DEAS 1115 -4:2023  
ICS: 97.140  
 
© EAC 202 3                                                                                                                        First Edition 202 3  
 
DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
 
Mattresses  — Specification  – Part 4: Polyethylene  foam  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  DEAS 1115 -4:2023 
ii © EAC 2023  – 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 1115 -4:2023  
© EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Foreword  
Developmen t 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 encoun tered 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 representat ives 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 Standards are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the Partner 
States. The comments received are di scussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in accordance 
with the Principles and procedures for development of East African Standards.  
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the Eas t 
African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards 
they are implementing .  
The committee responsible  for this document is Technical Committee EASC/TC 069 , Organic and Inorganic 
chemicals.  
Attenti on is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be subject of patent rights. 
EAC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
DEAS 1115  consists of the following parts, under the general title mattresses — Specification  —:  
⎯ Part 1: Flexible polyurethane foams  
⎯ Part 2: Spring mattresses  
⎯ Part 3: Reconstituted flexible polyurethane foam  mattresses  
⎯ Part 4: Polyethylene  foam  
 
 
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  DEAS 1115 -4:2023  
 
© EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  1 
 Mattresses  — Specification  – Part 4: Polyethyl ene foam  
1 Scope   
This Draft East African Standard sp ecifies requirements, sampling and test methods for polyethyle ne foam . This 
standard does  not cover orthopaedic  mattress es.  
2 Normative references  
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitu tes 
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.  
DEAS 1115 -1, Mattresses — Specification – Part 1: Flexible po lyurethane foams  
ISO 845, Cellular plastics and rubbers — Determination of apparent density  
ISO 1856, Flexible cellular polymeric materials — Determination of compression set  
ISO 1798, Flexible cellular polymeric materials — Determination of tensile streng th and elongation at break  
ISO 8067, Flexible cellular polymeric materials — Determination of tear strength  
ISO 2439, Flexible cellular polymeric materials — Determination of hardness (indentation technique)  
 
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of th is standard,  the terms and definitions given in DEAS 1115 -1 shall apply.  
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:  
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp  
— IEC Online browsing platform : available at https://iec.ch    
 
 
 
 
 
 DEAS 1115 -4:2023 
2 © EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  
 4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
4.1.1 Polyethylene foam shall not contain impurities or harmful residues such as amines which are volatile 
and driven off by heat generated in the formation of foam.  
 
4.1.2 Polyeth ylene foam shall be clean in appearance and free from any objectionable odour and any residual 
amines likely to be harmful to human tissues.  
 
4.1.3 Polyethylene foam shall consist of cells of uniform characteristics which are essentially open and inter - 
connecting.  
 
4.1.4 If the mattress contains flame retardants,  they shall  be proven to be safe .  
 
4.1.5  Polyethylene  foam shall be supplied in the form of blocks, trimmed blocks, slabs, cushions , or sheets cut 
from trimmed blocks, or other shapes cut from any  of these forms  
 
4.2 Specific requirements  
4.2.1  Polyethylene foam mattress shall comply with requirement specified in Table 1  when tested in accordance 
with method prescribed there in. 
Table 1: Specific requirements for polyethylene foam mattress  
 
4.2.2 When tested in accordance with Annex E, the mattress shall conform to the dimensions declared on the 
label subject to the following tolerance limits ;  
 ± 10 mm for dime nsions <750 mm  
 ± 25 mm for dimensions (750 -1350) mm  
 ± 40 mm for dimensions >1350 mm  SL. No  Characteristic  Requirement  Test method  
i)  Density, kg/m3, min light duty  20 
Annex A   
medium duty  30 
heavy duty  40 
superior heavy duty  50 
ii)  Compression set, %, max  10 Annex B 
 
iii)  Tensile strength,  kPa, min, 
 Transverse direction  
 Machine directi on  
176  
245  Annex C 
 
 
iv)  Elongation at break, kPa, min.  
 Transverse direction  
 Machine direction   
42  
80  
v)  Tear resistance, N/mm of width, min  
 
PS to consult and decide whether inclusion or 
deletion   0.147  
 
 ISO 8067  
vi)  Flammability  
 
 a) no specimen shall bu rn 
for 3 minutes or more, 
and 
b) specimen shall burn 
beyond the guage line  Annex D DEAS 1115 -4:2023  
© EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  3 
  
4.2.3 The cover of reconstituted flexible polyurethane foam  mattress shall be of a woven ticking, or a knitted 
ticking and shall conform to the specific requirements given  in Table 2 when tested in accordance with the 
methods prescribed therein.  
 
