So you’re trying to stay out of the sun or provide shade for your customers, good move. In summer, the sunshine in New Zealand is really strong. You'll burn more easily here in New Zealand than anywhere in the Mediterranean. There is less ozone and less pollution in the southern-hemisphere to block the UV rays that cause sunburn. Also during the southern summer Earth's orbit takes us closer to the sun than during the northern summer.
The sun's burning strength is measured by the UV index. The UV Index in the Mediterranean in high-summer reaches 9 or 10 in Florida on a just a few days each summer the index reaches 12. Any reading higher than 10 is extreme in terms of skin-damage. In New Zealand the summer index often exceeds 12. In the far North, 14 is reached.
Research confirms that clothing, hats and sunscreen are not 100% effective because of inadequacies in the shading of hats and clothing and in applying sunscreen. Shade can compensate and can also make more comfortable environments in creating shelter, reducing glare and/or providing relief from the heat of the sun.
Throughout a day UVR behaves in a predictable way. It is at its highest around 1.30pm during daylight savings months. Typically, during a New Zealand summer you will need to protect yourself at least when the UVI levels reach 6 and above, and this happens almost daily between October and March, the peak UVR hours of 11am-4pm.
Protect skin form the sun and add value to your property with a Duncan’s Canvas Shade Sail.
