To read an umbrella fabric PFAS report, match the tested sample to your proposed fabric, then check the substances, methods, units and detection limits. ND means not detected above the stated limit; it does not establish that every PFAS is absent. Targeted PFAS results and fluorine measurements answer different questions.
Identify the sample before reading the result
A material report is useful only when the sample can be matched to the material being ordered. Start with the laboratory, report number, applicant, date, sample description and sample photograph. Then check the component list, tested substances, method and result units. A filename containing “fluorine-free” is not a test conclusion.
One report in our supplier documentation is Eurofins report EFHZ26031152-CG-01, dated 12 March 2026. It describes a black woven fabric submitted by Shenzhen Liansheng Textile Industry Co., Ltd. The document concerns that supplied sample; it is not a test of every Ark Umbrella product or color.
Read targeted PFAS and fluorine results separately
The Eurofins report lists a PFAS analysis with reference to EN 17681-1:2025 and a separate fluorine test with reference to EN 14582:2016. These are separate entries with different methods and reporting limits. Keep them separate in a purchasing record rather than merging them into a single unqualified claim.
The report’s listed PFAS results are recorded as ND. Its fluorine entry is also ND, with a method detection limit of 50 mg/kg. Refer to the complete report for the individual PFAS analytes and their detection limits; they are not all the same. These are reported observations for the tested sample, not a guarantee for other production lots.
ND means below the stated detection limit
The report defines ND as “Not detected, less than MDL.” It does not mean that a method has established an absolute zero concentration. MDL is the method detection limit. When comparing reports, read the result, unit and detection limit together.
| Report field | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Sample or component | Does it match the fabric, color and finish in this order? |
| Analyte list | Which substances were actually measured? |
| Method and units | Are the two reports using comparable procedures and units? |
| MDL and ND | What concentration could the method detect? |
| Date and traceability | Can the supplier connect this sample to the proposed material? |
Check every color and component that matters
Another file in the archive, report 186991DE for article 5001 cover materials, distinguishes red and anthracite fabric samples. That structure illustrates why a result must be read against the correct sample column. Do not select a favorable result from one color and apply it to another, or summarize a multipage report from its filename.
A finished umbrella also includes components beyond the canopy. If your requirement covers the complete product, define that scope when arranging evaluation. A material report should stay linked to the supplied material rather than being used as a general factory certification.
Request evidence for the proposed order
Send your chosen fabric or umbrella reference, color, finish, destination and customer testing requirements. Ask for the relevant complete report and a way to identify the material being supplied. If the available report does not cover your specification, agree on the additional sample testing needed.
Use customer-approved claim wording based on the actual evidence and applicable requirements. This guide explains how to read the supplied records; it does not determine legal compliance for a market or authorize an unrestricted “PFAS-free” claim. For the distinction between material evidence and a factory audit, read our certification guide.
Source document screenshots
Selected pages from the supplied documents. Open each image to read its scope, dates and sample details.
