What does EN 13758 or UPF 40+ on your workwear label mean?

Understand the certifications behind your summer workwear — and learn how CWS Workwear helps you stay protected, compliant, and ready to face the sun.

11 June 2025Workwear

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Stay protected, compliant, and ready to face the sun.

When it comes to choosing summer workwear, it’s no longer just about lightweight fabrics and a good fit. Today’s high-performance shirts, polos, and hi-vis workwear often carry technical certifications like EN 13758 or UPF 40+. But what do those labels actually mean? Why is this important for you or your team?

At CWS Workwear, we guide companies through these choices every summer, helping them understand what these certifications mean and why they’re so important.

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EN 13758: European Standard for UV Protection

EN 13758 is the European standard that defines how well a fabric or garment protects you from harmful UV rays. Specifically, EN 13758-1 refers to the fabric’s ability to block UV radiation, while EN 13758-2 applies to the finished garment — meaning the garment has been tested not only for its material but also for its design, fit, and coverage.

When you see an EN 13758-2 label on a shirt or polo, you can be confident the garment offers certified UV protection — not just by fabric, but by how effectively the entire piece shields your skin.

UPF 40+: what does this mean?

UPF, or Ultraviolet Protection Factor, measures how much UV radiation a fabric allows to pass through. A UPF 40 garment blocks about 97.5% of UV rays. To put that into perspective, a regular cotton T-shirt without UV treatment usually offers just UPF 5–15 — not enough for people working long hours outdoors. Investing in certified, UV-protective workwear is a simple but powerful way to keep your workers safe from sun exposure and reduce long-term health risks.

All the summer hi-vis garments from CWS Workwear have the UPF40+ and the norm EN 13758-2.

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Who needs UV-Protective Workwear?

Workers in sectors like construction, infrastructure, electrical and technical services, maintenance, landscaping… often spend long hours outdoors, directly under the sun. For these industries, UV-protective clothing isn’t just about staying comfortable. It’s a health and safety essential.

At CWS Workwear, we support your company with expert advice on which garments suit your industry and workforce best, so your team is better equipped to work smarter and safer under the summer sun.

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How to maintain UV-Protection after washing

Even the best UV-protective workwear needs proper care to stay effective. Without the right maintenance, factors like washing at the wrong temperature, using harsh chemicals, or missing signs of wear can all reduce the garment’s protective qualities over time.

That’s where CWS Workwear comes in. We don’t just provide high-performance summer workwear — we also handle the professional hygienic maintenance, careful inspections, and expert care that ensure your team’s clothing stays protective, compliant, and ready for daily use.

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Final take

Choosing summer workwear with EN 13758 certification is not only about staying cool. It’s about protecting your people, meeting safety standards, and keeping productivity high even in challenging conditions.

Want to explore our UV-protective summer collection? CWS Workwear is here to help with tailored advice and smart solutions for your team.

Discover now our EN 13758 certified shirts : link to the high vis pag (on website) = need to be the new pages waiting for PM team