Table 2 – Specific requirements for ticking of Polyethylene foam  
SL. 
No Characteristic  Requirement  Test method  
i)  Breaking strength  
(woven tic king) N, min.  
 
  Light  medium  Heavy 
and super 
heavy  ISO 13934 -1 
 Warp  350 450 450 
Weft  95 200 200 
ii)  Bursting strength (knitted ticking), KPa, 
min. 150  ISO 13934 -2 
iii)  Mass in g/m2 (min.)  
 Light  medium  Heavy and 
super heavy  Annex F 
68 68 120  
iv)  Colour fastness to 
washing  Change in 
colour, rating, 
min.  
 
4 ISO105 -C10 
Staining of 
transfer cloths, 
rating, min  
v)  Colour fastness to dry -
cleaning  
 Change in 
colour, rating, 
min.  
 
4  ISO 105 -D01 
Staining of 
transfer cloths, 
rating, min  
 
5 Packaging  
 
Polyethylene foam mattress shall be individually wrapped in suitable materials  that prevent any damage, 
gross and distortion to contents during storage and transportation.  
6 Labelling  
Each Polyethylene foam mattress shall be legibly an d indelibly labelled , in English and/or any other official 
language (French, Kiswahili, etc) used in the importing East African Partner State with the following information:  
 
6.1 on the outer upper  waist of the mattress or a label attached on it : 
 
a) grade o f foam mattress ; 
b) nominal length, width and thickness ; 
c) registered trade name of the product if any ; 
d) name of the manufacturer ; 
e) batch number/lot number ; 
f) date of manufacture ; 
g) country of origin ; and  
h) disposal instructions and precautionary statements . 
 DEAS 1115 -4:2023 
4 © EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  
  
6.2 on the foam : 
a) grade of foam mattress ; 
b) nominal length, width and thickness ; 
c) name of the manufacturer ; 
d) batch number/lot number ; and  
e) country of origin.   
6.3 For mattresses without permanent fabric cover all information in 6.2 shall appear while for mattresses  with 
permanent fabric cover  c), d) and e) in 6.2 shall appear on the foam  
 
7 Sampling  
Representative samples shall be taken according to the sampling plan given in Table 2.  
Each sample shall consist of the following:  
a) for inspection, a complete piece; and   
b) for testing, pieces of total volume of at least 0.01 m3.  
Table 2 — Sampling plan  
Number of mattresses in the lot  Number of samples to be selected  
2 - 8 2 
9 - 15 3 
16 - 25 5 
26 - 50 8 
51 – 90 13 
91 - 150 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DEAS 1115 -4:2023  
© EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  5 
 Annex A 
(normative)  
Determinatio n of density  
A.1 Apparatus  
A.1.1 Soft material thickness gauge for measurement of linear dimensions up to 100  mm with an accuracy of 
one percent.  
A.1.2 Balance  
Capable of weighing the test specimen to an accuracy of one per cent of the total mass.  
 
A.2 Test specimen   
Obtain test specimens, of regular shape not less than 100  mm x 100  mm x  100 mm, one each from top, mid dle 
and bottom portions of the foam slab with respect to direction of rise of foam, cured for 48 hours at room 
temperature. Condition the specimens for 6 hours at 27  °C ± 2°C and at 65  % ± 5 % relative humidity before 
testing.  
A.3 Number of specimens   
Unless otherwise specified three specimens shall be tested.  
A.4 Linear dimension  
A.4.1 Measurement below 100  mm linear dimension  
Set the di al at zero. Place the specimen centrally below the foot. Lower the foot with the application of the 
specified load. Note the reading taking into account the metallic spacers used, if any. Repeat this thrice in each 
direction for every specimen.  
A.4.2 Meas urement above 100  mm linear dimension  
Place the specimen on a plane table and measure the dimension with vernier caliper or steel tape accurately. 
Repeat this thrice for every specimen.  
 
