
UV and heat protection clothing - easy to wear
Interview with the magazine ‘Arbeitsschutz aber Sicher’ (Occupational safety but safe)
The right protective clothing not only protects against harmful UV rays, effective heat protection also lowers body temperature and can therefore increase the performance of each individual. Markus Courtial, founder of iQ-Company, explains how this works in an interview with Dietmar Bleck.
- Mr. Courtial, the hot days are just around the corner. Do you feel that companies are adequately preparing and sufficiently protecting their employees?
Markus Courtial: Basically, everyone knows they need to protect themselves from excessive sun exposure. Employers are also aware that occupational health and safety laws require them to minimize their employees’ exposure to UV radiation and heat when working outdoors. Most companies act very responsibly. They conduct risk assessments, adjust working hours during summer, and invest in proper clothing. Overall, I’ve noticed that proper UV and heat protection is becoming increasingly important for companies.
- So, companies are acting in their own best interest as well.
Courtial: That’s correct. Long before health suffers, physical performance declines, and productivity drops. That’s why, in addition to comprehensive UV protection, actively cooling the body is very important. It noticeably increases employee productivity.
- A regular T-shirt and sunscreen aren’t enough?
Courtial: Wearing cotton shirts and applying sunscreen constantly and extensively is really the most impractical combination in summer. Proper use of sunscreen is tricky anyway. We all know this from personal experience. Applying sunscreen is inconvenient. When people do it at all, it’s often too infrequent, with too little cream covering too little skin. The film left by sunscreen on the skin is often perceived as unpleasant. It’s better to wear clothing that covers large parts of the body and provides permanent UV protection. Then, it’s sufficient to apply sunscreen regularly to uncovered areas of the body. This is much more effective, comfortable, and saves a lot of sunscreen.
- How does UV protection in clothing work?
Courtial: It works really well. Before diving into the details of UV protection, let me say a few words about IQ-Company AG. We come from the leisure sector. Since 1994, we’ve been developing and producing functional clothing under the brand name iQ-UV for people who are active outdoors. Our clothing isn’t just stylish; it’s also robust and popular due to its excellent fit. We were the first company to specialize entirely in UV protection. And for several years now, we’ve also focused on heat protection. So, if I may say so, we are the original with extensive expertise.
- Thanks for the insight. So, how does UV protection in clothing actually work?
Courtial: The UV protection comes from the intelligent combination of the yarns used to weave or knit the fabric and the fabric’s construction. The material itself generates the UV protection, which lasts as long as the garment exists.
- How are iQ shirts produced?
Courtial: We produce in Europe using fabrics that are also made in Europe, primarily from recycled materials. This means short supply chains, fair wages, and adherence to European environmental standards during production. Naturally, our workwear complies with current regulations. We also offer high-visibility options. Our designs are timeless and available in many colors. We can even fulfill custom requests for unique colors and designs, even in small quantities.
- How can a shirt protect against heat?
Courtial: The right clothing wicks sweat to the fabric’s surface, where it evaporates. This creates evaporative cooling, lowering the body temperature by a few critical degrees Celsius. Heat protection doesn’t come from wearing less clothing—which increases the risk of skin cancer—but from wearing the right clothing that can cool the body.
- And cotton can’t do that?
Courtial: Correct, cotton can’t do that. Modern high-tech fabrics far outperform cotton, which absorbs moisture instead of wicking it to the surface for evaporation. As a result, cotton cannot cool the body on hot days and offers virtually no UV protection.
- What fabrics does iQ-Company use for its shirts?
Courtial: For transitional periods when the sun’s rays are already intense, but outdoor temperatures are still bearable at 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, we developed “Natural Cool Pro.” If you like the feel of cotton, you’ll appreciate clothing made from this high-performance fabric. It combines the excellent properties of the natural fiber Tencel with an outer layer of recycled PET that provides UV protection of 50+.
- What about wearing comfort?
Courtial: The two-layer construction gives the fabric a very nice feel. “Natural Cool Pro” feels silky soft and actively wicks moisture away from the body, providing a cool and dry feeling on the skin at all times.
- What do you recommend for really hot days?
Courtial: Conduct a risk assessment. Adjust working hours, stay hydrated, and wear the right clothing, including proper headgear. We haven’t even talked about head protection yet, but it’s obvious that the head also needs UV protection. For shirts, I recommend those made from “Extra Cool Air.” This is a single-layer, synthetic high-performance fabric made from recycled materials, similar to what you’d find in high-performance running gear. Of course, it also provides permanent UV protection of 50+. The fabric is extremely lightweight, breathable, and particularly comfortable to wear in summer temperatures above 22 degrees Celsius. Like “Natural Cool Pro,” this fabric quickly wicks moisture to the surface, where it evaporates. This cools the body and helps maintain performance.
- Do the iQ shirts have any additional features?
Courtial: Both functional fabrics feature a “stay fresh – wash less” technology that inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria. This means they need to be washed less often, saving money and prolonging the life of the garments. Additionally, they are all “easy-to-use,” meaning wrinkle- and iron-free.
- What’s your conclusion on UV and heat protection?
Courtial: Heat protection comes from wearing the right clothing, not skipping it. High-tech fabrics effectively protect against UV radiation and help actively cool the body. Properly chosen clothing enhances employee performance during summer. My recommendation for hot days: Stick with your trusted workwear brand and replace cotton shirts with iQ shirts.