"HiTemp UR" on a medical sheepskin means two things: HiTemp (high temperature) says the leather is tanned to be washed in water up to 80°C (176°F) without shrinking or going hard, and UR says it is tanned to be urine resistant, so urine won't break down the leather. Both terms come from AS4480.1, the Australian Standard for medical sheepskins first published in 1998, and you'll find them printed in the stamp on the back of a certified skin. Down-Under Wool has supplied HiTemp UR sheepskins since 1988; this guide explains what each part of the label means, how the grades compare, and who actually needs them.
What does HiTemp mean on a sheepskin?
HiTemp means the sheepskin can be washed in hot water, up to 80°C (176°F), and its leather will stay soft. It is one of the two washing grades in AS4480.1: HiTemp, and RegTemp for skins that need cooler water. The standard covers the leather's "degree of tannage" and how well it keeps its resistance to heat, its shrinkage temperature, through washing.
Before these tanning methods, hospital sheepskins tended to shrink and harden after repeated hot laundering, which made them uncomfortable and far less useful. The CSIRO's medical sheepskin, introduced in 1998, was described by the researchers who trialled it as able to withstand multiple washes at 80°C. As our washing and drying sheepskin page notes, HiTemp UR medical sheepskins have withstood more than 200 hot wash-and-dry cycles and kept their softness.
Why does a hot wash matter?
A hot wash matters because washing at 80°C (176°F) thermally disinfects the sheepskin. That is why hospitals and nursing homes can launder a HiTemp sheepskin and pass it from one patient to the next, and why the hospital trials of medical sheepskin laundered them to the standard's instructions for thermal disinfection. At home, it means a sheepskin that is soiled or used every day can be cleaned thoroughly rather than just freshened.
A sheepskin without the HiTemp grade must never be washed hot: hot water shrinks ordinary sheepskin leather, felts the wool and can set stains. You can still disinfect it in cool water with Woolskin, which was developed by the Australian tanning industry for sheepskins.
What does UR mean on a sheepskin?
UR means urine resistant: the leather has been tanned so that urine and feces won't break it down. On an ordinary sheepskin, urine can permanently damage the leather, which is why other sheepskin products are not suitable for someone who is incontinent. HiTemp UR medical sheepskins such as our M102 overlay and M102C are tanned this way.
The wool helps too. Wool can absorb up to about a third of its own weight in moisture before it feels wet, so it draws moisture away from the skin and the person stays drier. A dense pile also means small spills don't pass straight through, so they can be cleaned up with a damp cloth.
Is UR the same as waterproof?
No, UR is not the same as waterproof. A urine-resistant sheepskin survives contact with urine and can be washed clean, but UR describes the leather's tanning, not a waterproof barrier. We recommend a waterproof "blue pad" under the sheepskin or wool pad to protect the mattress. For a side-by-side look at both types, read urine-resistant vs non-urine-resistant wool products.
HiTemp UR vs other grades
Here is how the grades you'll see on our products compare:
| Grade | Wash water | Urine resistant? | Color | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HiTemp UR medical sheepskin (AS4480.1) | up to 80°C (176°F) | yes | green | M102, M102C |
| HiTemp medical sheepskin accessories | washable | not stated | green | M125G arm pads |
| LowTemp medical sheepskin | cool; hand wash | not stated | beige or champagne | M125 arm pads |
| Washable lambskin (not UR) | cool or lukewarm; hot may shrink it | no; urine may damage it | champagne | Healthcare Lambskin (M101) |
| Decorative sheepskin rug | often dry clean only | no | any | home decor |
Merino wool pile pads, such as our Pressure Smart XD1900 range, are a different product: wool knitted into a backing instead of a tanned hide. They are urine resistant and can go in the dryer. We compare them with sheepskin in XD1900 wool pad vs medical sheepskin.
What do "Australian" and "Medical Sheepskin" add?
"Australian Medical Sheepskin" is the name printed in the stamp itself, and it means the sheepskin was made to the Australian Standard AS4480.1, which tests the wool, the leather, the size and the color. Our M102C, for example, is made from select Australian Merino sheepskins. A green color alone doesn't prove any of this; the stamp does. Read more about who wrote the standard and what it tests in the AS4480.1 standard explained, and how to check a skin before you buy in our medical sheepskin buyer's checklist.
Who needs a HiTemp UR sheepskin?
You need a HiTemp UR sheepskin if the person using it is incontinent, if the sheepskin will be soiled or washed often, or if it will be shared, for example in a nursing home. Typical users:
- People with bladder or bowel incontinence, who are also more likely to develop pressure sores: in a study of 5,342 hospital patients, skin damage from incontinence was linked to more than four times the odds of a sacral pressure injury. See bed sore prevention in incontinent patients.
- People confined to bed or a wheelchair, whose sheepskin is in use day and night and needs regular washing.
- Hospitals, nursing homes and home care agencies, where sheepskins move between patients and must be disinfected.
- Anyone with fragile or broken skin, where hygiene matters most. If a wound is already open, ask the nurse or doctor whether a sheepskin is right before you use one.
Who can manage without one: a continent person who uses a sheepskin on a chair, sofa or recliner for comfort. A cool-wash lambskin such as the M101 is softer to the touch and suits that use well. All our UR options are on the incontinence bedding page.
How do you wash a HiTemp UR sheepskin?
Wash a HiTemp UR sheepskin in the machine on a gentle or wool cycle with Woolskin, in water up to 80°C (176°F), then double rinse. Dry it in the air, leather side up, away from direct heat or sun, or in the dryer on low heat with gentle tumbling until it is nearly dry; wool does best with about 15% of its moisture left in it. Our HiTemp UR sheepskins are warranted for at least 50 washes in Woolskin when these steps are followed. The full method, including spot cleaning, is in how to wash and care for your sheepskins.
HiTemp UR FAQs
What does HiTemp stand for?
HiTemp stands for high temperature. A HiTemp sheepskin can be washed in water up to 80°C (176°F) without the leather shrinking or hardening.
What does UR stand for on a medical sheepskin?
UR stands for urine resistant. The leather is tanned so that urine and feces don't break it down, which makes the sheepskin suitable for people who are incontinent.
Can you wash a medical sheepskin in hot water?
Only if it is HiTemp. A HiTemp medical sheepskin can be washed at up to 80°C (176°F), which disinfects it; any other sheepskin should be washed in cool or lukewarm water.
Is a urine-resistant sheepskin waterproof?
No. UR protects the leather from damage, but liquid can still reach the mattress, so use a waterproof pad underneath.
Can you put a HiTemp UR sheepskin in the dryer?
Yes, on low heat with gentle agitation, and only until it is nearly dry. Finish drying it flat or over a rack; air drying is gentlest and takes about 24 hours.
Are all green sheepskins HiTemp UR?
No. HiTemp medical sheepskins are dyed green, but so are many sheepskins that aren't made to the standard. Check for "HITEMP UR" and "AS 4480.1" in the stamp on the leather back.
The short version
HiTemp means the sheepskin can be washed hot, up to 80°C (176°F), which disinfects it; UR means urine won't break down the leather. Together, on a stamped AS4480.1 skin, they make a medical sheepskin suitable for incontinent users and for daily use in hospitals and at home. UR is not waterproof, so keep a pad underneath. Not sure which grade you need? Contact us; we've been helping caregivers choose since 1988.
