In 1992, the UPF rating system was established in Australia, the birthplace of all things sun protection.
The Australian Radiation Laboratory, which later became the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), established standards for products claiming to be sun protective.
In 1998, the United States began testing textiles and garments claiming to be sun protective. The American Association of Textile Chemist and Colorist (AATCC) adopted the system used in Australia by the ARPANSA. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) expanded testing to include a garment labeling for UPF.
There are three categories for labeling of UPF garments:
A UPF of 15 – 24 provides “Good UV Protection”
A UPF of 25 – 39 provides “Very Good UV Protection”
A UPF of 40 – 50 provides “Excellent UV Protection”