ICS 97.195  
 
Reference number  
DRS 179: 2020  
© RSB 2020 
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
179  
 
Second edition  
2020-mm-dd 
 
Pewter handcraft products — Specification  
   
DRS 179: 2020  
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2020 
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reprodu ce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Tel. +250 788303492  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 179: 2020  
iii                ©RSB 2020 - All rights  reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  1 
4.1 Chemical composition of pewter and pewterware  ................................ ................................ .............  1 
4.2 Chemical composition of solders for joining pewterware  ................................ ................................  2 
4.3 Dimensions, mass and tolerances  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 2 
5 Analytical methods  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  3 
5.1 5.1 Pewter component(s) of the pewterware article  ................................ ................................ ..........  3 
5.2 Soldered joints  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 3 
6 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  3 
7 Marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  3 
8 Health and safety  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 4 
Annex  A (norma tive)  Methods of determination of pewter of alloying and impurity element 
contents by atomic spectrometry  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  5 
A.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  5 
A.2 Reagents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  5 
A.3 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  6 
A.4 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  7 
Annex  B (normative)  Chemical composition of Alloy No. 21 ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined.  
 DRS 179: 2020  
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  iv 
 Foreword  
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards 
adopted by Technical committ ees are ratifie d by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 179 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 25, Handcraft products . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard s: 
BS 5140 Specification for pewter  
BS EN 12938 Methods for the analysis of pewter — Determination of alloying and impurity element contents 
by atomic spectrometry  
BS EN 611 -1, Tin and tin alloys — Pewter and pewterware — Specification — Part1: Pewter  
B560 -00:2010 , Standard specification for modern pewter alloys   
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (RS  179: 2013 ), which has  been technically revised.  
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows : 
— Clause 1: Scope  has been modified to reflect the content of the standard  
— Clause 4: Pewterware has been added for clarification  
— Clause 5: Analytical method has been modified  
— Clause 6 Sampling has been modified  
— Clause 8 : Health and Safety has been modified  
— Annex B has been added  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Handcraft products (RSB/TC 
45) in the preparation of this standa rd. 
City of Kigali — Agaseke Project  
Dikam Ltd  
Glo Creations  DRS 179: 2020  
v                ©RSB 2020 - All rights  reserved  
 JNM Company Ltd  
Ministry of trade and Industry  
National Industrial Research Development Agency (NIRDA)  
Private Sector federation (PSF)  
UBURIZA Arts  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  
  DRS 179: 2020  
1                ©RSB 2020 - All rights  reserved  
 Pewter handcraft products  — Specification  
1 Scope  
This Draft Rwanda Standard  specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for peter and pewterware and 
solders to be used for the joining.  
2 Normative references  
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes 
require ments of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
ISO 2768 -1 General tolerances — Part 1: Tolerances for linear and angula r dimensions without individual 
tolerance indications  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the follow ing terms and definitions apply . 
3.1  
hazard  
thing or a situation with potential to cause injury or illness to a person due to its chem ical composition  
3.2 
pewter  
tin-based metal alloyed with varying amounts of other metals such as lead, antimony, bismuth, copper or zinc 
to make it stronger and harder  
4 Requirements  
4.1 Chemical composition of pewter  and pewterware  
4.1.1  The chemical compositio n of a pewter  and pewterware  shall conform to the requirements given in 
table 1 when determined on samples selected in accordance with clause 5.    
4.1.2  In expressing the results for the analysis, the values obtained shall be rounded to the same number 
of decimal places as used in expressing the specified limit given in table1.   
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 4.1.3  The chemical composition for pewter and pewterware may be determined by using any appropriate 
approved test methods for the analysis with agreement between supplier and customer or by using the test 
method given in Annex A.  
4.1.4 Pewter products that may come in contact with foodstuffs shall  shall contain not more  
than 0,25 % lead and 0,05 % cadmium . 
Table 1 — Chemical requirement for pewter handi craft  
(Composition in %)  
Pewter 
categories  Sn  Element  Ag  Bi  Cd  Cu  Pb  Sb  Total 
other 
element  
1  Not less than 94 %  min max  -  
0.05  -  
0.5  -  
0.05  -  
1.0  -  
0.25  1.0  
3.0  -  
0.2  
2  Between 91 % and 94 
%  min max  -  
4.0  -  
0.5  -  
0.05  1.0  
2.5  -  
0.25  3.0  
7.0  -  
0.2  
Note 1 For categ ory 1 the silver range required  up to a maximum of 4.0 % Ag shall be agreed between the 
purchaser and the supplier and stated in the order.  
Note 2 For purposes of determining conformance with these specifications , an observed value or a calculated 
value shall be rounded according to the following rules:  
a) if the figure immediately after the last figure to be retained is less than five the last figure to be retained shall 
be kept unchanged; and  
b) if the figure immediately after the last figure to be retained is equal to or greater than five the last figure to be 
retained shall be increased by one.  
Note 3 The tin content shall not be less th an 91 % in any pewter products.  
4.2 Chemical composition of s olders for joining pewterware  
4.2.1  The chemical composition of solders for joining pewterware shall be in accordance with table 1.  
4.2.2  In case the soldered joint may reasonably be expected to come into contact with foodstuffs, the solder 
used for joining the component parts of the pewterware shall meet the following requirements:  
a) one of the alloys designated 1 to 6 in Table 1 of this Rwanda Standard; or  
b) Alloy No. 21 specified in Annex B  
4.3 Tolerances  
4.3.1  Pewter handicraft products dimensions w ill vary in accordance with the  agreement between the 
manufacture r and the  client . DRS 179: 2020  
3                ©RSB 2020 - All rights  reserved  
 4.3.2  In case of disputes between  the manufacturer and the client , tolerances shall be in accordance with 
ISO 2768 -1.  
5 Analytical methods  
5.1  5.1 Pewter component(s) of the pew terware article  
5.1.1  All surface coatings on the pewter components to be analysed shall be removed  
5.1. 2  Analysis samples shall be taken, by drilling or cutting, to represent each pewter component part of the 
article. These samples shall be taken from zones furthest from any soldered joints  
5.1.3  The chemical composition shall be determined by us ing appropriate approved test methods for the 
analysis with agreement between supplier and customer or by using the test method given in Annex A.  
5.2 Soldered joint s 
5.2.1  The joint shall be cut from the pewterware article  
5.2.2  The sample for analysis shall be a length of the joint, taken so as to include not more than 2 mm of 
the pewter on each side of the joint.  
5.2.3  The mass of the sample taken for analysis shal l be at least 0,1 g  
6 Sampling  
According to the number of pewter handicraft products in batch randomly select a number of sample in 
accordance with the sampling rate given in Table 2. 
 
