DEAS 344:2021  
ICS 85.0 80.10  
 
© EA C 2021                                                                                                                          Second Edition 2021   
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
Exercise books and related items — Specification   
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  
 
 
 
 DEAS 344:2021  
ii © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 Copyright notice  
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Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement.  
Violators may be prosecuted . DEAS 344:2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Tolerance on sizes  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  2 
5 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
5.1 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
5.2 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
5.2.1  Types of writing paper  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  2 
5.2.2  Stitching wire  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
5.2.3  Binding  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  3 
5.2.4  Ruling ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  3 
5.2.5  Requirements specific to types of exer cise books and related items  ................................ .............  4 
6 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  5 
7 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  5 
8 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  6 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  7 
 
 DEAS 344:2021  
iv © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 Foreword  
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements 
governing quality of products and  services in the East African Community. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged 
within the Community will be removed.  
The Community has established an East African  Standards Committee  (EASC)  mandated to develop and 
issue East African Standards  (EAS) . The Committee is composed of representatives of the National 
Standards Bodies in Partner States, together with the representatives from the public and private sector 
organizations  in the community .  
East African Standards are developed through  Technical Committees that are representative of key 
stakeholders including government, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other interested parties. 
Draft East African St andards are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the 
Partner States. The comments received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in 
accordance with the Principles and procedures for development of E ast African  Standards.  
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the East 
African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards 
they are implemen ting.  
The committee responsible  for this document is Technical Committee EASC /TC 065, Paper and p aper 
Products.  
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be subject of patent 
rights. EAC shall not be held respons ible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (EAS 344:2004), which has been technically revised. 
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:  
— The title has been changed  from “Exercise books — Specification” to “Exercise books and related 
items — Specification”  
— The text of the standard has been expanded to cater for several types and sizes of exercise books 
and related items  
 DRAFT EAST A FRICAN STANDARD  DEAS 344: 2021 
 
