ULTRAVIOLET-RADIATION PROTECTION FACTORS FOR CLOTHING

There has been considerable interest and activity in Australia during recent years in providing ultraviolet radiation protection for the pub lic and the work force. Many requests from the public and manufacturer s have been received by the Australian Radiation Laboratory for the qu antification of the protection provided by different articles of cloth ing. The laboratory has been making spectral measurements of the ultra violet radiation transmission of materials and fabrics for a number of years and, to this date, have tested and rated >2,000 samples. The la boratory test methods for making spectral transmission measurements of both dry and wet fabric samples are described along with the radiomet ric test methods to determine ultraviolet radiation transmission. A sc heme to designate the amount of ultraviolet radiation protection of ma terials using ultraviolet protection factors is outlined and used to c ompare the results obtained by different test methods. Some typical me asurement results are also summarized and presented.