Table 2 — Sampling rate  
Number of pewter handicra ft 
products   Number of sample pewter handicraft 
products  
1 - 10  2  
10 - 60  4  
> 60  10 % of pewter handicraft products or 
pewterware in batch  
7 Marking  
7.1 All pewter handicraft products shall be marked with the following information:   
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 a) manufacturer's  name or mark; and  
b) percentage (%) of tin where applicable  
c)  the word PEWTER (or corresponding translation, for instance `ETAIN' in French) . 
7.2 The marking may be done by cast or stamp and shall be permanent.  
7.3 In addition, the pewterware article or if th is is not practicable, its label or associated packaging shall be 
marked with the number of this Rwanda Standard.  
8 Health and safety  
8.1 For health and safety issues , the government laws and instructions shall be respected.  
8.2 The waste and hazardous mater ial shall respect the prevailing environmental management laws.  DRS 179: 2020  
5                ©RSB 2020 - All rights  reserved  
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Methods of determination of pewter of alloying and impurity element 
contents by atomic spectrometry  
A.1 Principle  
The test sample is dissolved in hydrochloric acid plus nitric acid and tartaric or citric acid and the 
concentration of the element sought is measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) or atomic 
emission spectrometry (AES). Interference is minimiz ed by matching sample and standard materials and by 
the choice of instrument parameters.  
A.2 Reagents  
During the analysis , unless otherwise stated , use only reagents of recognized analytical grade and only 
distilled water or water of equivalent purity. The following reagents are used for determination of alloy and 
impurities:  
a) hydrochloric acid. concentrated (ρ≈1 . 18 g/ml);  
b) dilute hydrochloric acid (1+1).  Dilute 100 ml hydrochloric acid (4.2) with 100 ml water;  
NOTE  For safety reasons the acid should be added to the water.  
c) dilute hydrochloric acid (1+19).  Dilute 10 ml hydrochloric acid (4.2) with 190 ml water;  
NOTE  For safety reasons, the acid sho uld be added to the water.  
d) nitric acid. (ρ≈1. 42 g/ml);  
e) sulphuric acid. ((ρ≈1 . 84 g/ml);  
f) tartaric acid or citric acid;  
g) acid mixture. Add 250 ml hydrochloric acid (a) to 250 ml water. Cool. Add 250 ml nitric acid (d) and 50 ml 
tartaric ( or citric ) acid  (f). Dilute to 1 l with water;  
h) dilute nitric acid (1+1).  Add 100 ml nitric acid (d) to 100 ml water;  
i) dilute nitric acid (1+4).  Add 50 ml nitric acid (d) to 200 ml water;  
j) dilute nitric acid (1+9).  Add 25 ml nitric acid (d) to 225 ml water;   
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 k) dilute nitri c acid (1%).  Dilute 5 ml nitric acid (4.5) up to 500 ml;  
l) standard solutions of metals. Freshly purchased standard metal solutions may be used or standard metal 
solutions should be made up as follows:  
1) standard antimony solution (1 ml contains 1 mg Sb). Pl ace 0.10g Sb in 5 ml sulphuric acid (4.6) 
and heat to complete dissolution. Cool. Carefully add approximately 10 ml water and cool again. 
Transfer to a 100 ml volumetric flask with dilute hydrochloric acid (1+1) (b);  
2) standard copper solution (1 ml contain s 1 mg Cu). Dissolve 1g Cu in 30 ml nitric acid (1+4) (i) and 
transfer to a 100 ml volumetric flask. Make up to volume with water. Mix well;  
3) standard copper solution (1 ml contains 10 mg Cu). Dissolve 1g Cu in 30 ml nitric acid (1+4) (i) 
and transfer to a  100 ml volumetric flask. Make up to volume with water. Mix well;  
4) standard lead solution (1 ml contains 1 mg Pb). Dissolve 0.10 g Pb in 10 ml dilute nitric acid (1+4) 
(i) and transfer to a 100 ml volumetric flask. Make up to volume with water. Mix well;  
5) standard bismuth solution (1 ml contains 1 mg Bi). Dissolve 0.10 g Bi in 10 ml dilute nitric acid  
6) (1+1) (h) and transfer to a 100 ml volumetric flask. Make up to volume with water. Mix well;  
7) standard cadmium solution (1 ml contains 1 mg Cd). Dissolve 0.1 0 g Cd in 10 ml dilute nitric acid 
(1+4) (i) and transfer to a 100 ml volumetric flask. Make up to volume with water. Mix well;  
8) standard silver solution (1 ml contains 1 mg Ag).  Dissolve 0.787 g silver nitrate in 50 ml water. 
Transfer to a 500 ml volumetr ic flask and make up to volume with nitric acid (1 %) (k). Mix well;   
9) standard silver solution (1 ml contains 0.1 mg Ag).Transfer 10 ml silver solution (l.7) to a 100 ml 
volumetric flask. Ma ke up to volume with water; and  
10) mix well.   
m) tin min purity 99.99 % (mass fraction).  
A.3 Apparatus  
The following apparatus are used:  
a) ordinary l aboratory apparatus. Use grade A glassware;  
b) burette of capacity 5ml  graduated in 0.02 ml;  
c) atomic absorption or atomic emission spectrometer;  
NOTE  Plasma inductively -coupled emission spectrometer is also suitable.  DRS 179: 2020  
7                ©RSB 2020 - All rights  reserved  
 d) hollow cathode lamps or electrodeless discharge lamps for antimony bismuth cadmium copper lead and 
silver; and  
NOTE  The presence of other elements may also need to be ascertained.  
e) analyti cal balance with an accuracy of 0.1  mg.  
A.4 Procedure  
A.4.1 Preparation of the solution of the sample under test for the determination of antimony copper, lead, 
bismuth, cadmium and silver up to 0.01 %. The preparation is done as follows:  
a) weigh accurately a bout 0.5 g of the sample and transfer to a 150 ml beaker. Add 20 ml of the acid 
mixture (g); heat to complete dissolution and cool. Transfer to a 100 ml volumetric flask and make up 
to the mark with dilute hydrochloric acid (1+19) (c). Mix well;  
b) for deter mination of antimony in all alloys and for copper in alloys,  introduce 10 ml of the solution a) 
into a 100 ml volumetric flask and make up to the mark with dilute hydrochloric acid (1+19) (c); Mix 
well; and  
c) prepare a blank solution following the procedure  described in a) but using 0.5 g of high purity tin (m) 
instead of the sample.  
A.4.2 Preparation of the sample for the determination of silver from 0.01 % to 5 % (mass fraction); the 
preparation is done as follows:  
a) weigh accurately 0.5 g ± 0.1  g of the s ample into a 250-ml beaker. Add 20 ml dilute nitric acid (1+1) (h); 
Warm to dissolve; add antibumping granules or similar and boil vigorously to expel brown fumes;   
b) cool and transfer the solution and the precipitate to a 250-ml volumetric flask with dilute nitric acid 
(1+9)(j);  
c) mix well and allow to stand until the precipitate has settled;  
d) for the determination of silver by ICP and for up to 0.2 % by AAS use this solution;  
e) for high silver content determinations by AAS , transfer 10 ml of this solution to a 100-ml graduated flask 
and dilute to the mark with dilute nitric acid (1+9) (j);  
NOTE 1  Tin and antimony will be precipitated out of the solution containing nitric acid and will not therefore be in the 
solution being analy zed for silver content.  
NOTE 2  All glassware and reagents should be chlorine free. Before use, it is recommended that all glassware is 
thorough ly rinsed with distilled water.   
f) to prepar e a range of standard solutions, transfer 15 ml; 20 ml; 30 ml;  50 ml a nd 60 ml silver solution (l.7) 
into 250 ml volumetric flasks;  
g) add sufficient standard copper solution (1 ml contains 10 mg Cu) (l.3) to matrix match the copper content 
of the alloys being analyzed;  
h) finally dilute to the mark with dilute nitric acid (1+1) ; and  
i) mix well.  
A.4.3  Preparation of calibration solutions   
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 For the determination of antimony, copper, lead, bismuth and cadmium.   
a) weigh 0.5 g ± 0.1 g tin (m) into a 400-ml beaker;  
b) add 50 ml of the acid mixture (g) and heat to complete dissolution;  
c) cool and transfer to a 100-ml volumetric flask and make up to the mark with dilute hydrochloric acid 
(1±19) (c);  
d) mix well;  
e) to each of seven 100 ml volumetric flasks. first add 10 ml of this solution and then add the amounts of the 
standard m etal solutions shown in Table A. 1;  
f) finally, dilute all the solutions to the mark with dilute hydrochloric acid (c); and  
g) for determination of antimony in all samples and for copper , transfer 10.0 ml of the solutions to a 100-ml 
flask and dilute to the mark wit h dilute hydrochloric acid (c) . 
Table A.1 — Volume of standard metal solutions used in the preparation of the calibration solutions  
Flask No.    Standard metal solution 
ML    
Sb  Cu  
(B.4.13.2)  Pb  Bi  Cd  Ag  
  
