Reference number  
DRS 299: 2016  
© RBS yyyy 
© RSB 2016  
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS  
299 
 
First edition  
2016 -mm-dd 
 
Emulsion paints — Specification  
 
  DRS  299:2016  
©RSB 2016 All rights reserved                  ii 
 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
Standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB2016  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise speci fied, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document shoul d be addressed to  
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
Tel. +250 252 586103/582945  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  DRS 299: 2016  
iii                 ©RSB2016 A ll rights reserved  
 
 Contents  Page 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
4.1 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
4.2 Conditions in container  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  2 
4.3 Application properties  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  2 
4.4 Fineness of grind  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 3 
4.5 Temp erature stability  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  3 
4.6 Other requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  3 
4.7 Substances not allowed ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  4 
5 Sampling and inspection  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  5 
5.1 Definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  5 
5.2 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  5 
5.3 Compliance with this standard  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  5 
6 Packaging and marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  5 
6.1 Packaging containers  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  5 
6.2 Marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  5 
Annex  A (normative)  Determination of fungus resistance  ................................ ................................ ............  7 
A.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  7 
A.2 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  7 
Annex  B (normative)  Determination of drying time  ................................ ................................ .......................  8 
B.1 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  8 
B.2 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  8 
Annex  C (normati ve)  Determination of pH  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 9 
C.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  9 
C.2 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  9 
Annex  D (normati ve)  Determination of resistance to wet abrasion  ................................ ...........................  10 
D.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  10 
D.2 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  10 
D.3 Reagents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  10 
D.4 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  10 
 DRS  299:2016  
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 Foreword  
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards 
adop ted by Technical committ ees are ratified by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 299  was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 024, Chemical s and consumer products . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard s: 
SANS 1586: 2007, Emulsion paints ―Specification  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technica l Committee on Chemical s and consumer 
products  (RSB/TC 024) in the preparation of this standard.  
Amaco Paints Company Ltd  
AMEKI COLORS Ltd  
Crown Paints Rwanda Ltd  
Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Education of Kibungo (INATEK)  
Integrated Polytechnic  Regional Center — Kicukiro Campus (IPRC — Kicukiro Campus)  
Ministry of Health (MINISANTE)  
National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA)  
Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)  
Rwanda Plastic Industries (RPI)  
Shalom Paints Ltd  DRS 299: 2016  
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 SIGMA PA INTS  
The City of Kigali  
University of Rwanda — College of Education (UR — CE) 
University of Rwanda (UR) — College of Science and Technology (UR — CST)  
Rwanda  Standards Board (RSB) – Secretariat  
 DRS 299: 2016  
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 Emulsion paints  — Specification  
1 Scope  
1.1 This standard specifies the requirements for three grades of emulsion paint that are based on synthetic 
polymers dispersed in a water phase for application over interior plaster or other masonry substrates, as one 
or more coats of the same grade. These three grades are suitable for both interior and exterior use.  
1.2 It is accepted that there are other satisfactory e nd-uses for these paints, either by themselves or in 
systems in combination with other types of paint, but the scope of this standard does not include their use in 
such systems or their application over wooden, metallic, glass, plastics, off -shutter concre te, or bituminous 
substrates. In such cases, this standard will only apply to the paint as supplied, not to its end -use. 
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, o nly the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
ISO 4618,  Paints and varnishes — Terms and definitions of coating materials  
ISO 3251,  Paints and varnishes — Determinat ion of non -volatile matter of paints, vanishes and binders for 
paints and vanishes  
ISO 3232,  Paints and varnishes — Determination of quantity of material in a container  
ISO 1514 , Paints and varnishes — Standard panels for testing  
ISO 1524 , Paints and varnishes — Determination of fineness of grind  
ISO 2811 -1, Paints and varnishes — Determination of density — Part 1: Pyknometer method  
ISO 1513,  Paints and varnishes — Examination and preparation of samples for testing  
ISO 2813,  Paints and varnishes — Dete rmination of specular gloss of non metallic paint films at 20 °C, 60 °C 
and 85 °C  
ISO 3270,  Paints and varnishes and their raw materials — Temperatures and humidities for conditioning and 
testing  
ISO 950,  Paints and varnishes — Comparison of contrast ratio  (hiding power) of pints of the same type and 
colour  
ISO 1512,  Paints and varnishes — Sampling of products in liquid or paste form   
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 EAS 31, Standard specification for laundry soap  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the definitions in ISO 4618 apply . 
4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
4.1.1  Standard atmosphere shall be in accordance with the requirements of ISO 3270.  
4.1.2  The paint shall be a medium consisting of any stable synthetic polymer emulsion in water containing 
pigments and suitable ingredients as may be necessary to produce a paint so as to satisfy the requirements of 
this specification.  
4.1.1  Grades  
4.1.1.1  Emulsion paint specified in this standard shall be one of the following grades:  
a) grade 1: high hiding, scrub resistant;  
b) grade  2: high hiding, washable; and  
c) grade 3: general purpose, economy . 
4.1.1.2  The requirements in this standard shall apply to all three grades of emulsion paint, unless 
otherwise indicated.  
4.2 Conditions in container  
4.2.1  When examined in accordance with ISO 15 13, the paint shall be found to be free from lumps, surface 
skin, extraneous matter, corrosion products, colour separation and hard settlement.  
4.2.2  The condition of the material shall be such that settling if any may be easily incorporated on stirring.  
4.3 Application properties  
4.3.1  Thinning or reducibility with water  
4.3.1.1  When thinned with water in accordance with the manufacturer's directions for use, the paint shall 
mix readily to a smooth homogeneous state, without or with minimal foaming (isolated large b ubbles maybe 
ignored). During thinning not more than 15 % (V/V) of water shall be used.  DRS 299: 2016  
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 4.3.1.2  After ageing for 72 h at 23 °C ± 5 °C, the thinned paint shall show no signs of hard settlement or 
instability, shall remix readily to a smooth, uniform state a nd shall still comply with the requirements of 4.2, 
4.3.2 and 4.3.3.  
4.3.2  Brushing/roller application properties  
The paint shall be suitable for application by brush or roller. The resulting dry film when examined 4 h after 
application shall not show pigment fl occulation, coarseness, cissing, pitting, cracking, excessive brush marks 
or other undesirable characteristics.  
4.3.3  Re-coating properties  
4.3.3.1  When a second coat is applied 4h after the brush and roller application test (4.3.2) the second 
coat shall not sof ten the first coat and there shall be no lifting, softening or delamination of the  first coat during 
application.  
4.3.3.2  When the dry firm is examined 24 h after application of the second coat, there shall be no 
sagging, cissing, pitting or cracking and t he paint film  shall be smooth in appearance.  
4.4 Fineness of grind  
When tested in accordance with ISO 1524, paints shall have a fineness of grind that does no t exceed 25 µm 
for all the three grades of paint.  
4.5 Temperature stability  
When a 500m L sample of the paint is stored at a temperature of either 50 °C ± 2 °C for 7 days , or 60  2 °C 
for 48 h followed by 1 h at a temperature of 23 °C ± 2 °C, the paint shall still comply  with the requirements of 
4.2. 
4.6 Other requirements  
The paint shall also comply with requirements given in Table 1.  
 
