DRAFT TANZANIASTANDARD          TDC 9  (6082) P3 
    Second Edition  
 
 
  
 
 
 
Textiles – Disposable  baby diapers – Specifications  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
 
  
 
i 
 Textiles – Disposable baby diapers – Specification  
 
 
Foreword  
 
This Draft Tanzania Standard has been prepared to help Tanzanian manufacturers and 
importers of Disposable baby diapers which require a higher level of absorbency, comfort and 
convenience characteristics. The passing of urine and stool is a natural function in all ba bies.  
 
In preparation of this  Draft  Tanzania Standard assistance was derived from the following ;   
 
KS2108:2007 , Disposable baby diapers specification  
 
TZS 320:2001 , Textiles – Absorbent cotton wool for medical use – Specification.  
 
Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assistance derived from those  sources.    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 TDC 9(608 2) P3 
 
1 
 1   Scope   
This Draft  Tanzania Standard specifies the requirements and test methods for disposable baby diapers . 
 
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this Draft Tanzania 
Standard. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition 
of the referenced document (including any amendment) applies.  
 
TZS 4 , Rounding off numerical values  
 
TZS 20 , Textiles – Woven fabrics - determination of the number of threads per unit length  
 
TZS 26 , Textiles – Determination of the conductivity, pH, water soluble matter, chloride and 
sulphate in aqueous ext racts   
 
TZS 250 , Textiles – Method for determination of absorbency of absorbent textile material  
 TZS 534, Textiles – Standard atmosphere for conditioning and testing   
 TZS 278 , Textiles – Absorbent cotton gauze – Specification  
 3   Terms and Definitions   
For the purpose of this Draft Tanzania Standard, the following terms and  definition s shall apply:   
3.1 Disposable baby diaper   
Disposable hygienic pad for babies having capability to absorb urine and prevent stool and fluid from 
leaking out.   
3.2 Absorbent filler material  
Material at the core of the diaper that absorbs fluids.  
3.3 Absorbent rate  
Rate at which the liquid is dispersed into the diaper.  
    3.4 Front  landing strip  
Area for fastening of attachment tabs across the front waist area of the diaper.  
4   Classification   
Diapers shall be classified according to the weight of the baby, as per Table 1.    
Table 1 – Classification of baby diapers   
 
S/No.  Category  Baby weight  
i) Small  Up to 6,0 kg  
ii) Medium  6.1 - 9.0 kg  
iii) Large  9.1 -15 kg  
iv) Extra large  Above 15 kg  
 
NOTE 1 – The diapers will be classified according to baby weight and not according to category.   
NOTE 2 – The upper limit of the weight range shown on the pack shall be used to determine the baby 
weight category.   
2 
  
5   Requirements   
5.1 Materials   
Materials used for making the diapers shall not harm the baby's skin,   
5.1.1 Absorbent filler  
5.1.1.1 Shall have a comfortable feel.   
5.1.1.2 Shall be clean, free from harmful foreign materials, lumps, splits, holes and protruding points 
when visually examined.   
5.1.1.3 Shall be arranged in a manner that will speed up the a bsorption of urine and keeps it away 
from the baby's skin.   
5.1.2 Top sheet (the layer which contacts baby's skin)  
5.1.2.1  Shall be of material that helps absorption, and shall have no harmful effect.   
5.1.2.2  Shall cover the absorbent filler completely and prevent the filler from reaching the baby's skin 
or clothes under normal handling.   
5.1.3 Back sheet  
There shall be an outer cover to prevent direct contact of the absorbent filler with baby clothing and 
to prevent liquid leakage out of the diaper.   
5.1.4 Device for fastening the diapers at the femur   
There shall be a device for insuring a good fit of the diapers on baby's femurs and to prevent leakage 
at the femurs without causing rubbing effects to the bab y.   
5.1.5  Diapers waist fastening device   
There shall be a suitable device for fastening the diaper at the waist for secure use without causing 
rubbing effects to the baby.   
5.2Other physical characteristics  
Other physical characteristics of baby diaper s shall comply with the requirements given in Table 
2.   
Table 2 - Characteristics of disposable diapers   
 
 
Characteristic   
 
  
Small   
Medium   
Large   
Extra 
large   
Test method  
 
Rate of absorbency   
(seconds), 
maximum.    
  10    
 10                
10               
10    
       Annex A  
 
