 | AUD $129.09 |
Hats and multi-component garments:
| Number of samples | Cost per sample (including Australian GST) | Cost per sample (excluding Australian GST) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 10 | AUD $175.00 | AUD $159.09 |
| More than 10 | AUD $153.00 | AUD $139.09 |
Prices are in Australian dollars. Australian companies pay the charges in the column that includes Australian GST. Non-Australian companies pay the charges in the column that excludes Australian GST.
Re-issue of test reports
If you require changes to a test report after it has been issued, a processing charge of $35 per report will apply.
UPF swing tags
After you have received your UPF test report, you are eligible to purchase ARPANSA’s UPF swing tags to use on your item. Please see UPF certification trade mark information | ARPANSA for more information.
