TDC 3  (5617) P 3 
    Second  Edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Textiles – Woven bags made from natural fibres – Part 3: Bags for sugar  
- Specification s 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
i 
 Foreword  
This second edition of this D raft Tanzania Standard has been prepared to specify requirements to be 
complied with by manufacturers producing woven bags from natural fibres for Packaging of sugar.  
 
In this second edition review has  been made to the parameter of oil content and its test method.    
In the preparation of this Draft Tanzania Standard assistance was derived from:  
KS 08 - 134: 2012, specification for woven bags (natural fibres) for sugar . 
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition TZS 1263: 2010 – Textiles – Woven bags made 
from natural fibres – specification Part 3: woven bags for sugar.  
 
 
 
  
1 
 1 Scope  
This Draft  Tanzania  Standard specifies minimum requirements and othe r particulars of  bags for packing 
sugar made from coarse natural fibres.  
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this Draft Tanzania  Standar d. 
 TZS 4, Rounding off numerical values.  
TZS 20, Textiles – Woven fabrics – Determination of number of threads per unit length and per unit 
width.  
TZS 21, Textiles – Woven or knitted fabrics – Determination of  mass per unit length and per unit 
area.  
TZS 22, Textiles –Woven fabrics –Determination of breaking load and extension.  
TZS 44, Textiles – Woven or knitted fabrics – determination of width and length.  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions shall apply.  
3.1 Fibre  
 
Unit of matter characterised by flexibility fineness and high ratio of length to thickness.  
 
3.2 Natural fibre  
Fibres  that are produced from plants, animals, and minera l sources . They can be used as a component of 
composite  materials, where the orientation of fibres impacts the properties. Natural fibres can also be 
matted  into sheets to make products such as paper , felt or fabric.  
3.3 Bale  
Rectang ular or square pressed rigid package, containing natural fibre bags, covered with bale covering 
with outer layer stitched and securely bound.  
3.4 Contract mass (bale)  
 
The mass as obtained by multiplying the nominal mass of a bag by specified number of bags in that bale.  
3.5 Correct mass (bag)  
 
The mass that a bag would have, if the recommended allowance for moisture in the bag was added to the 
oven -dry mass of the bag, under standard atmosphere.   
2 
 3.6 Ends per unit width  
The number of warp yarns per unit width of fabric.  
3.7 Liner -bag 
Polyethylene tubing placed in the inside of the sack.  
3.8 Lot  
All bales of natural fibre bags purporting to be of specified, dimensions and quality, containing one definite 
number of bags, delivered to one purchaser against o ne despatch note.  
3.9 Moisture -regain (bag)  
The mass of moisture in a bag expressed as a percentage of the oven -dry mass of the bag, under standard 
atmosphere.  
3.10 P icks per unit length  
The number of weft yarns per unit length of fabric.  
3.11 Sacking  
Rang e of plain woven cloths made from natural fibres.  
4   General requirements  
4.1 Yarn  
Natural fibre yarns shall have uniform linear d ensity, made in accordance with  manufacturing processes . 
4.2 Bag cloth  
The bag cloth shall be plain woven with uniform construction and shall comply with  the requirements 
specified in T able1.  
4.3 Sewing  
4.3.1 Stitching thread  
The stitching thread shall comprise the material which shall not have any adverse effect on the contents of 
the bag. The number of stitches per 10 cm  shall depend upon the method of stitching and the type of 
stitching thread. The stitching thread shall have the minimum breaking strength o f all the seams as specified 
in Table 1 . The stitch line shall pass completely and continuously through all folds of  the sacking, leaving 
no gaps in stitches.  
4.3.2 Seam  
Each bag shall have a side seam and a bottom seam, sewn in such a way that both the seams shall comply 
with the breaking strengt h requirements as specified in T able 1 . The seams shall be sufficiently ti ght to 
prevent sifting or leakage . 
  
3 
 4.3.3 Hemming at the mouth  
The edges of the bag cloth at the mouth of each bag shall be first turned over  to a depth of 1.8 cm and then 
to a depth of 2.0 cm and the three layers of sacking thus formed, shall be firmly he mmed with  sacking  
thread.  
4.4 Freedom from defects  
The bag cloth shall be free from weaving defects, such as holes, cuts, tears, and floats and gener ally free 
from crushed selvedge , spots and stains.  
The bag shall be free from sewing defects such as gap -stitches, loose ends and frayed ends.  
5   Specific requirements  
5.1 Each bag shall comply with characteristics  as specified in Table 1 . 
 
