DEAS 223:2021  
ICS 61.040  
 
© EA C 2021                                                                                                                          Second Edition 2021   
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
Zippers  (zips)  — Specification  
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  
 
 DEAS 223 :2021  
ii © EAC 2021  – 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 223 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  v 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  1 
4.1 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4.2 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 2 
4.2.1  Zippers codes  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  2 
4.2.2  Code performance requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
4.2.3  Colour fastness  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 2 
4.2.4  Tape  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  3 
4.2.5  Thread  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  3 
4.2.6  Length measurement  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  3 
5 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  3 
6 Labelling/marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 3 
6.1 Permanent mark on the zipper  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  3 
6.2 Batch labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 3 
7 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  4 
Annex  A (normative)  Puller attachment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  5 
A.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  5 
A.2 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  5 
A.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  5 
A.4 Test report  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  5 
Annex  B (normative)  Closed -end test  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  6 
B.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  6 
B.2 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  6 
B.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  6 
B.4 Test report  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  6 
Annex  C (normative)  Top -stop test  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  8 
C.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  8 
C.2 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  8 
C.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  8 
C.4 Test report  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  8 
Annex  D (normative)  Open -end fastener box test  ................................ ................................ .........................  9 
D.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  9 
D.2 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  9 
D.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  9 
D.4 Test report  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  9 
Annex  E (normative)  Lateral strength test  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 11 
E.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  11 
E.2 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  11 
E.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  11 
E.4 Test report  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  11 
Annex  F (normative)  Lateral strength of open -end attachment test  ................................ ..........................  12 
F.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  12 
F.2 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  12 DEAS 223 :2021  
iv © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 F.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  12 
F.4 Test report  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  12 
Annex  G (normative)  Slider locking test  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 13 
G.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  13 
G.2 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  13 
G.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  13 
G.4 Test report  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  13 
Annex  H (informative)  End uses and performance codes ................................ ................................ ..........  15 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  16 
 
 DEAS 223 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  v 
 Foreword  
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements 
governing quality of products and services in the E ast African Community. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged 
within the Community will be removed.  
The Community has established an East African Standards Committ ee (EASC)  mandated to develop and 
issue East African Standards  (EAS) . The Committee is composed of representatives 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 circul ated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the 
Partner States. The comments received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in 
accordance with the Principles and procedures for development of East African  Standa rds. 
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the East 
African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards 
they are implementing .  
The committ ee responsible  for this document is Technical Committee EASC/TC 061, Textiles, textile products 
and accessories . 
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be subject of patent 
rights. EAC shall not be held respons ible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
This second edition cancels and rep laces t he first edition (EAS 223 :2001 ), which has been technically revised. 
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:  
— A clause on normative reference s has been added;  
— The requirement on the end -uses of different performance codes of zippers has been changed into 
an informative annex.  
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  DEAS 223: 2021 
 
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  1 
 Zippers  (zips) — Specification   
1 Scope  
 
This Draft East African Standard specifies performance requirements, samplin g and test methods for zippers  
(also known as zips)  made from interlocking comp onents mounted on textile tapes.  
This standard applies to all types of zippers except those designed for aeronautical purposes, those intended 
to be exposed to corrosive influen ces and zippers of complicated structure such as three -way and double -pull 
as used in tents.  
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 docume nt. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
EAS 260, Zippers — Glossary of terms   
ISO 105 -C10, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part C10: Colour fastness to washing with soap or soap 
and soda  
ISO 105-D01, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part D01: Colour fastness to drycleaning using 
perchloroethylene solvent  
ISO 139 , Textiles — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing  
ISO 24153 , Random sampling and randomization procedures  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this document, the terms  and definitions given  in EAS 260 apply.  
4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
4.1.1  Zippers may be made from p lastic, metal  or any other suitable material. For  metallic  components , 
these shall be corrosion resistant.  
4.1.2 The textile tape used in making zippers shall be free from any manufacturing and dyeing defects  
4.1.3 The fibre composition of the thread shall be the same as t hat of the tape.  DEAS 223 :2021  
2 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 4.2 Specific requirements  
4.2.1 Zippers codes  
All zippers shall be grouped into the following performance codes, with 5 being the most stringent:  
a) 1 — ultra-light 
b) 2 — light 
c) 3 — medium  
d) 4 — medium -heavy  
e) 5 — heavy  
Annex H  offers guidance on th e application of different zippers  
4.2.2 Code performance requirements  
Each zipper shall comply with the respective code performance requirements given in Table 1 when tested in 
accordance with the test methods specified therein  
Table 1  — Code  performance requirements of zippers  
Test description   Performance code   
 Test method  a 
1 2 3 4 5 
Puller attachment, N (Min.)  70 80 200 250 300 Annex A   
Closed end test, N (Min.)  35 60 80 100 140 Annex B   
Top stop test, N (Min.)  50 70 90 110 130 Annex C   
 Open end fastener box test, N 
(Min.) 40  40 70 90 120 150 Annex D   
Lateral strength test, N (Min.)  150 200 250 370 470 Annex E   
 Lateral strength of open end, N.  
(Min.)  40 70 90 120 160 Annex F   
Slider locking test N (Min.)  10 15 25 40 60 Annex G   
a Conditioning shall be done in accordance with ISO 139  
 