A.4 Procedure  
Determine the linear dimensions as described in A.4.1 and A.4.2 Weigh the specimens on a balance with an 
accuracy of one per cent of the total mass.  
A.5 Calculation  
Density (P) kg/m = 𝑚
𝑣 ×1 000 
where  
m is a mass of specimen in g, and  
V is a volume of the specimen in cm  
A.6 Report   
Report the mean density of the three specimens tested.  DEAS 1115 -4:2023 
6 © EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  
 Annex B  
(normative)  
Compression Set Test  
The test consists of maintaining the foam specime n under specified conditions of temperature and observing 
the degree of recovery within a specified time after release.  
B.1 Apparatus  
The apparatus consists of two flat plates of 200 mm x 200 mm, with appropriate spacers and clamps to keep 
the plates par allel to each other when clamped with specimen between the plates.  
B.2 Test specimen  
Cut the test specimen from a foam slab which has been cured for 48 hours at room temperature in such a way 
that the load is  applied in the direction of the rise of the fo am to get specimen of 100 mm x 100 mm x 50 mm. 
Test specimens shall be free from any contamination and skin on the vertical sides. When thin materials are to 
be tested, sufficient specimens of 100 mm x 100 mm shall be taken so that the sum of their thickne ss before 
compression is at least 25 mm. The specimens shall be plied together and interleaved with photographic glass 
mounting slides where the number of plies is greater than two, and the complete assembly shall be treated 
during the test as single thick  specimen.   
Condition the test specimens at 27°C ± 2°C and 65 ± 5 per cent relative humidity for 6 hours before testing. A 
minimum of 3 specimens shall be tested for 50 %. 
B.3 Procedure  
A soft material dial thickness gauge is  used for measuring the thickn ess of the specimen. In case of thin  material 
calculate the thickness of the foam by deducting the aggregate thickness of the glass slides from the measured 
total thickness of the assembly. The specimen shall then be put between the plates and with the hel p of spacers 
subjected to 50 per cent deflection. The whole assembly is then stored under standard atmospheric conditions 
for 70 hours or at 70°C ± 2C for 22 hours. After this duration, the plates are removed and the specimen is 
allowed to recover for at l east 30 minutes under standard testing conditions.  
The thickness is measured again with the soft material dial thickness gauge.  
B.4 Calculation and reporting  
Compression set at the rate of 50 percent deflection  
(ℎ0− ℎ50)/ ℎ0 ×100  
where  
h0 is an  original height of the specimen in mm,  
h50 is a final height of the specimen in mm after 50 percent deflection test  
Average of the values obtained from the three samples tested shall be reported.  
 
 
 DEAS 1115 -4:2023  
© EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  7 
 Annex C 
(normativ e) 
Tensile strength Test 
C.1 Apparatus  
The apparatus consists of a power -driven machine (medium load tensile tester) with the following provisions:  
a) sensitive dial indicator which remains at the point of maximum load after rupture of the specimen and 
measures the tension at the point,  
b) suitable grips for holding the specimen,  
c) rate of travel of power actuated grip shall be 500mm ± 50 mm per minute and uniform at all times and  
d) the total capacity of the tester be such that the ultimate load is a t least one -fifth of the total capacity of the 
machine.  
C.2 Test specimen  
Punch the specimen in the shape of a dumb -bell shown in the figure D.1 below by means of a sharp die out of 
a foam sheet of 10mm or 20 mm thickness. The foam sheet shall be cut ver tically in the direction of the rise of 
the foam with the help of a splitting machine, from the foam slab cured at room temperature for 48 hours. 
Condition the test specimen at 27°C ± 2C and 65 ± 5 percent relative humidity for 6 hours before testing. Three 
specimens shall be tested.  
 
