ICS 71.100.01  
 
 
Reference number  
DRS 90-3: 202 1 
© RSB 202 1 
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
90-3  
 
Second  edition  
2021 -mm-dd 
 
Polishes — Specification  — 
Part 3:  
Shoe liquid type  
   
DRS 90-3: 202 1 
©RSB 2021 - 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 2021 
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 90-3: 202 1 
iii                ©RSB 2021 - All rights reserved  
 Contents  
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  4 
4.1 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  4 
4.2 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  4 
5.1 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 5 
5.2 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  5 
6 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 5 
Annex  A (normative)  Determination of consistency  ................................ ................................ .............  6 
A.1 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 6 
Annex  B (normative)  Determina tion of application  ................................ ................................ ..............  7 
B.1 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 7 
Annex  C(normative)  Determination of non -volatile matter  ................................ ................................ ... 8 
C.1 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 8 
C.1.2  Calculation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 8 
Annex  D (normative)  Determination of ash of non -volatile matter  ................................ ......................  9 
D.1 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 9 
E.1 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 10 
Annex  F................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  11 
F.1 General requirement of  sampling  ................................ ................................ .............................  11 
F.2 Scale of sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  11 
F.3 Preparation of composite sample  ................................ ................................ .............................  12 
F.4 Number of tests and criteria for conformity  ................................ ................................ ............  12 
 DRS 90-3: 202 1 
©RSB 2021 - All rights reserved                  iv 
  
 DRS 90-3: 202 1 
v                ©RSB 2021 - All rights reserved  
 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 ratified  by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards.  
DRS  90-3 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 024, Organic and inorganic chemicals . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard:  
IS 12010: Specification for shoe polish, liquid  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition  
DRS 90 consists of the following parts, under the general title Polishes  — Specification  
— Part 1: Polishes — Specification — Shoe wax solvent paste type (withdrawn and replaced by RS  
EAS 462)  
 
— Part 2: Polishes — Specification — Shoe cream type  
—  Part 3: Polishes — Specification — Shoe liquid type  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Organic and inorganic chemicals 
(RSB/TC 024) in the preparation of this standard.  
Paragraph of p articipa nts 
University of Rwanda – College of Sciences and Technology (UR - CST)  
Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection  Authority  (RICA)  
Standards for Sustainability (SFS)  
Horizon SOPYRWA L td 
 DRS 90-3: 202 1 
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Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  
  DRS 90-2:202 1 
1                ©RSB 2021 - All rights reserved  
 Polishes  — Specification  — Part 3: Shoe liquid type  
1 Scope   
This Draft Rwanda Standard  describes the requirements , sampling and test methods  for liquid shoe polish 
suitable for general application to  pure or coated  leather footwear.  
2 Normative references  
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of  their content 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.  
RS EAS 462 : 2007 , Shoe polish wax solv ent paste type  — Specification  
RS ISO 80000 -1: 2009 , Quantities and units —Part 1: General  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this standard, the follow ing terms and definitions apply.  
3.1 
heat resistance  
property of paste polish to resist warm ambi ence (at specified temperature) without changing its paste 
consistency  
3.2 
levelling  
property of a freshly spread aqueous polish to dry to a uniform and streak -free appearance  
3.3 
drying time  
time taken by a polish to dry out sufficiently before buffing for shine  
3.4 
polish  
composition generally applied it frequent intervals to produce desired, smooth, flossy surface on rubbing. The   
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 common polishes are metal polish shoe polish and cream floor polish ear polish, aircraft polish, glass polish tile 
polish an d industrial buffing compounds  
3.5 
polish, dressing  
prepared by wax; by suspension or dissolution of suitable ingredients in suitable vehicles many of these can be 
sprayed on to the shoe uppers and often final polishing can be dispensed with  
3.6 
polish, dry bright  
polishes which are also known by other names, such as no rub, rubless, salt -polishing, self -shine polishes on 
application with a brush or a pad, the coatings dry out to a smooth glossy surface without the usual rubbing or 
brushing  
3.7 
silicon  
semi-organic materials which are employed in the manufacture of some special polishes  
3.8 
buffing  
smoothening of a surface by means of flexible wheels to the surface of which fine abrasive particles are  applied 
in liquid suspension paste or grease stick form  This also applies to the rubbing off of surface after non  abrasive 
paste or liquid polishes have been applied with a soft cloth  
3.9 
cleaner  
product, either liquid or paste, used for cleaning floor, shoes, automobiles, hard surfaces and porcelain  articles 
in shoe care products, cleaner also stands as renovation  
3.10 
creaming  
separation of a layer of the dispersed phase on an emulsion polish to the surface of the liquid continuous  phase  
3.11 
drag  
resistance on buffing alter application of polish  DRS 90-2:202 1 
3                ©RSB 2021 - All rights reserved  
 3.12 
gloss  
degree to which a polished surface possesses the properties of reflecting light in a mirror -like manner (specular 
reflection)  
3.13 
lustre  
 
