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DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD  
 
TBS/CDC10(3177)P 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paper towel — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
  
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0 Foreword  
This Draft Tanzania Standard is being developed by the Stationary and Paper Products  Technical 
Committee under supervision of the Chemical s Division al Standards Committee and it is in accordance 
with the procedures of the Bureau.  
 
This Draft Tanzania stand ard has been prepared in order to control the quality paper towel in the 
industries and to the users. The safety to the user and utility of the product need to be taken into 
consideration by laying down the requirements for the product.  
 
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this draft Tanzania Standard is complied 
with, the final value observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded 
off in accordance with TZS 4.  
 
In the preparation of this d raft Tanzania Standard assistance was drawn from:  
  
 
SANS 1887 -1:2015, Tissue paper – Part 1: General requirements , published by South Africa 
Bureau of Standards.  
 
SANS 1887 -1:2015 Tissue paper Part 4: Paper towel – Specification,  published by South Africa 
Bureau of Standards.  
 
   
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 1 Scope  
This draft Tanzania standard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for  paper towels, in 
rolls and in shee ts (single ply and double ply), suitable for general and industrial purposes.  
 
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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.  
 
2.1 TZS 81/ISO 536:  Paper and board – Determination of grammage (Basic Mass);  
2.2 ISO 2470 -1, Paper, board and pulps – Measurement of diffuse blue reflectance factor – Part 1:  
Indoor daylight conditions (ISO brightness). Amdt 1  
2.3 TZS 82/ISO 187, Paper board and pulps — Standard atmosphere for conditioning and testing and 
procedure for monitoring the atmosphere and conditioning of samples  
2.4 ISO 1924 -2:2008 Paper and board -- Determination of tensile properties -- Part 2: Constant rate of 
elongation method (20 mm/min)  
2.5 ISO 6588 -1, Paper, board and pulps — Determination of pH of aqueous extracts — Part 1: Cold 
extraction  
 
3 Definitions  
For the purposes of this draft standard , the following definitions applies . 
 
3.1 
acceptable  
agreable  to the authority administering this document or to the parties concluding the purchase  
contract, as relevant  
 
3.2 
break -up 
disintegration of the tissue specimen into small pieces approximately 10 mm × 10 mm  
 
3.3 
crêpe paper  
paper that has been subjected t o crêping  
 
3.4 
crêping  
operation of crinkling in order to increase its stretch and softness  
 
3.5 
cross direction (CD)  
that direction in the plain of a paper at right angles to the machine direction  
 
3.6 
defective  
corrugated board container, bulk package, wrapper, holder, a roll, sheet or a set of test pieces,  
whose average properties have been determined, and that fails in one or more respects to comply  
with the relevant requirements  
 
3.7 
embossed paper  
paper of which raised or depressed design has been p roduced generally by pressure from an  
engraved roll or plate  
 
 
  
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 3.8 
grammage  
mass of a unit area of paper or board determined by the standard method of test  
 
NOTE Grammage is expressed in grams per square metre.  
 
3.9 
grammage, actual  
average grammage obtained on a sample of paper under specified test conditions and which should  
normally be within ± 5 % of the nominal grammage  
 
3.10 
grammage, nominal  
designated grammage of paper, used for reference purposes  
 
3.11 
hole 
opening, of which the largest dimen sion exceeds 4 mm, in the paper  
 
3.12 
inversion  
from an initial vertical position, one complete inversion is accomplished by rotation of the cylinder  
about horizontal axis through 180° and back to the initial starting position in a time of 1 s  
 
3.13 
lot 
aggregate of paper of a single kind of specified characteristics produced under conditions  
that are presumed uniform, and available for sampling at one time  
 
NOTE A lot comprises one or more nominally identical units. Where the material to be tested has alre ady 
been incorporated into a manufactured article (for example a packing case), the lot is the aggregate of such  
articles of a single kind, of specified characteristics.  
 
3.14 
machine direction (MD)  
that direction in a paper or a board corresponding to the  direction of travel of the web on the paper  
or board machine  
 
3.15 
non-wet strength tissue product  
product that has not had any wet strength enhancing material added during manufacturing  
 
3.16 
sample  
aggregate of all the specimens taken from the lot to pr ovide information on the average quality of  
the lot and possibly serve as basis for a decision on the lot  
 
3.17 
sheet  
area of paper or board taken from the selected units  
 
3.18 
single ply  
sheet material manufactured on a tissue machine or after converting as a part of a single or multi  ply 
tissue product  
 
3.19 
specimen  
area of paper or board cut to given dimensions, from the sheets or manufactured articles  
 
3.20  
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 test piece  
piece of paper or board on which the measurement is carried out in accordance with stipulations of  
the method of test  
 
3.21 
tissue paper  
wet- or dry -crêped or uncrêped (single ply) sheet material, manufactured on any kind of tissue  
paper machine, mainly based on cellulosic fibre pulps  
 
3.23 
unit 
component of a lot which may be in the for m of a reel, a bale, a bundle, a parcel, the contents of a  
packing case, a pallet load, etc.  
 