5.2 Each bag shall be supplied with an inner loosely fitt ed liner-bag, the specifications of which shall ensure 
compliance with characteristic j) of Table 1. The liner -bag shall be non -contaminated, clean and free from 
pinholes, patches, tears, blisters and any other visible defects.  
                 Table 1 – Requirements of a bag and its liner -bag 
SN Characteristic  Requirements  Tolerance  Test-method  
1 Dimensions of a bag for100 kg load, min:  
(i) Inside Length  
(ii) Inside Width   
110cm  
70cm   
+10-0 
+10-0  
TZS 44  
 
2 Ends & Picks per cm  
i) Ends per 10cm  
ii) Picks per 10 cm   
28 
48  
±2 
±2 
.  
TZS 20  
3 Moisture regain  (%), max,  13 - Annex A.8  
4 Breaking strength of seam , N, min, (warp and weft 
direction)  650 - TZS 22  
5 Mass in g/m2 of bag cloth , min  
 600  TZS 2 1 
6 Oil content on dried de – oiled material , % (max)  2 - See Annex  
A.12   
7 Liner -bag, min  
(i) Outside Length  
(ii) Outside Width  
(iii) Thickness of tubing (Approx.)   
116.0 cm   
74.0 cm   
60 Microns  -  
 
A.7  
4 
  
 
5.3 Each bale containing the bags shall comply with the characteristics laid down in Table 2.  
Table 2 – Requirements of a packed bale  
Characteristic  Requirements  Test-method  
Total number of bags per bale  
Contract mass of a bale , min  
Correct mass of a bale , min  300 
300 kg  
300 kg  A.1 
A.4 
A.5 
6 Marking of bags  
Each bag shall be marked with the following information:  
a) name of the material;  
b) the manufacturer’s name or initials and address and/or trade mark;  
c) the size of the bag; and  
d) the number of this Draft Tanzania Standard.  
7    Marking of packed bale  
The following information shall be stencilled on each bale with indelible ink with all letters and figures not 
less than 5 cm in height.  
a) the name of manufacturer;  
b) the description of goods;  
c) the contract mass in kg;  
d) the bale number.  
 
8 Inspection and testing  
The procedure for inspection and testing shall be in accordance with annex A.  
9 Criteria for conformity  
Each bag shall comply with the requirements of this Draft Tanzania Standard.   
5 
 Annex A  
(Normative)  
 
A.1 Inspection of a bale  
A.1.1  Record all the particulars as stated on the bale.  
A.1.2  Remove all the packing materials from the bale. Count and record the number of all bags in the 
bale. Denote this by N.  
A.1.3  Count and record the number of joined bags in the bale.  
A.1.4  Record the colour of identification yarns on the bags.  
A.2 Conditions for testing  
The testing conditions shall be in accordance with TZS 3:  
A.3 Mass of a bag  
Determine the mass of each bag in the test sample to the nearest 1.0 g. Calculate the average mass of a 
bag. Denote this by M. 
A.4 Contract mass of a bale  
Calculate the contract mass of a bale using the formul a: 
CN = M x N  
Where  
CN is the contract mass of a bale,  
M is the average mass of a bag (test result from clause A.3), and  
N is the total number of bags in the bale (from A.1.2).  
A.5 Correct mass of a bale  
Calculate this using the formula:  

AA
BR100R100MN C
 
Where  
CB is the correct mass of a bale;  
N is the total number of bags in the bale (test result from A.1.2);  
M is the average mass of a bag (test result from clause A.3); and  
RA is the average moisture regain in a bag (test result from clause A.8).  
 
