Sun Protection

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires all sunscreen products to be tested to FDA 21 CFR 201.327(i) to determine the appropriate Sun Protection Factor (SPF) number. The test measures the amount of UVB radiation it takes to cause a sunburn when using the sunscreen compared to when not using sunscreen. For example, if you used a SPF 30 sunscreen properly, it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you didn’t use sunscreen. The same test is used to determine Broad Spectrum sunscreens, which offer equal protection from both UVB and UVA rays.

The Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating system was developed by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) to help grade the effectiveness of an item to filter UVA and UVB waves. At 4imprint, any apparel or textile item with a UPF rating has been tested to AATCC TM 183 standard to determine the percentage of UV rays that are blocked. A UPF 25 rating means the item blocks all but 1/25 or 4% of the sun’s rays i.e., it blocks 96% of them. The higher the number, the higher the protection.

At 4imprint, all sunglasses are tested to the UV protection requirements of The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z80.3 standard for non-prescriptive eyewear. In addition, 4imprint requires that the UV testing range is extended to include UV400 protection, the ‘400’ referring to the top end of the UV wavelength spectrum. Adherence to this requirement means that the sunglass lenses prevent 99-100% of the harmful UVA and UVB rays from reaching the eyes.