1  -  -  -  -  -  -  
2  20  0.20  0.20  0.20  0.05  0.2  
3  25  0.50  0.50  0.50  0.10  0.5  
4  30  1.0  0.75  1.0  0.20  1.0  
5  35  5.0  1.0  1.5  0.25  2.0  
6  40  10.0  1.5  2.0  0.30  4.0  
7  45  15.0  2.0  2.5  0.40  8.0  
8  -  -  -  -  -  10.0  
A.4.4  Certified reference materials (CRM)  
Where CRM of similar matrix to the sample under test is available, treat an appropriate sample of the CRM in 
exactly the same way  as the sample under test (D.1).  
A.4.5  Spectrometric measurements  
Set up the spectrometer  (AAS or AES) using wavelengths given in Annex B.3.5 or D.3.3, as appropriate. A 
minimum of two runs of the sample under analysis shall be made; first the calibration solutions, then the 
samples under analysis; and the cycle repeated without altering the i nstrument parameters. For the purposes 
of calculating the element content in the sample, the average of readings from a minimum of two separate 
runs shall be used.  
NOTE  This also applies to ICP spectrometers.  DRS 179: 2020  
9                ©RSB 2020 - All rights  reserved  
 A.4.6  Expression of results  
Determining the metal content shall be done by means of the calibration curves; determine the quantities of 
each metal corresponding to the spectrometer measurements of the test and the blank test solutions .  
NOTE Calibration curves are usually prepared automatically by t he instruments.  
The content of each element is given, as a mass fraction , in % by the formula:  
  