4.2.3 Colour fastness  
Zippers shall comply with the colour fastness requirements of Table 2. 
 
 DEAS 223 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  3 
 Table 2  — Colour fastness requirements  
Parameter  Requirement  Test method  
Colour fastness 
to: Washing , min.  4 ISO 105 -C10 
Dry cleaning , min.   4 ISO 105-D01 
 
4.2.4 Tape  
The tape shall be withstand the force applied when t ested in accordance with Annex E .  
4.2.5 Thread  
 The thread shall withstand the force applied to zippers when t ested in accordance with Annex E .  
4.2.6 Length measurement  
The length of zippers shall be as declared, subject to a tolerance of 1.5 % or + 3 mm, whichever is greater.  
5 Packaging  
Zippers shall be properly packed in a carton (box) or any suitable container to avoid any entangleme nt during 
transit and/or unpacking.  
6 Labelling/m arking  
6.1 Permanent mark on the zipper  
Each zipper shall be permanently marked with the following information:  
a) manufacturer’s name and/or trade mark;  
b) zipper’s code number  
6.2 Batch labelling  
A batch or seve ral batches of zippers shall have the following information which shall be indicated on the 
package, the swing ticket or accompanying documents:  
a) name and/or trade mark of the manufacturer  
b) country of manufacture  
c) number of zippers in a pack  
d) colour(s) of the zippers  
e) zipper code; .  
f) type of materia used such as “Plastic” or “Metallic” ;  DEAS 223 :2021  
4 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 g) length of the zipper ; and  
h) slider type  
7 Sampling  
Sampling shall be done in accordance with ISO 24153  DEAS 223 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  5 
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Puller attachment  
A.1 Principle  
The puller is subjected to tension while the slider is rigidly supported.  
A.2 Apparatus  
The testing machine of the constant -rate-of traverse type and the opening speed of the jaws at 100 ± 15 
mm/min. The load range should be such that the breaking strength of the test specimen fa lls between 15 per 
cent and 90 per cent of the maximum on the scale. A marking device for the slide, such as face -plate or a 
blanking -off plate, is required so that tension is confined to the puller and its attachment to the slider (Figure 
A.1). 
A.3 Proced ure 
Mount the specimen in one gripping device of the testing machine with the puller through a hole in the mask. 
Arrange the mark so that the slider and the chain are rigidly clamped in place only the puller being free. 
Secure the end of the puller to the other gripping device so that the tension is applied at 900 to the face of the 
slider. Set the testing machine in operation until the specified loading is reached, unless the specimen fails 
earlier.  
A.4 Test report  
Record the test results in accordance wit h Table 1  
 
Figure A.1 — Puller attachment test  DEAS 223 :2021  
6 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Closed -end test  
B.1 Principle  
The bottom stop is subjected to a force via the slider by tension applied to the stringers.  
B.2 Apparatus  
The testing machine as described in Annex A  is used . Mounting of the specimen is as shown in Figure B.1 . 
B.3 Procedure  
The test specimen is in the open position, the slider being adjacent to bottom stop . Ensure that the locking 
mechanism is released. Grip the stringer in the two jaws approximately 10 cm aw ay from the slider. (This may 
be achieved by cutting away the surplus stringer). Apply a longitudinal force to the stringers thus loading the 
slider against the bottom stop. Set the machine in operation until the specified loading is reached, unless the 
specimen fails earlier.  
B.4 Test report  
Record as in Table 1  DEAS 223 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  7 
 
 
Figure B.1 — Closed -end test DEAS 223 :2021  
8 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 Annex  C 
(normative)  
 
Top-stop test  
C.1 Principle  
The top -stop is subjected to a force via the slider applied through the puller.  
C.2 Apparatus  
The testing  machine as described in Annex A  is used. Mounting of the specimen is as shown in Figure C.1 . 
C.3 Procedure  
The test specimen is in the closed position with the slider adjacent to the top. Secure the puller in one jaw of 
the machine and the other end of the specimen i n the other jaw, steps being taken to avoid damaging the 
chain. Set the machine in operation until the specified force is reached unless the specimen fails earlier  
C.4 Test report  
Record as in  Table 1  
Dimensions in millimetres  
 