4 Requirements  
4.1 Material  
The paper shall have a crêped or a crêped and embossed texture, and the colour (i.e. white or other  
colour) of the paper shall b e as specified by the purchaser.  
 
The paper  towel  shall also comply with the requirements for visual properties as follows:  
 
a) The paper shall be manufactured from processed cellulose fibres, shall present a neat, wellfinished  
appearance and shall be free of all imperfections or defec ts (or both) which might affect appearance, 
normal life, or serviceability.  
 
b) The paper towel  shall be clean, and shall be reasonably free from visible wood splinters, specks, 
holes, tears, wrinkles, abrasive particles, or other  imperfections.  
 
c) The paper  towel  shall have no disagreeable odour, either wet or dry.  
 
d) The paper towel  shall be uniform in colour and trimmed with clean smooth edges.  
 
4.2 Physical requirements  
4.2.1 The paper towels shall be single - or double -ply, as specified by the purchaser , and shall comply 
with the appropriate requirements for physical properties as detailed in the table 1  below.  
 
Table 1:  Physical requirements  
SN Paramemter  Requirement  Test Method  
1 Basic weight  (g/m2, min.)    
7.4 Single ply 43 
Multiple  ply 43 
2 Rate of absorption of  
water, s , max    
7.5 
Single ply  50a 
Multiple  ply 5a 
3 Tensile strength, dry (N/m) min    
7.7 CD 350 
MD 160 
 pH 4.4 – 10.0 7.8 
 Total absorption of  
water , % min   
7.6 
Single ply  180 
Multiple  ply 250 
 
a Rate of absorption of 0 .02 mL of water.   
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4.2.2 Whe n tested in accordance with 7.10 , every sheet of a perforated roll shall be severed along  
the perforation and the tear shall be manifestly due to the perforation only.  
 
4.2.3 Paper towels shall be supplied in packets or in rolls or as specified by the purchaser.  
 
4.2.4 When the towels are supplied in rolls, the rolls shall be  perforated or unperforated, as specified 
by the purchaser .The quality of per forations shall comply with the requirements of 4.2.2.  
 
4.2.5 When packets of folded towels are supplied, the folds shall be regular, the edges clean cut,  
and towels presented in such a way that they can be taken fro m a suitable dispensing cabinet without 
sticking or other undue difficulty.  
 
4.3 Dimensions  
4.3.1 The length and width of the sheets shall be as specified on the packaging.  
 
4.3.2 The number of sheets per packet  and per perforated roll, shall not be less than 2 % of the quantity 
marked on the packet or per forated roll in no more than one sample roll per ten.  
 
In the case of rolls, the quantity of sheets or the roll length (as relevant) shall be such that (unless  
the number of sheets or the roll length specified by the purchaser renders it  impossible) the diameter of 
a roll does not exceed 125 mm.  
 
5 Packing  
5.1 Wrapping  
5.1.1 Packets  
Single paper towels shall be supplied in packets that, unless a special type of packet is specified by  
the purchaser, are normal to acceptable commercial practice.  
 
5.1.2 Rolls  
Unless otherwise specified by the purchaser, eac h roll of paper towels shall be completely covered by 
a wrapper.  
 
5.2 Containers  
Packets and rolls shall be packed in acceptable corrugated board containers or bulk packages, and the 
quantity per container shall be as specifie d by the purchaser. Only packets or rolls of the same grade, 
ply, texture, colour (unless  packing together of packets of different colours is required by the purchaser), 
and number and siz e of sheets (or, in the case of unperforated rolls, roll width and length) shall be 
packed together in a bulk container.  
 
6 Marking  
6.1 Packets and wrappers  
The following information shall appear in legible and indelible marki ng on each packet and wrapper:  
a) the name of the product;  
b) the name and address of  the manufacturer;  
d) the number and size of sheets or roll length (as relevant);  
e) the ply of the paper; and  
f) unless the colour is apparent to the purchaser, the colour.  
  
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6.2 Containers  
The following information shall appear in legible and indelible m arking on each bulk container:  
a) the information required in terms of 6.1.(a) to 6.1.(e);  
b) the colour(s) of the paper towels; and  
c) the number of packets or rolls.  
 
6.3 Identification marking  
When identification marking is specified by the purchaser (s ee annex A), it shall appear on each  
bulk container and each packet and either on one end of each roll (applied before the roll is  
wrapped), or on the inside of each core.  
 
7 Inspection and methods of test  
7.1 Inspection  
Inspect all the containers and packets or rolls drawn in accordance with B.2 (see annex B) as  
follows:  
a) each container for compliance with 5.2, 6.2, and, when relevant, 6.3;  
b) each packet for compliance with 4.1, 4.2.5, 5.1.1, 6.1 and, when relevant, 6.3; and  
c) each roll for compliance with 4.1, 5.1.2, 6.1 and, when relevant, 6.3.  
Record the results of the inspection in respect of each requirement.  
7.2 Conditioning of test specimens  
Precondition and condition all paper  towel  under test in accordance with  TZS 82 /ISO 187, using the 
conditioning atmosphere designated, (23 ± 1) °C and (50 ± 2) % RH, and carry out the tests given in 7.4 
in an atmosphere maintained at these conditions. Also during conditioning, ensure that test pieces and 
test sheets are laid flat instead of being suspended, as in the latter case their properties to be tested 
might be affected.  
 
7.3 Dimensions  
Measure, to  the nearest 1 mm without stretching the sample, and, when relevant, count the sheets  
in each packet or roll drawn in accordance with A.2 for compliance with the appropriate requirements 
of 4.3. Determine the width and length of sheets on two sheets taken at random from each packet or 
roll. 
 
Record the results of the checks in respect of each requirement.  
 
7.4 Basis weight (grammage)  
7.4.1 Test specimens  
From each packet or roll drawn in accordance with A.2 take at random two test specimens, each of  
area at  least 200 mm².  
 
7.4.2 Procedure  
Use the method given in TZS 81 /ISO 536  and calculate the basis weight of each specimen in grams  
per square metre to three significant figures. Record the highest, the lowest, and the average of the  
results.  
 
 
  
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 7.5 Water absorption rate  
7.5.1 Test specimens  
From each packet or roll drawn in accordance with A.2 take at rand om two sheets and from each 
sheet cut one test specimen of size at least 75 mm × 75 mm.  
 
7.5.2 Procedure  
Use the method given in Annex B . Calculate and record th e average rate of absorption in seconds for 
each packet or roll and the average for the sample.  
 
7.6 Total absorption  
7.6.1 Test specimens  
From each packet or roll taken in accordance with A.2 take at random two sheets and from each  
sheet cut one test specimen of size at least 75 mm × 75 mm.  
 
7.6.2 Procedure  
Use the method given in Annex C . Calculate and record the average total absorption (i.e. the  
percentage increase in mass based on the original dry mass) for each packet or roll and for the  
samp le. 
7.7 Tensile strength, dry  
7.7.1 Test specimens  
From each packet or roll drawn in accordance with A.2 take at random two sheets and from each  
sheet cut two specimens each, of width 50,0 mm and length at least 150 mm. Cut the specimens  
from each sheet so  that in one the longer dimension is parallel to the machine direction and in the  
other the longer dimension is parallel to the cross direction of the paper. Do not cut specimens from  
damaged areas or areas containing creases.  
7.7.2 Procedure  
Use the proce dure given in ISO 1924 -2 but:  
a) adjust the distance between the jaws of the apparatus to 65 mm and clamp a test specimen  
securely in position;  
 
b) apply the load at such a rate that the test specimen breaks within (10 ± 5) s and determine the  
tensile stre ngth;  
 
c) if a test specimen slips in a clamp or breaks in or at the edge of a jaw, reject the result and  
repeat the test on another test specimen taken from the sample.  
 
Calculate and record the average dry tensile strength, in newtons per metre (in each direction  
separately) of the sheets from each packet or roll in the sample.  
 
7.8 pH value  
7.8.1 Test specimens  
From the packets or rolls taken in accordance with A.2 cut at random sufficient pieces of paper to  
provide two test specimens, each of mass at least 1 .,0 g. 
 
7.8.2 Procedure  
Use the method given in ISO 5688 -1 but use pH  meter capable of measuring  values accurate  to one 
decimal place or better.  
  
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 7.10 Assessment of perforation  
7.10.1 Test specimen  
Use all the perforated rolls drawn in accordance with A.2. 
 