 
Figure C.1 dumb -bell test piece  
 
C.3 Procedure  
C.3.1 Determine the thickness and width of the specimen accurately by means of a vernier caliper or soft 
material thickness gauge as described in clause 3. Make two -gauge ma rks 50 mm apart as shown in the figure.  
C.3.2 Clamp the specimen in the grips. The minimum separation between the grips shall be 65 mm. Adjust the 
specimen symmetrically between the grips for uniform distribution of the tension applied over the cross -section.  
DEAS 1115 -4:2023 
8 © EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  
 C.3.3 Start the machine and note continuously the distance between the two -gauge marks and record the 
distance at rupture. Note the lead indicated on the dial.  
C.5 Calculation and reporting  
C.5.1  Tensile strength (β), N/mm2 = 𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐴 
where   
F max is a force at failure of the specimen in N,  and  
A is an  original cross -sectional area in mm2  
 
C.5.2 Tensile stress ( δt), N/mm2 = 𝐹𝑡
𝐴 
where  
F is a force at specified elongation in N,  and  
A is an o riginal cross -sectional area in mm2 
 
C.5.3 Ultimate elongation (Elongation at Break)  
Ultimate elongation (ɛb) per cent =  𝐿𝑏−𝐿𝑜
𝐿𝑂 ×100 
where  
𝐿𝑏 is a length between the gauge marks in mm at the time of failure, and  
𝐿𝑂 is an original length between the gauge marks in mm.   
 
C.5.4 Report  
Report the averages of the three -specimen tested  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DEAS 1115 -4:2023  
© EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  9 
 Annex D 
(normative)  
Test for f lammability  of foam  mattresses  
D.1 Apparatus  
  
An apparatus as shown  schematically in Figure A.1 and consisting of a heat -resistant glass tube (chimney) in  
which a test specimen can be mounted, the base of the tube being connected to metered supplies of oxygen 
and nitrogen.  The glass tube shall have a diameter of at least 75 mm and a height of at least 450 mm, and shall 
have at its base a bed of glass beads  (or other inert particles) that will mix and distribute the incoming gases.  
The tube shall also contain a clamp that is capable of holding a test specimen (vertically) that the top of the 
specimen is at least 100 mm below the top of the tube.  
  
The oxyge n and nitrogen used shall be of commercial grade (or better) and shall be supplied to the base of the 
glass tube through individual metering devices that enable the volumetric flow of each gas to be measured with 
an accuracy of 1 % or better.  
 
D.2 Test spe cimens   
 
From the appropriate slab cut five specimens each of size 12.5 + 0.5 mm x 12.5 + 0.5 mm x 130 mm and draw 
a gauge line across each specimen 75 mm from the end that is to be positioned uppermost in the apparatus.  
 
D.3 Procedure   
  
Clamp a test spe cimen in the holder of the apparatus so that it is held vertically in the centre of the glass 
chimney.  Open the valves of the gas cylinders and adjust the flow so that the oxygen content of the gas mixture 
is 20 % + 0.2 % and that the flow rate up the gla ss chimney (as calculated from the volumetric flow rate divided 
by the cross -sectional area of the chimney) is 40  % + 10 % mm/s.  Allow the gas to flow for at least 30 s and 
then, using a small gas flame at the end of a tube, ignite the test specimen so tha t the whole of the upper surface 
is burning.  Note whether the specimen burns for 3 min or longer and if not, whether or not the specimen has 
burned to below the 75 mm gauge line.  Repeat the test with the remaining four specimens.  
 
 
 
 
 
Figure D.1 — Genera l arrangement of flammability test apparatus  
 
 
 
 
 
 
DEAS 1115 -4:2023 
10 © EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  
 Annex E  
(normative)  
Dimensions  
E.1 Apparatus  
E.1.1 Metre rule , a steel rule graduated in millimeters and accurate to 1 mm (or better).  
 
E.1.2 Micrometer , a micrometer accurate to 0.01 mm (or better) with a presser foot of area at least 6.5 cm and 
capable of exerting a pressure of 100 + 10 Pa.  
 