Figure C.1 — Top-stop test  DEAS 223 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  9 
 Annex  D 
(normative)  
 
Open -end fastener box test  
D.1 Principle  
The box is subjected  to a longitudinal force while the chain is in the closed position . 
D.2 Apparatus  
The testing machine  desc ribed in Annex A  is used. M ount the specimen  as shown in Figure D.1 . 
D.3 Procedure  
With the test specimen in closed position, clamp the interlocked chain into the jaw of the testing machine, 
steps being taken to avoid damaging the chain. Clamp a slotted plate, shaped to clear the tape, chain and pin 
and to bear against the  whole of the top edges of the box, into the other jaw. Set the machine in operation until 
the specified force is reached, unless the specimen fails earlier.  
D.4 Test report  
Record as in Table 1  
Dimensions in millimetres  DEAS 223 :2021  
10 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 
 
Figure D.1 — Open -end fastener bo x test DEAS 223 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  11 
 Annex  E 
(normative)  
 
Lateral strength  test 
E.1 Principle  
The test specimen is subjected to lateral force under controlled conditions while the fastener chain is in the 
closed position . 
E.2 Apparatus  
The testing machine as described in Annex A  is use d. The gripping surface 25.4 mm wide are used. The jaws  
shall be so constructed and finished so as not to damage the tape, and not to allow slippage of the specimen. 
(See Figure E.1). 
E.3 Procedure  
Secure the test specimen in place with the gripping devic es so arranged that at least the width of each tape is 
gripped and there is at least 25.4 mm of closed chain on each side. Set the machine in operation until the 
specified force is reached, unless the specimen fails earlier . 
E.4 Test report  
Record as in Table 1  
Dimensions in millimetres  
 
Figure E.1 — Lateral strength  test 
 DEAS 223 :2021  
12 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 Annex  F 
(normative)  
 
Lateral strength of open -end attachment test  
F.1 Principle  
The test specimen is subjected to straight lateral  loading under controlled conditions while the fastener chain 
is in closed position . 
F.2 Apparatus  
The testing  machine as described in Annex A  is used. The gripping jaws shall be 6 mm wide for testing 
zippers for performance codes 1 and 2, and 12 mm for codes 3, 4 and 5. The jaws shall be so constructed and 
finished as not to damage the tape or allow slippag e during the test. (See Figure F.1 ). 
F.3 Procedure  
Secure the test specimen in place with the gripping  jaws set approximately 3 mm from the sides of the box, 
and with one edge of each jaw aligned with the end s of tapes. Set the machine in operation until the specified 
load is reached, unless the specimen fails earlier . 
F.4 Test report  
Record as in Table 1  
Dimensions in millimetres  
 
Figure F.1 — Lateral strength of open -end attachment  DEAS 223 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  13 
 Annex  G 
(normative)  
 
Slider locking test  
G.1 Principle  
The slider is locked on the chain and the locking device subjected to tension, the load being applied at 1800 to 
the device, via the chain stringers in such a way as to bring the locking device under pressure from the chain.  
G.2 Apparatus  
Mounting of the specimen is as shown in Figure G.1 . 
G.3 Procedure  
The test specimen is in the open position with the locking device locked into the chain 25 mm from the top -
stops. Set the jaws 50 mm apart and secure the top of the stringer int o the jaws adjacent to the top so that the 
top of the slider is 25 mm from the edge of each jaw. Set the machine in motion and increase the load until the 
locking mechanism slips or the specimen fails.  
G.4 Test report  
Record as in Table 1  
Dimensions in mil limetres  DEAS 223 :2021  
14 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 
 
Figure G.1 — Slider locking test  DEAS 223 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  15 
 Annex  H 
(informative)  
 
End uses and performance codes  
Whereas zippers may be used as functional or decorative accessories. Table H.1 offers guidance on the 
recommended application of different zippers.  
Table H.1 — End uses and performance codes  
 
End use  Performance code  
1 
(Ultra -light)  2 
(Light)  3 
(Medium)  4 
(Medium -heavy)  5 
(Heavy)  
Dresses  √ √ √   
Knitwear  √ √ √   
Light leather goods  √ √ √   
Skirts, jeans or trousers  √ √ √   
Upholstery   √ √ √  
Foundation garments    √ √  
Coats and jackets    √ √  
Overalls    √ √  
Luggage bags    √ √ √ 
Slippers    √   
Sleeping bags    √ √ √ 
Lightweight a nd inner tents    √ √ √ 
Footwear    √ √ √ 
Leather garments    √ √ √ 
Ski clothes    √ √ √ 
Wet suits    √ √ √ 
Awnings and frame tents    √ √ √ 
 
 DEAS 223 :2021  
16 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 Bibliography  
EAS 223 :2001, Zippers — Specification  
 DEAS 223 :2021    
 
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved