Effect of the ultraviolet unweighted irradiance on the compliance of sunbeds in Spain

The use of tanning devices in Spain is regulated by the Royal Decree 1002/2002, which is based on the European standard EN60335-2-27. The European standard establishes that the total unweighted irradiance between 200 and 280 nm must not exceed 0.003 Wm−2, a requirement that the Spanish regulation modified to 0.03 Wm−2 from 250 to 295 nm. With these differences, the compliance consideration of an artificial tanning device can vary. Spectral irradiance measurements of 41 tanning devices performed with a high-resolution spectroradiometer were analyzed. None of the tanning devices had irradiances higher than 0.003 Wm−2 between 250 (the shortest wavelength measured by the spectroradiometer) and 280 nm, but the limit required by Spanish regulation was exceeded by 11 devices, of which one would have been considered compliant according to the European standard since the effective irradiance was lower than 0.3 Wm−2. Beyond noting the differences that can occur in sunbed inspections according to the established criteria, this work has shown the differences in the spectral and total values of devices in use in Spain, validating the need for periodic inspections.