brightness or shine of a surface  
 
3.14 
 
pigment  
insoluble dispersed particles in a polish composition which give the dried film its characteristic properties of 
colour gloss and opacity  
3.15 
shelf life  
time for which a polish will keep in good condition when stored in original sealed containers under normal 
storage conditions on the shelves of a shop of stock room  
3.16 
shine 
brightness or radiance of a surface after being polished  
3.17 
caking  
setting of pigment particles of a polish into a hard compact mass which is not easily redispersed by stirring. The 
drying of a paste type polish into a hard unspreadable mass due to the evaporation of the solvent  
3.18 
chilling  
subjection of wax polishes to low temperatures in order to quickly transform them from molten state to  semisolid 
state (paste) so as to impart certain desired characteristics  
 
  
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 4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
 The material shall not have a disagreeable odour.  
 The material shall be manufactured in conventional colours like black, tan (light brown), dark tan (dark 
brown) or neutral nearly matching the colour of leather footwear or in any other colour as agreed upo n 
between the purchaser and manufacturer.  
 The material shall be easily pourable, free flowing, homogeneous liquid, free from any grits and 
sedimentation. It shall have no tendency for the separation or crystallization of the constituent materials when 
tested as described in annex A.  
 The polish shall spread evenly on the surface without any mottling. The applied firm shall not show any 
tendency to spreading while stilling being wet when tested as prescribed in Annex B.  
4.2 Specific requirements  
The  product shall also comply with the requirements given in  table when tested in accordance with the methods 
indicated therein.  
Table 1— Requirements for liquid shoe polish  
S/N Characteristics    
Requirement  Test method  
  
i) Non-volatile matter, percent by mass, min 20 Annex C  
ii) Ash of non - volatile matter, percent by 
mass, max  3 Annex D  
ii) pH of the polish  6.5-9 Annex E  DRS 90-2:202 1 
5                ©RSB 2021 - All rights reserved  
  
 Shoe polish furnished under this specification shall conform to the requirements thereof for one year 
from the date of actual delivery when stored in its original sealed container, under cover at 27 °C ± 2 °C and 63% ± 2 
% relative humidity.  
5 Packaging and labelling  
5.1 Packaging  
 The polish shall be supplied in sound, clean and suitable containers, fitted with in built applicators for 
easy application. The container shall be fitted with a cap which may be closed or opened without much difficulty 
and which shall prevent evaporation and the ingress of dirt.  
 The size of containers shall be 75 mL or as agreed to bet ween the purchaser and manufacturer . 
 The containers shall be packed in cartons and the cartons, in turn, in cardboard or wooden boxes or 
as agreed to between the purchaser and the manufacturer. Each carton shall be marked with batch number.  
5.2 Labelling  
The following information shall be clearly indicated on of the container:  
a) manufacturer’s name address and /or  recognized trade mark, if any;  
b) net volume;  
c) the words ‘liquid shoe polish’; and  
d) colour of the polish.  
e) Country of origin  
f) manufacture and expiry date  
 
6 Sampling  
The methods of drawing representative samples of the material and the criteria for conformity shall be as 
described in Annex F.  
 
  
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(normative)  
 
Determination of consistency  
A.1 Procedure  
 Maintain an original unopened container of poli sh at 10 °C ±1 °C for two hours. Open the cap and 
examine as given in A.1.1 and A.1.2.  
  No solid shall separate from the homogeneous liquid mass.  
  The polish shall be easily pourable and applicable . 
 Repeat the above series of examinations on another container maintained at a temperature of 45 °C ± 1 
°C for two hours.  
. 
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(normative)  
 
Determination of application  
B.1 Procedure  
 Leather shoe upper piece of size 150 mm 
  150 mm of nearly the same colour as the polish shall be 
used for testing. The leather piece shall be smooth and matt finished (non glossy) on the grain side.  
 Clean the grain surface with cloth or brush to remove any adherence dust particles. Apply the polish 
in a thin firm to the smooth grain surface by means of the in built applicator and examine after two minutes for 
the characteristics described in B.1.2.1 and B.1.2.2.  
 Examine the polished leather piece for gloss visually Examine the polished leather  piece for gloss 
visually. In case an approved sample of the polish is available, polish a similar piece of leather and match the 
gloss obtained with the test sample with that of the approved sample.  
  Place the leather piece (see B.1.2) which has been allo wed to dry for 5 min on the pan of suitable 
physical balance and counterpoise it with weights. Place additional weight of 2.5 kg and press the polish 
surface with thumb till the two pans of the balance are counterpoised. Keep the thumb in this position for  one 
minute and then slowly release.  
 
