Following my earlier posting about UV protection, copied below, I am pleased to say that Paraflex have now confirmed that their canopies offer a 97% UV protection.

This is a good, high rating

Best wishes, Claire

COPY POSTING 11th May 2008

Questions about the UV protection factor of our parasols are being asked by customers more and more frequently.

Manufacturers have been rather slow at publicising this information because until recently UV protection really wasn't a major issue for customers.

I have managed to pull together the following details from our suppliers so far:

• Tradewinds parasols - 94% of UV protection
• Shademaker Sola parasols - UPF 50+, equivalent to 97.5% prevention of radiation
• Paraflex parasols - range from UV parameter 7 - 8/8 for premium and sunbrella canopies to UV parameter 6 - 7/8 for the classic canopy. It is not clear to me what scale this is using and how this converts in % terms of radiation blockage, but it is the best information I have been able to obtain so far
• Scolaro cantilever parasols - I have been unable to get any UV protection details out of my supplier. The fabrics are good quality and I would guess that the 350g canopies afford more protection that the 290g just because the material is denser, but I have no confirmation of this.

The information above is the best I have been able to get so far. I hope it helps.

Claire