DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  
  DUS 434 
Second  Edition  
2021 -mm-dd 
 
 
 Reference number  
DUS 434: 2021 
© UNBS 2021  
  
Files and folders — Specification  
 DUS 434: 2021 
ii © UNBS 2021 – All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct appli cation  
© UNBS 2021  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission fro m UNBS.  
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
The Executive Director  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala  
Uganda  
Tel: +256 41 4 333 2 50/1/2/3  
Fax: +256 41 4 286 123  
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  
 
 DUS 434:2021 
© UNBS 2021 – All rights reserved  iii 
 Foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade , Industry and 
Cooperatives established under Cap 327 , of the Laws of Uganda , as amended .  UNBS is mandated to co -
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Al imentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT  Agreement  of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to del iberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of key stakeholders 
including government, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other interested parties.  
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to  stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
The committee responsible for this document is  Technical Committee UNBS /TC 306 , Paper and paper 
products.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition US 434:2002, which has been technically revised.   
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:  
— inclusion of plastic  folders and files  
— inclusion of specific requirements for the different classifications of folders and files  DUS 434: 2021 
iv © UNBS 2021 – All rights reserved  
  DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  DUS 434: 2021 
 
© UNBS 2021 – All rights reserved  1 
 
 Files and folders — Specification  
1 Scope   
This Draft Uganda Standard specifies the require ments , sampling and test methods for  files and folders .  
2 Normative references   
The following referenced 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 unda ted 
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
ISO 2286 -2, Methods for determination of total mass per unit area, per  unit area of coating and mass per unit 
area of substrate  
ISO 2286 -3, Rubber - or plastics -coated fabrics — Determination of roll characteristics — Part 3: Method for 
determination of thickness  
ISO 3377 -1, Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Determination of tear load — Part 1: Single edge 
tear  
US ISO 105 -X12, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part 12: Colour fastness to rubbing  
US ISO 536, Paper and board — Determination of grammage  
US ISO 1923, Cellular plastics and rubbers — Determination of linear dimensions  
US ISO 2589 , Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Determ ination of thickness  
US ISO 3801, Textiles — Woven fabrics — Determination of mass per unit length and mass per unit area  
US ISO 4045, Leather — Chemical  tests — Determination of pH and difference figure  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.  
3.1  
file  
type of folder into w hich has been introduced a  fastening device   
3.2  
folder  
cover  with either single or multiple folds  
3.3  
simple folder  
folder without a back and mechanism   
2 © UNBS 2021 – All rights reserved  
 
 3.4  
loosely bond fibres  
fibrous projec tions on the surface of a she et, caused by excessive suction, insufficient bea ting or lack of 
surface sizing.  
3.5  
blot 
spot or stain caused by a discolouring substance  
4  Requirements  
4.1  General  
4.1.1  Files and folders shall be designed to receive any of the paper sizes specified in US ISO 216.  
4.1.2  Freshly supplied files and folders shall practically be free from cracks along the fold when visually 
observed . 
4.1.3 Both sides of the board shall be clean and free from loosely bond fibres and blots.  
4.1.4 The finishing of the files and folders may be metallic, gloss laminated pa per, PVC coating, frost , anti-
static or embossed.  
4.1.5 Files may feature a thumb hole on the edge for easy access to contents.  
4.1.6  Clipboards shall be strong enough to offer a stable writing surfac e. Their clips shall be design ed to 
keep papers pinned down neatly without damaging the ir appea rance or creating holes  
4.1.7  The plastic  material , such as polyethylene and polypropylene,  used in the manufacture of files and 
folders  shall not impar t any objectionable odour.  
4.2 Materials  
Files and folders shall be manufactured from any of the following materials  or their combinations ; 
a) paper or board ; 
b) plastic  material ; 
c) leather ; and  
d) textiles  
e) metal  
4.3 Specific requirements  
4.3.1  Paper files and folders  
4.3.1.1  When tested in accordance with US ISO 536, paper shall hav e a minimum mass per unit area  of 
160 g/m2 
4.3.1 .2 When tested in accordance with US ISO 1923, l ever arch folders shall have a hardwearing with a 
50 mm, 70 mm or 75 mm spine subject to  a tolerance of ± 2 mm.   DUS 434: 2021 
© UNBS 2021 – All rights reserved  3 
 
 4.3.1.3  Ring binder folders shall have a hardwearing with a 40 mm spine  subject to a tolerance of ± 2 mm 
when tested in accordance with US ISO 1923.  
4.3.2  Plastic files and folders  
4.3.2.1  When tested in accordance with ISO 2286 -3, plastic materials used for making files and folders 
shall have a thickness between 0.18 to 1.25 mm.  
4.3.2.2  They shall have a minimum grammage  of 50  g/m2 when tested in accordance with ISO 2286 -2 
4.3.2.3  Display folders shall have copy -safe clear pockets and wipe cleanable covers.  
NOTE  Copy safe pockets imply that photocopies do not stick or discolour the plastic  
4.3.2.4  When degradable plastic materials a re used to manufacture files , they shall totally be degraded 
within a period of 12 months, when exposed to aerobic or anaerobic conditions, including when disposed in 
landfill or regulated dumping area, as tested against ASTM D 3826 and ASTM D 5208.  
4.3.2. 5 When recyclable plastic materials are used in ma nufacturing files , the type of plastics shall be 
identified through co ding or otherwise  
4.3.3  Textile files and folders  
4.3.3.1  Textile files and folders may consist of both base and inner lining fabrics or  a base fabric only.  
4.3.3.2  When tested in accordance with US ISO 3801, base fabrics shall have a minimum mass per unit 
area of 12 0. Inner lining fabrics shall have a minimum mass per unit area of 50 g/m2 
4.3.3.3  When tested  in accordance with US ISO 105 -X12, the fabrics shall have a minimum colour 
fastness  to rubbing of 3 . 
4.3.4  Leather  files and folders  
4.3.4.1  When tested in accordance in accordance with US ISO 2589, the leather material shall have a 
minimum thickness of 1.2 mm.  
4.3.4.2  When tested in accordance with US ISO 4045, the pH shall be at least 3. 3 
4.3.4.3  The minimum tear load of these files and folders shall be 20 N when tested in accordance with 
ISO 3377 -1 
4.3.4.4  The chromic oxide content of chrome tanned  leather shall be a maximum of 4% when  determined 
in accordance with ISO 5398  
5  Packaging and Labelling  
5.1  Packaging  
The folders and files shall be securely packaged to keep  the integrity of the Files and folders  during handling,  
transportation and storage .  
4 © UNBS 2021 – All rights reserved  
 
 5.2 Labelling   
5.2.1  Bulk labelling  
Each bulk package shall be clearly labelled with the following information:  
a) manufacturer’s name and address ; 
b) type of material used such as “100% cotton file”, “P U Leather file” ; 
c) number of pieces ; 
d) gross weight  
e) dimensions of the files and folders ; 
f) paper size of intended content  
g) country of origin  
5.2.2  Piece labelling  
Each file or folder shall be clearly  labelled  with the following and any other necessary inform ation  
a) dimensions of the file folder;  
b) paper size of intended contents;   
c) type of material used  
d) manufacturer ’s name, physical address and/or  registered trademark; and  
e) country of origin / manufacture.  
6 Sampling  
Sampling sha ll be done in accordance with US ISO 186  
 DUS 434: 2021 
© UNBS 2021 – All rights reserved  5 
 
 Certification marking  
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Cert ification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conjunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certification mark sc heme of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau o f Standards.  
 
 DUS 434: 2021   
 
ICS 85.080.10 
Price based on nn pages  
© UNBS 2020 – All rights reserved