Hohenstein questions UV protection in sailing shirts
14/09/2011
As a result of being reflected off the water, the intensity of the sun's rays by and on the sea is particularly high. The Hohenstein Institutes investigated the UV protection factor of four T-shirts aimed at this market.
The UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) was calculated for two T-shirts from the brands Bogie (white) and A.W. Dunmore (black), along with two tops made of chemical fibre mixtures from Hyphen (blue) and Musto (white). Calculations were on the basis of the internationally recognised UV Standard 801.
Standard 801 takes account of conditions of use that can have a negative effect on the UV protection provided. Accordingly, Hohenstein looked at the items of clothing not only in their new condition, but also after washing and stress, in both wet and stretched condition. “Quite frequently, this treatment results in a drastic reduction in the UV protective factor in comparison with the initial value for the new item in dry in unstretched condition,” the organisation said. “In the interests of presenting the worst-case scenario, under UV Standard 801 only the lowest value calculated for the product is shown in each case.”
It said that the Hyphen blue T-shirt (80% polyamide, 20% elastane) provided the best protection. With a UPF of 80, it provides even sensitive skin with adequate protection from the sun for the entire day, the test showed.
With a UPF of 30, calculated in accordance with UV Standard 801, the white T-shirt in 100% polyester from Musto provides average protection, according to Hohenstein. Its wearers can safely extend the time they spend in the sun by a factor of 30. The starting point is taken as the skin’s inherent protection time depending on skin type. For those with extremely light skin types, this is not adequate for a carefree day spent on the sea; such a person would also have to use a cosmetic sunscreen or keep to the shade, the organisation has said.
The black cotton shirt from A.W. Dunmore offers a UPF of only 15, meaning that additional measures are essential to protect even dark skin types from the sun.
The lowest degree of protection among the test items is provided by the white top in 100% cotton from Bogie. In its new condition without any additional stressing, its UPF was measured at over 14, but after artificial ageing in both wet and stretched condition, it tested with a UPF of 2. It offers only minimal protection against UV radiation and, in the Hohenstein Institutes’ view, is therefore of “only limited suitability as a sailing outfit, even for darker skin types and shorter trips, without additional protection from the sun”.
Announcing the results, Sabrina Köhler of the Hohenstein Institutes said: “Unfortunately, it is not possible to assess the UV protective factor for any textile material on its appearance. Many manufacturers therefore quote a UPF for their products, but unfortunately there is no uniform regulation for calculating this and accordingly the statements made may not be directly comparable one with the other. If the UV protection is calculated only in new condition this is not sufficient, especially for clothing.”
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