How much protection from UV rays does Solarveil provide?
Standard laboratory tests for fabrics and apparel for sun protection are based on the Australian Standard Test, which is static and rigorous. Simply stated, the test consists of placing a piece of fabric over a detection device such as a spectra-radiometer or spectra-photometer and shining a UV light source directly through the fabric at a 90-degree angle. The UV light source is set to simulate the sun’s intensity in Albuquerque, New Mexico in July at noon. Under this test, a single layer of Solarveil blocks an average of 75% of both UVA and UVB rays with a high of 80%. A double layer blocks from 92% to 95%. Most of the Solarveil styles are made with a double layer in the high exposure areas such as the upper back, shoulders and chest for added protection. In actual use, most people are exposed to the sun under conditions less extreme than simulated in the test. Also, Solarveil is typically worn loosely draped so the sun’s rays moving randomly are hitting the fabric at acute angles. Th