Absorptive capacity  
(gms), minimum.    
300  
 350              
450              
500    
       Annex B  
 
pH    
  5-8    
 5-8            
5-8             
5-8    
TZS26:1981   
3 
  
6   Packaging and Marking   
6.1 Packaging   
The diapers shall be packed in a suitable package that shall protect them from any form of 
contamination and damage.   
6.2 Marking   
The diaper packs shall be marked with legible and indelible pre -printed marking bearing the following 
information:   
a) Manufacturer's name, address and/or trade mark;   
b) Number of diapers in a pack;   
c) Weight of baby that the diaper is meant for;   
d) instruction  for storage and disposal;   
e) country of origin;   
f) date of manufacture and expiry; or best before;   
g) Batch number.   
h) The marking shall be in English or Kiswahili language.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
4 
  
Annex A  
(normative)  
Method for determination of absorbency rate 
 
A.1 Apparatus   
A.1.1 Water tub  
Of a depth of at least 100 mm and maintained at room temperature.   
A.1.2 Stop watches  
With an accuracy of 0.2 s   
A.1.3 Cylindrical basket  
Weighing 2.7 ± 0.3 g of height 80 mm, diameter 50 mm with square opening of 15 mm to 20 mm, 
made of copper wire of 0.4 mm diameter.   
A.1.4 Weighing machine  
A.2 Preparation of test specimens   
Carefully isolate the absorbent filler material and weigh 5 g and insert into the basket   
A.3 Procedure   
A.3.1 Drop the test specimen in a horizontal position into the water tub.   
A.3.2 Using the stop watch, measure the time it takes the basket and its contents to sink below the 
surface of water in seconds.   
A.3.3 Record the absorption period to the nearest 0.1 s.   
A.3.4 Repeat the test for at least two test specimens.   
A.4 Calculation   
Calculate the arithmetic mean of the absorbency rate of the absorbent filler material tested.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
5 
 Annex B  
(normative)  
Method for determination of absorption capacity  
 
B.1 Principle  
 
The diaper is saturated with solution and capacity determined.  
 
B.2 Apparatus  
 
B.2.1 2 Ring stands with crossbar and clamps.  
 
B.2.2 Large plastic pan or tub (large enough to hold solution and sample to be tested).  
 
B.2.3 Small plastic pan or tub (small enough to be used on a balance but large enough to contain the 
wet sample).  
 
B.2.4 Lab balance accurate to the nearest 0.01( 1000 -gram  capacity).  
 
B.2.5 Time.  
 
B.2.6 0.9 % NaCI saline prepared with distilled water or deion ized water.  
 
B.2.7 Food dye or equivalent.  
 
B.3 Procedure  
 
B.3.1 Prepare the 0.9 % saline by dissolving 45 g of Sodium Chloride into 4955 mil of distilled water. 
Blend saline solution thoroughly.  
 
B.3.2 Record dry weight (grams) of the sample.  
 
B.3.3 Set the time for 30minutes.  
 
B.3.4 Place the dry article in a large pan or tub filled with enough saline completely submerge the 
sample.  
 
B.3.5 Start timer.  
 
B.3.6 After 30 minutes passed, remove the wet sample and hang  it over the crossbar (in cross machine 
direction or at the bi -fold). Set the timer for 10 minutes.  
 
B.3.7 Place the small plastic pan or tub on the laboratory balance and zero the balance.  
 
B.3.8 After 10 minutes passed, remove the hanging sample and place it into the small pan.  
B.3.9 Weigh the small pan and hydrated sample together. Record the wet weight.  
 
B.4 Calculation  
 
Calculate the result using the following formula;  
 
R(grams)= W -D.  
Whereas:  
R = Total Absorptive  Capacity in grams.  
W = Wet weight.  
D = Dry  weight.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annex C  
(normative)   
6 
  
Total Absorbency Free Swell Test (0.9 % Saline).  
 
 
Fig. 1 Place diapers on tray facing down.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fig. 2 Pour the required amount of water in the tray and leave it for a given required time as specified in 
the test method  
 
 
   
  
7 
  
 
Fig. 3 The diaper is hanged for the given required time as specified in the test method procedure