The Benefits of Shadecloth Protection from Shade Australia

If you are after the true value of a shadecloth, it is measured by the amount of Ultraviolet Radiation Protection (UVR) it provides. To be able to measure this, a special scale has been developed called the Ultraviolet Protection Factor or UPF[1]. UPF is used to rate materials and is directly comparable to SPF which is used to rate sunscreens[2].

A cloth rated UPF15 will provide 15 times the skins natural protection to Ultraviolet Radiation. In practical terms this means a person who on a hot summers day receives their daily recommended dose of UVR[3] in 10 minutes[4] could, by being directly under a shadecloth sail rated at UPF15 have 15 x 10 minutes or 150 minutes protection.

Selecting the right type of shadecloth

Today, the minimum UV shadecloth rating we recommended is 90%. Typically a 90% shadecloth gives a UVR of 10 which the Australian Radiation Laboratory classes as only "Moderate" protection. In the publication Under cover, Guidelines for shade planning and design [5] the recommended minimum rating for shadecloth has been stated at 94% protection to direct UVR.

Calculating the UPF when only the UVR is known:

100 - UV rating = (a)
100 / (a) = UPF

E.g. xalculations for a 94% UV rated cloth:
100 - 94 = 6
100 / 6 = 16.6

Therefore, as a general guide, a 94% UV rated cloth would give a person 16.6 times their normal protection to Ultraviolet Radiation.