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  1 
 Exercise books and related items — Specificati on  
This Draft East African Standard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for exercise books and 
related items.  
2 Normative references   
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their conte nt constitutes 
requirements 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 186, Paper and board — Sampling to determine a verage quality  
ISO 287, Paper and board — Determination of moisture content of a lot — Oven -drying method  
ISO 535, Paper and board — Determination of water absorptiveness — Cobb method  
ISO 536, Paper and board — Determination of grammage  
ISO 1924 -3, Paper and board — Determination of tensile properties — Part 3: Constant rate of elongation 
method (100 mm/min)  
ISO 2470 -2, Paper, board and pulps — Measurement of diffuse blue reflectance factor — Part 2: Outdoor 
daylight conditions (D65 brightness)  
ISO 2471, Paper and board — Determination of opacity (paper backing) — Diffuse reflectance method  
ISO 4046 (all parts) , Paper, board, pulps and related terms — Vocabulary  
ISO 6588 -1, Paper, board and pulps — Determination of pH of aqueous extracts — Part 1: Cold extr action  
ISO 11093 -4, Paper and board — Testing of cores — Part 4: Measurement of dimensions  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions and those in ISO 4046 (all parts)  shall 
apply.  
3.1  
spine  
the bindin g edge of a book.  
3.2  
thread -stitched  
process of stitching sections of a book together with thread before the book is bound.   
3.3  
wire-stitch ed  
process of machine stitching by means of one or more wire staples through the spine of a fold   
2 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 4 Tolerance o n sizes  
When determined in accordance with ISO 11093 -4, a tolerance of ± 3 mm shall be allowed on all sizes 
specified for exercise books  and related items .   
5 Requirements  
5.1 General  requirements  
Writing paper shall:  
a) be free from tears, holes, blemishes,  creases and other visible defects;  
b) be uniform in texture; and  
c) have a good writing surface on each side, except books made from newsprint, when written upon with 
writing ink using steel pens or ball point writing instruments.  
5.2 Specific requirements  
5.2.1 Types of writing paper  
Paper for exercise books and related items shall be in two types :  
5.2.1.1  Machine finish (MF) sized paper  
Machine finish (MF) sized paper shall comply with the requirements set in Table 1.  
5.2.1.2  Newsprint paper  
When tested in ac cordance with ISO 536, newsprint paper shall have a minimum grammage of 42.5 g/m2 if 
recycled and 45 g/m2 if virgin  
Table 1 — Requirements for machine finish paper  
Characteristic  Requirement  Test Method  
i  aGrammage, g/m2, Min.  50  ISO 536  
ii  Opacity,  %, Min.  70 ISO 2471  
iii  Tearing factor, mN, M in.  50 ISO 1924 -3 
iv  Breaking length, m m, Min.  2 500 ISO 1924 -3 
v Moisture content, %  4 - 7 ISO 287  
vi pH of aqueous extract  4.5 – 9.5 ISO 6588 -1 
vii Water absorptiveness 
(Cobb test), g/m2  18 - 24 ISO 535  
viii Brightness, %, Min.  65 ISO 2470 -2 
a Tolerance on declared value is ± 5 % for grammages above the minimum  
5.2.2  Stitching wire  
5.2.2.1  When measured using a micrometre screw gauge, t he stitching wire shall have a minimum gauge 
of 0.50 mm galv anised or tin coated wires or wires otherwise treated against rust shall be used.   
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  3 
 5.2.2.2  The size of stitch shall be of such a length as to allow a turn over of at least 3 mm.  
5.2.3  Binding  
5.2.3.1  Exercise books and related items should be bound in any o f the following ways:  
a) wire-stitched bound;  
b) hard bound;  
c) perfect bound;  
d) spiral bound; and  
e) case bound.  
5.2.3.2  In case of wire -stitch binding, there shall be at least two stitches on the spine of each exercise 
book. If two stitches are used, the spaces shal l be as nearly as possible in the ratio 1:2:1. If more than two 
stitches are used, the spaces shall be as nearly as possible equal  
5.2.4  Ruling  
5.2.4.1  Exercise books ruling  
When ruling is required, it shall be done as follows:  
a) When tested in accordance wi th ISO 11093 -4, the distance between horizontal lines shall be a 
minimum of 8 mm with a tolerance of ± 0.5 mm on any other value above the minimum.  
b) The margins, whether on the top or on the side, shall have a distance from the end of 25 mm ± 3 mm  
when tes ted in accordance with ISO 11093 -4. 
c) The lines shall be in clear visible colours.  
d) Square -ruled exercise books shall have a minimum of 5 mm with a tolerance of ± 0.5 mm on any 
other value above the minimum  when tested in accordance with ISO 11093 -4. Squares shall be ruled 
throughout the entire area and trimmed to bleed all the three edges.  
e) For lower primary school exercise books, the distance between horizontal lines shall be a minimum of 
10 mm and 8 mm for plain and square -ruled exercise books respectively. The distances shall be 
subject to a tolerance of ± 0.5 mm on any other value above the minimum  
f) When tested in accordance with ISO 11093 -4, the distance between double lines in double -ruled 
exercise books shall be a minimum of 5 mm with a tolerance of ± 0. 5 mm on any other value above 
the minimum and the distance between the other neighbouring lines shall be 10 mm ± 0.5 mm.  
5.2.4.2  Accountancy books ruling  
