Factor de protección prenda

Rating System for Sun-Protective Clothing

The British Journal of Dermatology

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• The authors of this study developed a new index for rating sun-protective clothing, the garment protection factor (GPF), designed to provide a quantitative metric to easily compare garments of different designs and to clarify a garment's sun-protective qualities. The GPF algorithm incorporates both the ultraviolet protection factor and the body surface area coverage of the garment.

• The GPF may be a useful measure to rate sun-protective clothing and introduce new industry standards. 

  - Anna Wile, MD

Abstract

This abstract is available on the publisher's site.

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BACKGROUND

National standards for clothing designed to protect the wearer from the harmful effects of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) have been implemented in Australia/New Zealand, Europe and the U.S.A. Industry standards reflect the need to protect the skin by covering a considerable proportion of the potentially exposed body surface area (BSA) and by reducing UVR-transmission through fabric (the Ultraviolet Protection Factor; UPF).

OBJECTIVES

This research aimed to develop a new index for rating sun-protective clothing that incorporates the BSA coverage of the garment in addition to the UPF of the fabric.

METHODS

A mannequin model was fixed to an optical bench and marked with horizontal lines at 1-cm intervals. An algorithm (the Garment Protector Factor; GPF) was developed based on the number of lines visible on the clothed vs. unclothed mannequin and the UPF of the garment textile. This data was collected in 2015/16 and analysed in 2016.

RESULTS

The GPF weights fabric UPF by BSA coverage above the minimum required by international sun-protective clothing standards for upper-body, lower-body and full-body garments. The GPF increases with BSA coverage of the garment and fabric UPF. Three nominal categories are proposed for the GPF: 0 ≤ GPF < 3 for garments that 'meet' minimum standards; 3 ≤ GPF < 6 for garments providing 'good' sun protection; and GPF ≥ 6 indicating 'excellent' protection.

CONCLUSIONS

Adoption of the proposed rating scheme should encourage manufacturers to design sun-protective garments that exceed the minimum standard for BSA coverage, with positive implications for skin cancer prevention, consumer education and sun-protection awareness.

• Article Citation

The British Journal of Dermatology

A Comprehensive Approach to Evaluating and Classifying Sun-Protective Clothing

Br J Dermatol 2018 Apr 01;178(4)958-964, NJ Downs, SL Harrison 

Benjamin Hidalgo-Matlock

Skin Care Physicians of Costa Rica

4000-1054

2101-9574

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