UV STANDARD 801 - A sunny outlook for your safety

We all love and need the sun. In moderation, sunrays are important for our health. However, too much exposure to UV radiation can seriously damage the skin. The consequences are: sunburn and premature skin ageing and, in the long term, also the risk of developing skin cancer. A proper approach to the sun is thus essential for preventing health risks.

Textile sun protection is the method of choice when it comes to a protective effect that covers as large an area as possible and which is as comprehensive as possible. Clothing and shading materials that have been tested according to UV STANDARD 801 provide the most reliable sun protection when outdoors.

What is special about the UV STANDARD 801?

The UV STANDARD 801 is one of the most stringent testing and certification systems for clothing and shading textiles in the world.

The test process determines the UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) which specifies the UV protection factor of textiles.

In contrast to other UV standards which only test textiles in the new and dry state, the UV STANDARD 801 also tests sun protective textiles under realistic conditions of use.

This is because, with everyday use, the UV protection is often drastically reduced through wetness, stretching, abrasion and washing. 

Certainty brings peace of mind

This is why we test UV protective textiles:

  • in a new state
  • in a wet state
  • in a stretched state
  • in an aged state
     

Our test requirements

 

How can good UV protective products be recognised?

You cannot tell how well a textile material will protect you from UV radiation just by looking and touching it. To determine and identify the UV protection factor of textile materials, there must be appropriate testing and certification. For this reason, there is the UV STANDARD 801 label which can be trusted when selecting suitable UV protective clothing and UV shading articles.

The UV protection factor specified on the UV STANDARD 801 label of a tested product gives information on how much longer the user of the UV protective clothing or UV shading articles can stay in the sun without experiencing skin damage.

The following applies: the higher the UV protection factor, the better it protects the wearer. For babies and young children, older persons and people with skin types 1 and 2, the UV protective clothing should have a UV protection factor (UPF) as high as possible, thus UPF 60 or 80.

UV STANDARD 801 - Enjoy the sun safely

The UV STANDARD 801 label

Clothing textiles marked with the UV STANDARD 801 label include, for example, bathing and beachwear, sport and outdoor clothing, leisure and hiking clothing, and also head gear for children and adults.

In addition, shading textiles, such as parasols, blinds, beach shelters, and also film windows for bike trailers and awnings for prams are tested and labelled.

Certification is possible according to the levels UPF 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60 or 80 whereby the value achieved in the test is devalued to the next lowest level.
 

Discover certified products

Since 21 April 2018, UV protective clothing, regardless of whether used for professional or private purposes, is treated as PPE in accordance with the new European regulation for Personal Protective Equipment (EU) 2016/425. Particularly, a CE mark is now required for these products if a relevant advertising statement is made.