ARPANSA (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency)
Who ARPANSA is, how its laboratory rates sun-protective clothing, and what the AS/NZS 4399:2020 standard sets out.
ARPANSA, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, is the Australian Government's primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety. It was established under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 and created on 5 February 1999, according to the Australian Government Directory. Among its services is a laboratory that tests clothing for sun protection.
What does ARPANSA do?
ARPANSA works to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation. It regulates Commonwealth entities that use or produce radiation, carries out research, provides services, and promotes national uniformity and international best practice across all Australian jurisdictions. It also publishes live readings of the UV index from a network of detectors in cities around Australia, updated every minute.
How does ARPANSA test sun-protective clothing?
ARPANSA's laboratory measures the UPF, or Ultraviolet Protection Factor, of garments, fabrics, hats and other clothing materials. The work follows the Australian standard for sun-protective clothing and is accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA). A brand submits a request, sends samples to the laboratory in Yallambie, Victoria, and usually receives results within 10 business days. Each report gives the UPF rating of the material, but it does not evaluate the design or body coverage of the product. Brands can then buy ARPANSA swing tags that show the rating on the garment.
What is AS/NZS 4399:2020?
AS/NZS 4399:2020 is the Australian and New Zealand standard for sun-protective clothing, published by Standards Australia. It guides manufacturers and suppliers on how to describe the sun protection of their materials, using a protection class and a UPF rating. ARPANSA notes that the standard was first introduced in 1996, revised in 2017 to simplify the ratings and add body coverage information, and revised again in 2020 to update coverage and labelling. The current edition has three classes: minimum protection (UPF 15), good protection (UPF 30) and excellent protection (UPF 50 and 50+). It also excludes clothing with low body coverage, such as singlets and crop tops, from making any sun protection claim, whatever the rating of its fabric.
Our fabric will be tested by ARPANSA to AS/NZS 4399:2020 before anything ships. The full report will be published on this site, and we make no UPF claim until then.