Two scales for the same question
Both systems measure how much ultraviolet radiation a fabric lets through. They differ in what they are written for and how the result is expressed. In the US, the usual method is AATCC TM 183, and the result is a UPF figure. In Australia and New Zealand, shade fabrics are rated under AS 4174:2018, Knitted and woven shade fabrics, and the result is a UVE percentage, the share of UV radiation the fabric blocks.
The trap is that Australia and New Zealand also have a UPF standard, AS/NZS 4399, and many listings cite it. That standard is written for sun protective clothing and textiles worn against the skin. It explicitly does not cover items that protect from a distance, such as shade structures, umbrellas and awnings. A beach tent sold in Australia with a UPF 50+ claim under AS/NZS 4399 is citing the wrong standard.
The US: UPF per AATCC 183
AATCC TM 183 measures UV transmission through a fabric sample and gives a UPF value. Rating bands commonly used on labels are UPF 15, 30, 50 and 50+, with 50+ as the top of the label scale. For beach tents and pop-up shelters in the US, stating UPF 50+ fabric per AATCC 183 test report is common practice. Europe uses EN 13758-2 for clothing, where the top label is UPF 40+.
A UPF figure describes the fabric sample that was tested. It does not describe the shade under the tent, which depends on the open sides, sun angle and reflection from sand and water. Listings should say UPF-rated fabric, not UPF-rated shade.
Australia and New Zealand: UVE per AS 4174
AS 4174:2018 covers knitted and woven shade fabrics, and the shade fabric definition includes the fabric used in tents, shade sails, portable gazebos and beach shelters. The result is a UVE percentage, grouped into three bands.
| Market | Standard | How the result is stated | Suggested wording |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | AATCC TM 183 | UPF 15, 30, 50, 50+ | UPF 50+ fabric per AATCC 183 test report |
| Australia, New Zealand | AS 4174:2018 | UVE: effective 80-90.9%, very effective 91-94.9%, most effective 95% or more | Shade fabric rated UVE 95% or more per AS 4174:2018 test report |
| Australia, New Zealand (clothing only) | AS/NZS 4399 | UPF | Not for tents, shades or shelters |
| Europe (clothing) | EN 13758-2 | UPF 40+ | Agree the method for shade products with your lab |
Consumer NZ, the New Zealand consumer organisation, has stated that UPF should be used for clothing only and that UPF labels on sun shelters are inappropriate. In its own testing, some beach shelters did not reach the UVE their sellers claimed. That is the reason to treat a UV claim as a test result tied to a specific fabric, not a marketing line.
Which fabrics carry the claim
Beach products in our range use a few fabric families. Pop-up beach shelters commonly use 190T silver-coated polyester; four-pole stretch shades, like the 274x274 cm reference model with 208 cm poles at about 2.9 kg, use nylon or lycra stretch fabric; canopy tops use 600D PU-coated polyester. Each needs its own report, and colour matters: dark and light versions of the same fabric can test differently, and stretch fabric may behave differently when tensioned. Ask the lab whether the sample should be tested relaxed or stretched for your product. More on coatings is in silver-coated beach tent fabric.
Wording that holds up
- Name the standard and the market: UPF 50+ fabric per AATCC 183 for the US, UVE per AS 4174:2018 for Australia and New Zealand.
- Claim for the fabric, not the shade: the area under an open tent still receives scattered and reflected UV.
- Keep the report reference available and match it to the fabric code and colour on the order.
- Do not stack claims across markets on one listing or one box. Use market-specific packaging where you sell both.
- Avoid health claims such as blocks all UV, prevents sunburn or skin-safe.
What to check on the report itself
A UV report is only useful if it can be tied to the goods in the carton. Before relying on one, check the following points:
- The method and edition: AATCC TM 183 or AS 4174:2018, not a generic UV test.
- The sample description: fabric code, composition, coating, colour and, for stretch fabric, the test condition.
- The applicant: the mill, the partner factory or the brand, and whether the report can be shared with your customers.
- The date and the lab, so the report can be checked against the mill's current production.
- The result and the band claimed, so listing text does not round up a borderline result.
Selling the same shade in several markets
Brands that sell one beach shade in the US, Australia and Europe often want a single box. That is possible only if the claims on it are valid everywhere, which usually means a neutral front panel and market-specific stickers or inserts that carry the UV statement. Plan the extra test, the extra artwork and the extra packing step at quotation stage rather than after the boxes are printed. Distributors buying for several countries should state the markets on the brief so the desk can line up the right reports from the start.
Testing within an order
- Name the markets for each beach SKU before the fabric is fixed.
- Ask partner factories for existing reports on the exact fabric and colour, by method: AATCC 183 for the US, AS 4174 for Australia and New Zealand.
- If no report exists, test the pre-production sample fabric and allow for the lab queue in the 7-15 day sample stage.
- Approve the listing and packaging text against the report, market by market.
- Verify the report per order and keep copies with the shipment documents.
Reports are issued to partner factories or brands per order; the desk checks that the fabric in bulk matches the fabric that was tested. Beach products also face local beach rules on size and placement; see beach tent rules by location. For the product line see beach tents and flame and UV standards, and send your SKU list by market through the quote form. For claim wording in a specific market, confirm with your test lab.