E.2 Procedure   
 
Measure the dimensions of each sample (using the steel rule for dimensions greater than 30 mm and the 
micrometer for dimensions not exceeding 30 mm).  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DEAS 1115 -4:2023  
© EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  11 
 Annex F 
(Normative)  
Test method for mass per unit area  
  
F.1 Principle  
 
This method specifies the procedures for determining the mass per unit area of woven fabrics (including those 
of the stretch type), knitted fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, composite fab rics and narrow fabrics.  
 
F.2 Apparatus  
 
F.2.1 Table  that has a smooth flat surface and is of a size that exceeds that of the fabric to be measured  
 
F.2.2 Cutter , that is capable of cutting a square or circular specimen of area,0.01m2 to accuracy of 1 %  or 
better.  
 
F.2.3 Metal plate , that is 5 mm smaller than the cutter and that has a thickness of 10 mm  
 
F.2.4 Balance , that is capable of determining the mass of the specimen to accuracy of 0.2 % or, in the case of 
0.01 m2 specimens, to an accuracy of 0. 001 g.  
 
F.3 General  
 
Condition the sample  
Before testing, maintain all specimens for at least 16 h in an atmosphere having a relative humidity of wise 65 
% ± 2 % and a temperature of 23 °C ± 2 °C.  
 
F.4 Procedure 1 - Full width specimen  
 
F.4.1 Ensure t hat the fabric, which should preferably be selected from the middle of a piece, is not less than 0.5 
m and not more than 4 m long, and lay it flat, and without tension, on the table.  
  
F.4.2 Cut at both ends across the full width of the sample along parall el lines at right angles to the selvedge.  
 
F.4.3 If the mass per unit area of a selvedge on a full – width piece appears to deviate appreciably from the 
mass per area of the body of the fabric, or if so agreed upon between the parties concerned, trim off the selvedge 
along the outermost threads of the body of the fabric and use only the body of the fabric for the determination 
of the mass per unit area.  
 
F.4.4 Measure the width and length of the specimen.  
 
F.5 Procedure 2 - For representative for large c uttings  
 
F.5.1 Ensure that available cutting is representative of the sample.  
 
F.5.2 Trim the cutting into a square or rectangular specimen by cutting along parallel lines at right angles to the 
warp (length) direction and at right angles to the weft (wi dth) direction.  
 
F.5.3 Measure the width and length of the specimen.  
  
F.5.4 Use the balance to determine the mass of the specimen  
 
F.6 Procedure 3 - For several small (0.01 m2) specimens  
 
NOTE:  On fabrics with large in-woven  designs, which involve loca l areas of appreciably different mass per unit area, the 
use of procedure 1 or procedure 2 is preferable.  DEAS 1115 -4:2023 
12 © EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  
  
F.6.1 Cut at least three -square  pieces, of side length of approximately 150 mm, from areas of the fabric selected 
to represent the samples as fully as possible but not within 50 mm of the selvedge.  
  
F.6.2 Lay each piece flat, and without tension, on a suitable cutting surface. Place th e metal plate and cutter on 
each piece in turn and cut out a 0.01  m2 specimen from each piece, ensuring that no loss of threads occurs.  
 
F.6.3 Use the balance to determine the mass of the 0.01  m2 specimens, and calculate the mean mass.  
 
F.7 Calculation  
 
F.7.1 In the case of procedure 1 and procedure 2, calculate the mass per unit area M in grams per square 
metre, using the following formula:  
 
𝑀= 𝑚 ×1,000 ,000
𝐿 ×𝑤 
 
where  
 
m is the mass of the specimen, in grams  
L is the length of the specimen, in millimeters; and  
w is the width of the specimen, in millimeters  
 
F.7.2 In the case of procedure 3, calculate the mass per unit area ( M in grams per square metre) by multiplying 
the mean mass (in grams) by 100.  
 
 DEAS 1115 -4:2023  
© EAC 2023  – All rights reserved  13 
 Bibliography  
 
[1]  US 202 :2021, Textiles — Foam mattress — SpecificationFDEAS  345: 2022    
 
© EAC 2022  – All rights reserved