Textile Testing Instruments-UV Resistance Tester Standards in Different Countries

Textile Testing Instruments-UV Resistance Tester Standards in Different Countries

As one of the necessary textile testing instruments, UV resistance tester has wide application in clothing manufacturing. But due to different UV strength in different places, there are several regulations in different countries. Here we will have a look at these different rules.

1.     UV testing standards in Australia and New Zealand

These two countries worked up the “AS/NZS 4399:1996 [2]（Sun protective clothing-evaluation and classification）” standards. These standards were mainly used for determining UV transmittance and the testing objects were textile, clothing and other UV protecting items like hats close to skin, at the same time, they put up with the UV radiation mark protecting rules. Textile samples should be tested in dry and relaxed state, 4 blocks to be tested for each sample, no need  pre humidity but have different demands on testing environments such as the relative humidity（50±20）%; After the UV transmittance rates at different wavelengths being measured, we can calculate the average transmittance rate of UV-A and UV-B and sample UPF value, the last step, to correct the data according to formula and get the accurate UPF value. 

2.     European Standards

EN 13758-1:2001 “(Textiles-Solar UV protective properties-Part 1: Method of test for apparel fabrics)” textile materials testing is mainly used for textile UV resistance performance while not for long distance UV resistance products such as umbrellas and shades. The textiles tested contain homogeneous types and non homogeneous types with 4 blocks of each type, measuring the average value of UV-A, UV-B and UPF respectively. There is special statement that textile UV resistance would be lower when they are stretched and wet.

3.     AATCC Standards

AATCC 183—2010 [4] “(Transmittance or Blocking of Erythemally Weighted Ultraviolet Radiation through Fabrics) is for textile UV resistance and UV transmittance ability. The testing samples can be divided into dry and wet state, prepare textiles according to different requirements and test them. After testing 3 times in the largest area on textile materials, we can get the average UV transmittance, and calculate UPF, UV-A, UV-B.

4.     China textile testing instruments standardGB/T 18830—2009 [5] regulates textile UV resistance testing methods, assessment and identification. According to this standard, homogeneous textile should be prepared 4 blocks and non homogenous textile 4 blocks base on different color and structure requirements. Calculate the average ratio of UV-A, UV-B and UPF. To homogenous textile, when the average UPF value lower than the sample lowest UPF value, we choose the sample lowest UPF value; to non homogenous textile, we choose the lowest UPF; when UPF is higher than 50, that is“UPF＞50”;  When UPF＞40，and T（UVA）AV ＜ 5%, we can call them UV resistance products.

To sum up, different countries have different standards and thus different UV resistance testers are offered. Qinsun Instruments supply professional textile testing instruments and customized textile testing solutions. You can trust us.