Accountancy books shall have a double -column ledger, treble -column cash journal, six -column analysis, eight -
column creditor’s journal or eight -column accounting journal type of ruling.  
5.2.4.3  Music books  
Ruling shall be done as agreed upon between the purchaser and the supplier. If required, the ruling shall be 
done as follows:   
4 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 a) writing paper shall be rul ed at right angles to the binding edge, in staves, each formed by five lines 
spaced 2.2 mm ± 0.1 mm apart;  
b) the distance between the first line of the first stave and the upper edge of a page shall be at least 20 
mm and at most 30 mm and the distance betwe en the last line of the lowest stave and the lower edge 
of the page shall be at least 15 mm and at most 25 mm;  
c) A4 books shall contain 12 staves per page while those of A5 shall contain six staves per page. In both 
cases, the distance between consecutive s taves shall be uniform and within 1 mm  
5.2.5  Requirements specific to t ypes of exercise books and related items  
Exercise books and related items shall comply with the requirements in Table 2.  
Table 2 — Requirements specific to type of book  or related item  
Type of book or 
related item  aSize (mm)  Number of pages  bGrammage of cover  Quality of writing 
paper  
Wire-stitched 
exercise books  148 × 210, 155 × 200, 160 × 
210, 162 × 203, 162 × 229, 
175 × 250, 200 × 248, 200 × 
278, 210 × 297, 204 × 255 32 - 240 excludin g 
the covers  Minimum of 90 g/m2 As in Table 1  
Bound exercise 
books  148 × 210, 155 × 200, 160 × 
210, 162 × 203, 162 × 229, 
175 × 250, 200 × 248, 200 × 
278, 200 × 315, 204 × 255, 
210 × 297, 210 × 330  96 – 576 excluding 
the covers  Pulp or board of 450 
g/m2 for books with ≤ 
256 pages;  
Pulp or board of 700 
g/m2 for books with ≥ 
256 pages.  
Other suitable non -
paper covers may 
also be used.  As in Table 1  
Wire-stitched 
drawing exercise 
books  176 x 250, 210 x 297, 250 x 
353, 297 x 420  A minimum of 20 
pages with 
increasing multip les 
of 4 pages 
excluding the covers  Minimum of 90 g/m2 As in Table 1 
except that it shall 
be made of 
machine finished 
paper of minimum 
80 g/m2 
Wire ⎯ stitched 
map exercise 
books  210 x 297, 229 x 324  - - As in Table 1  
Bound science 
practical notebook  210 x 297  96 – 192 excluding 
the covers  Pulp or board of 450 
g/m2 for books with ≤ 
144 pages;  
Pulp or board of 700 
g/m2 for books with ≥ 
144 pages.  As in Table 1 
except that it shall 
be made of paper 
of minimum 60 
g/m2 
Wire-stitched 
Examination 
answer booklet s 162 × 229, 210 × 297  16  - As in Table 1 
except that it shall 
be made of 
machine finished 
paper of minimum 
80 g/m2 and shall 
have punched  
holes in the right 
hand side corner  
Wire-stitched 210 × 297, 229 × 324  96 – 144 excluding Minimum of 10 0 g/m2 As in Table 1 
except that it shall  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  5 
 register books  the covers  be made of paper 
of minimum 60 
g/m2 
Bound r egister 
books  210 × 297, 229 × 324  96 - ≥ 256 Pulp or board of 675 
g/m2 for books with ≤ 
144 pages;  
Pulp or board of 1100 
g/m2 for books with ≥ 
144 pages.  As in Table 1 
except that it shall 
be made of paper 
of minimum 60 
g/m2 
Accountancy 
books  210 × 297  72 - 192 pages 
exclusive of covers  - - 
Shorthand 
notebooks  127 × 195, 128 × 203, 148 × 
297 Maximum of 200 
pages  Minimum of 10 0 g/m2 As in Table 1  
Ruled sheets of 
paper  148 × 297, 148 × 210, 210 × 
297, 297 × 420, 210 × 330  - - As in Table 1  
Graph books and 
sheets  210 × 297, 148 ×  210  - - As in  Table 1  
Music books  148 × 210, 210 × 297  - - - 
a Size shall be tested in accordance with ISO 11093 -4 
b Grammage is tested in accordance to ISO 536 and tolerance of ± 5 % is allowed on an y other value above 
the minimum  
6 Packaging  
6.1 The exercise bo oks and related items shall be supplied in packages containing the same type, size, and 
having the same number of pages.  
6.2 The exercise books and related items shall be packaged in packages that prevent them from being 
damaged during transportation , handling  and storage . The packages  shall also be strong enough to prevent 
tear, bursting, distortion or opening up from the weight of the contents of the package.  
7 Labelling  
7.1 Each package  of exercise books and related items shall be legibly and indelibly labelled with the 
following particulars:  
a) manufacturer /and or distributor ’s name, address and/or trademark ; 
b) description of the contents  in the package such as “Exercise books” ;  
c) grammage of paper;   
d) number of contents  in the package ;  
e)  gross weight; and  
f) country of origin.   
7.2 Each exercise book and related item shall be clearly and indelibly marked with the following particulars:  
a) manufacturer /and or distributor ’s name, address and/or trademark ;  
b) number of pages;    
6 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 c) size in mm;   
d) grammage ; 
e) space for   
i. name,   
ii. school /institution ;   
iii. class /form/grade  ------ Year ------- ,  
iv. subject.  
f) an indication that it is “Newsprint paper” if made of such and a warning, “Not for use with fountain pen”  
8 Sampling  
Sampling shall be done in accordance to ISO 186   
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  7 
 Bibliography  
EAS 344:2004, Exercise books — Specification  
 DEAS 344:2021    
 
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved