What is Sun Protective Clothing?  

 Sun Protective Clothing is specifically designed to block the sun’s harmful UV radiation from damaging the skin (widely known as UVA/UVB/UVC rays).  Exposure to such UV radiation can not only cause sunburn, but also long lasting damage resulting in premature skin aging and/or skin cancer. To help the consumer better determine the protection a garment has, a UPF rating system has been developed. Shoppers should only consider buying a UV garment that as a UPF rating (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) and moreover, from a reputable company and/or manufacturer that promotes the UPF rating system.  This ensures that they are getting only the very best protection from their UV sun protective apparel item.  

 Below is the United States Standard for Sun Protective Clothing which is now considered the industry standard in rating such sun protective clothing :

What is SPF as opposed to UPF:

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Some manufacturers and even some websites describe their clothing as SPF protective.  This is a false claim as SPF describes only a Sunscreens protectiveness. The number is determined experimentally indoors by exposing humans to a light spectrum that simulates the sun. Some people then use sunscreen and others do not. The amount of light that induces a tan/redness in sunscreen-protected skin, divided by the amount of light that induces redness in unprotected skin is the SPF rating. It is mainly a measure of UVB protection and ranges from 1 to 45 or above.

A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 filters 92% of the UVB. In other words, using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will delay the onset of a tan/burn in a person who would otherwise burn in 10 minutes to burn in 150 minutes. The SPF 15 sunscreen allows a person to stay out in the sun 15 times longer.

On a side note, there is currently no uniform measure of UVA absorption. There are broad-spectrum sunscreens that protect against UVA and UVB radiation although it is important to remember that the SPF does not predict UVA protection and again, one should be very very sceptical of ANY sunscreen that say its UVA/UVB protective.

SPF if for Sunscreen; UPF is for Clothing & Swimwear

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Some manufacturers and even some websites describe their clothing as SPF protective.  However, as we all know, SPF describes a sunscreen's protectiveness.

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. To help the consumer better determine the protection a garment has, a UPF rating system has been developed. Shoppers should only consider buying a UV garment that as a UPF rating (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) and moreover, from a reputable company and/or manufacturer that promotes the UPF rating system.  This ensures that they are getting only the very best protection from their UV sun protective apparel item.