  
6 
 A.6 Dimensions: inside length and inside width of a bag  
 
A.6.1 Turn each bag inside out. Arrange each bag in a flat position without creases and wrinkles on a table.  
A.6.2  Inside length – Fold the bag into half, from side to side, and measure the length from the mouth to 
the stitching along the fold so formed to the nearest 0.1 cm.  
A.6.3  Inside width – Fold the bag into half, from top to bottom, and measure the width from t he folded side 
to the stitching along the fold so formed to the nearest 0.1 cm.  
A.7 Dimensions: outside length and outside width of a liner -bag 
A.7.1  Remove the liner -bag from the bag. Arrange the liner -bag in a flat position without creases and 
wrinkles o n a table.  
A.7.2  Outside length – Fold the liner -bag into half, from side to side, and measure the length from the mouth 
to the stitching along the fold so formed to the nearest 0.1 cm.  
A.7.3  Outside width – Fold the liner -bag into half, from top to bottom , and measure the width along the fold 
so formed from side to side to the nearest 0.1 cm.  
A.7.4  Thickness of tubing – Cut out five strips, each measuring about 5 cm x 5 cm, from the liner -bag tubing 
from different parts. Using a micrometre (screw -gauge, Ra tchet type) capable of measuring up to 5 microns, 
determine the thickness of the tubing in microns.  Check it correctly  
NOTE – One micron = 10-3 mm. 
A.8 Moisture regain  
Cut out two strips, each measuring about 25 cm x 25 cm, from the sacking of each bag and determine the 
average moisture regain in using the formula:  

mmM100R
 
Where,  
R is the percentage moisture regain;  
M is the original mass of the strip; and  
m is the oven -dry mass of the strip.  
 
A.9 Ends and picks   
7 
 Count the ends and picks pe r 10.0 cm of each bag in five different places along the sacking, with a suitable 
gauge measuring 5.0 cm.  
Determine the average ends and picks per 10.0 cm of five different places of a bag respectively in 
accordance with TZS 20:1987  
A.10 Breaking strength of sacking  
Cut out three warp -way and three weft -way strips each measuring 20 cm x 10 cm from the sacking. 
Determine the average breaking strength of each strip using a strength -tester having nominal gauge length 
of 20.0 cm and constant rate -of-traverse of  460 mm per minute in accordance with TZS 22:1979  
A.11 Breaking strength of seams  
Cut out two specimens from each bag in the form of a double ‘T’ with 1 cm of seam and 5 cm of sacking as 
shown in Figure 1. Determine the average breaking strength of the sea m taking 20.0 cm as the nominal 
gauge length of the strength -tester, with the seam near about the centre using accordance with TZS 
22:1979  
 
A.12 Oil Content  
 
A. 12.1  Cut out one strip measuring 5 cm x 5 cm. Place it in a thimble in a soxhelt extractor. Add  about 100  
mL of trichroethylene or light petroleum to the clean, dry extraction flask previously weighed correct to 1 
mg. extract the test specimen for 1 h 30 min to 2 h such that the extractor siphons at least 10  times. 
Disconnect the apparatus.  
 
A.12.2 Recover the excess of solvent by heating the flask on water  bath at 90  ºC to 95  ºC (see Note) and 
allow a stream of air to pass through the flask by means of a tube terminating just below the neck. Remove 
all traces of moisture by heating the flask to 105  ºC ± 3 ºC for 3 min. weigh the flask and determine the 
mass of the extract.  
 Note : if light petroleum is used as solvent, the temperature of water bath shall be  60 ºC to 65 ºC   
 
 
 
 
  
8 
  
All dimensions in millimetres  
 
FIG1. – SIZE AND SHAPE OF TEST – SPECIMEN FOR SEAM STRENGTH  
 
B.10.3 Remove the thimble from the soxhelt extractor and allow the solvent to evaporate. Transfer the 
extracted specimen to a tared weighing bottle. Dry the specimen at 105 ± 3  ̊ C for at least 3h. Cool and 
weigh. Determine the oven dry mass of the extracted specimen by the following formula:  
 
Where,  
 A = Percentage, the mass, of the added oil content of the test specimen,  
 
 X = Mass, in g, of the extract (see Clause A10.3).  
 
 d = The percentage of naturally occurring oil and w ax in the sample removed during 
 extraction, and  
 
 V = Oven -dry mass, in g, of the extracted test specimen (see clause 10.3)  
  
Note : The value of d lies between 0.19 % and 0.34 % for trichloroethylene and 0.16 % and 0.22 % for 
light petroleum. For general calc ulations, the values for d   may be as taken  as 0.25 % for 
trichloroethylene and 0.2 % for light petroleum. However; if correct figures can be obtained, they shall 
be used.