Why SnoozeShade uses UVE, not UPF

Why has SnoozeShade changed how it measures sun protection?

We first had our products tested against the Australian shade fabric standard, AS 4174, several years ago, alongside the UPF testing we'd always used. At the time, we still believed UPF was the right measure, since it was the established standard the whole industry, including us, had always used for products like ours.

It was a conversation with ARPANSA's own team that changed that. They were clear that UPF is a clothing standard, built for fabric worn against the skin, and that a shade sitting above and around a baby needs a different measure entirely. AS 4174 is that standard, already established and recognised in Australia, so once we understood why it was the right fit, we moved to it fully as of 14th July 2026.

Why trust an Australian standard?

Nobody understands extreme sun and high UV quite like Australia does.  AS 4174 was developed by Standards Australia specifically to measure shade fabric properly, and it's tested by ARPANSA, the country's own radiation protection experts. When it came to choosing the right way to measure sun protection, we wanted to follow the people who deal with this every single day.

Most sun shades, ours included until recently, are still measured using UPF, most likely simply because AS 4174 is still a fairly new standard that many brands aren't yet aware of.

Part of why we're talking about this so openly is that we'd genuinely like to see the whole industry move towards a standard that's actually built for shade fabric, not just our own products.

What do the UVE ratings actually mean?

"Most Effective" is the top category there is.

Fabric rated 97% UVE or above can give all-day protection from solar UV (this is true of all SnoozeShade pram and stroller products)

So what's SnoozeShade's rating?

SnoozeShade Original's double layer of mesh blocks a minimum of 97% of UV, and is rated "Most Effective".

SnoozeShade Plus Extra has two parts. The top and sides are always a double layer, blocking a minimum of 97% of UV and rated "Most Effective". At the front there's a zip-up see-out panel, a single layer, so your child can see out while awake. Pop the snooze panel on over the top and that part becomes double-layered too, reaching the same "Most Effective" rating as the rest.

Because both parts rate above 80%, the whole product is "Most Effective" when it's fully assembled in snooze mode.

Who tests it?

ARPANSA, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, tests every SnoozeShade against the AS 4174 standard at their own government laboratory.