where:  
Mo is the mass of the test portion in milligrams  
M1 is the mass of the element in the blank test solution in milligrams;  
M2 is the mass of the ele ment in the test solution in milligrams, as indicated from the calibration curve 
and calculated for any dilution that may have been required.  
A.4.7  Test report  
A test report shall be drawn up containing the following information:  
a) identification of the s ample;  
b) reference to this standard and the method used;  
c) the experimental test results;  
d) the date the test was carried out; and  
e) any particular observations made during the tests.  
  
 
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  10 
 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Chemical composition of Alloy No. 21  
Alloy 
no. Alloy 
designation  Melting or solidus/liquidus 
temperature oC Chemical composition  
% (m/m)  
Element  Sn  Pb  Sb Cd Zn Al Bi As Fe Cu Total excluding Sb, 
Bi, Cu  
21 S-BI57Sn43  138 min. 
max.  42,5 
43,5 — 
0,05 —  
0,10 —  
0,002  —  
0,001  —  
0,001  Remain  —  
0,03 —  
0,02 —  
0,10 — 
0,21) 2)  
1) In alloy 21, the sum of all impurities (i.e. elements other than Bi and Sn) is 0,2  % maximum.  
2) In alloy 21, the maximum indium (In)content is 0.05 % and the maximum silver (Ag) content is 0,05 %  DRS 179: 2020  
 
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