7.10.2 Procedure  
At a position chosen at random on the roll under test, detach a sheet by holding it between thumb  
and forefinger at its perforated end and exerting a steady pull at an angle of about 10° to the edge  
of the roll  and carry out the test on five consecutive sheets in each  roll. Examine the torn ends for 
compliance with 4.2.2.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
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 Annex A 
Sampling and compliance with this standard  
(Normati ve) 
 
 
Sampling and compliance with this standard  
NOTE This annex applies to the sampling for inspection and testing before acceptance or rejection of single  lots 
(consignments) in cases where no information about the implementation of quality control or testing during  
manufacture is available to help in assessing the quality of the lot. It is also used as the procedure for  adjudicating 
in cases of dispute.  
A.1 Sampling  
The sampling procedure in A.2 and A.3 shall be applied in determining whether a lot complies with the 
relevant requirements of this standard . The samples so taken shall be deemed to  represent the lot.  
A.2 Sample for inspection  
Take at random from the lot the number of containers given in column 2 of table A.1 relative to the  
appropriate lot size g iven in column 1 and from each container so drawn take at random five rolls or  five 
packets (as relevant), but if the lot is contained in a lesser number of containers that is given in  column 
2, take at random an approximately equal number of rolls or pack ets from each container to  make up 
the required number of rolls or packets given in column 3 of table A.1. 
A.3 Sample for dimensional checks and testing  
From the sample taken in accordance with A.2 take at random the number of packets or rolls shown  
in column 5 of table A.1 relative to the appropriate lot size shown in column 1.  
 
Table A.1 — Sampling  
   
Lot size  
 
Rolls or packets   Sample for inspection  
 Sample for  
dimensional 
checks  
and testing  
 
Rolls or packets  Containers  Rolls or packets  Acceptance  
number  
10 – 100 2 10 0 4 
101 – 300 3 15 1 5 
301 – 1 000  4 20 2 6 
1 001 – 4 000  6 30 3 7 
4 001 – 10 000  8 40 4 8 
 
A.4 Compliance with this standard  
The lot shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this standard  if 
 
a) after inspection of the sample taken in accordance with A.1 no defective is found in respect of the  
requirements for packing and marking and the number of defectives found in respect of the  
remaining requirements (see 7.1) does not exceed the appropriate acceptance number shown in  
column 4 of table A.1; and  
 
b) after dimensional checking and testing of the sample taken in accordance with A.3, no defective  
is found.  
 
  
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 ANNEX B  
Water absorption rate  
(Normative ) 
 
 
 
B. Water absorption rate  
B.1. Apparatus  
B.1.1. Water applicator, that consists of a micrometer syringe or a suitable pipette that can  deliver 
accurately 0 .,02 mL of water.  
 
B.1.2 Stopwatch . 
 
B.1.3 Test specimens  
For paper towels and paper -towel rolls for centre -feed devices, use ten specimens.  
 
B.2 Procedure  
Place a test specimen on the rim of a beaker that has a diameter of approximately 50 mm. Fill the  
syringe with distilled water at (23 ± 1) °C and ensure that trapped air bubbles are removed. Hold the  
syringe at an angle of about 30° to the horizontal with the tip nearly in contact with the paper, and  allow 
0.02 mL  of water to flow onto the test specimen. Keep  the tip of the syringe in the drop of water until 
delivery is complete. Measure with the stopwatch the  rate of absorption, in seconds, from the instant the 
water touches the test specimen until the drop of  water is completely absorbed, as indicated by no 
further reflection of light from it when viewed at an  angle. Carry out five tests on each side of the paper.  
 
Calculate and  report to three significant figures  the average water absorption rate in seconds. Check for 
compliance with table 1.  
 
NOTE For paper towels and paper -towel rolls for centre -feed devices 0 .02 mL of water should be allowed to flow 
onto the test specimen.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
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 Annex C  
Total water absorption  
(Normative)  
 
 
 
C.1 Total water absorption  
C.1 .1 Apparatus  
C.1 .1.1 Balance , that has a sensitivity of 1 mg (or better).  
C.1 .1.2 Drainage strip , that consists of a piece of wet towel -paper of size 3 mm × 40  mm. 
C.1 .1. 3Test specimens  Use ten specimens.  
 
C.1 .2 Procedure  
Determine the mass of a test specimen and submerge it in distilled water for 2 min. Remove, press  onto 
one corner of the test specimen a drainage strip so that the longi tudinal axis of the st rip forms a 
continuation of the diagonal of the test specimen, and then sus pend the assembly by diagonally opposite 
corner over water in a vessel that has a tight -fitting cover. C lose the vessel, allow the test specimen to 
drain for 30 min, then remove it,  discard the drainage strip, place the test spe cimen in a tared weighing 
bottle, and determine its mass.  
 
Test each spe cimen in this way, and from the results calculate and record the average total absorption 
(i.e. the percentage increase in mass based on  the original dry mass) for each packet/roll and for the 
sample. Check for compliance with table 1.