 There shall be no sign of sticking to the thumb. The thumb impression produced shall be such that it 
shall be wiped out with a cloth or brush.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
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                                                      (normative)  
 
 
Determination of non -volatile matter  
 
C.1 Procedure  
 Weigh accurately about 3 g of the sample in a tarred flat bottomed dish of approximately 8 cm diameter, 
provide with cover. Heat without the cover in a steam bath till the bulk of volatile matter is volatilized off, and 
then in an air oven at 115 °C ± 10 °C for approximately 4 h, cool and weigh. Repeat heating and cooling till the 
last two weighings differ by not more than one milligram.  
 Calculation  
Non volatile  matter,  percent by mass =(𝐵 x 100 )
𝐴 
Where  
B = mass in g of the non volatile residue, and  
A = mass in g of the sample taken for test.  
 
 
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                                                      (normative)  
 
 
Determination of ash of non volatile matter  
 
D.1 Procedure  
 Heat about 20 g of material in an open dish in steam bath for 4 h and then in an air oven at 110 °C to 
120 °C for 16 h. Cool and weigh accurately about 2 g of the non volatile matter as obtained above a tarred 
porcelain crucible. Ignite to constant weight, taking care that the cooling b efore each weighing is done in 
desiccators.  
 Calculation  
Ash of non -volatile matter, percent by mass =(𝐵 x 100 )
𝐴 
Where  
B = mass in g of the ash, and  
A = mass in g of the non -volatile residue.  
  
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                                                      (normati ve) 
 
 
Determination of pH of the polish  
 
E.1 Procedure  
The pH of the polish is determined using pH meter with glass electrode at 27 °C ± 2 °C. 
 
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                                                      (normative)  
 
 
Sampling of liquid shoe polish  
 
F.1 General requirement of sampling  
In drawing, preparation, storing and handling test samples, the following precautions and direction shall be  
observed:  
 
a) sample shall be taken in a protected place not exposed to damp air, dust or soot;  
b) sampling instrument shal l be clean and dry when used;  
c) precautions shall be taken to protect the samples, the material being sampled, the sampling instrument and 
the containers for samples from adventitious contamination;  
d) to draw a representative sample, vertical sections of  the polish at a uniformity placed points shall be taken 
and mixed as thoroughly as possible by suitable means;  
e) the samples shall be placed in clean, dry and air tight glass or other suitable container on which the material 
has no action.  
f) the sample containers shall be of such size that they are almost completely filled by the sample;  
g) each sample container shall be sealed air tight after filling and marked with full details of sampling, the date 
of sampling, the month and year of the manufacture of  material; and  
h) samples shall be stored in such a manner that the temperature of the material does not vary unduly from the 
normal temperature.  
F.2 Scale of sampling  
  To determine conformity of consignment of shoe polish, liquid to this specification, samples shall be 
selected so as to be representative of the whole consignment. In the absence of any prior agreement between 
the purchaser and manufacturer on the mode of sampling and determining the criteria of conformity, following 
sampling scheme is rec ommended to serve as a guide.  
 
  All a containers in a single consignment of the material drawn from the same batch of manufacture and 
the same size shall constitute a lot. If a consignment is declared or known to consist  of different batches of  
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 manufacture  or of different sizes of containers, the containers belonging to the same batch and size shall be 
grouped together and each such group shall constitute a separate lot.  
 Samples shall be tested for each lot for ascertaining the conformity of the material in  the requirements 
of this specification.  
 The number of containers (n) to be chosen from a lot shall be depend upon the size of lot (N) and shall 
be in accordance with Table 2.  
Table 2— Numbers of containers to be selected  
Lot size  (L)  
Number of containers to be selected  
 
L ≤ 500  10 
500 < L ≤ 1000  15 
                 L > 1000  20 
 
 These containers shall be chosen at random from the lot. In order to ensure the randomness of selection, 
some random number table as agreed upon between the purchaser and the manufacturer shall be used.  
F.3 Preparation of composite sample  
Shake well each conta iner selected in F.2.5 and test for consistency. Pour out a quantity of a polish such that 
the total quantity obtained from all the containers provides material sufficient for all the test (about 500 mL). 
Thoroughly mix the material drawn from all the seal ed container so as to form the composite sample.  
F.4 Number of tests and criteria for conformity  
 Test for consistency shall be done on the original containers from which no sample has been drawn.  
  Test for other characteristics shall be done on the composite s ample.  
 The lot shall be declared as conforming to the requirements of sampling if the test results satisfy the 
corresponding requirements in F.1.  DRS 90-2:202 1 
13                ©RSB 2021 - All rights reserved  
 Bibliography  
[1] ISO/IEC Directives, Part  2, Rules for the structure and drafting of International Standards , 2016  
 DRS  90-3: 202 1 
 
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