 
 
 
 
  
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 Table 1 — Requirements for emulsion paint  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.7 Substances not allowed  
Mercury, formaldehyde and phenol based fungicide shall not be used.  S/N Characteristic  Grade requirement  Test 
method  
Grade 1  Grade 2  Grade 3  
1 Quantity of material  Shall not be less than 
95% of the declared 
volume at 23  2 °C.  Same as 
Grade 1  Same as 
Grade 1  ISO 3232  
2 Fungus resistance  Paint panels shall be 
free from surface 
fungi growth  Same as 
Grade 1  Same as 
Grade 1  Annex A  
3 Specific gravity at 23 °C  1.2 – 1.6 1.3 – 1.6 1.3 – 1.6 ISO2811 -1 
4 A 1.1.1 Solids Content, % 
(m/m), min.  50 50 50 ISO 3251  
5 i) Surface drying time in 
minutes, max.  15 15 15 Annex B  
ii) Hard drying time in 
minutes, max.  30 30 30  
6. pH 8 – 9 8 – 9 8 – 9 Annex C  
7. Titanium dioxide Content (% 
m/m), min  18 13 5 ISO 591 -1 
8. Gloss at 20° gloss meter 
angle (Max)      
9 Gloss at 60° gloss meter 
angle (Max)  8 8 8 ISO 2813  
10 Gloss at 85° gloss meter 
angle (Max)      
11 Opacity (hiding power) m 100 130 150 ISO 950  
12 Resistance to wet abrasion, 
cycle (minutes)  4000  2000  200 Annex D  
13 Fineness of grind ( m) max.  25 25 25 ISO 1524  
14 Contaminants (heavy 
metals), mg/kg, max  20 20 20  DRS 299: 2016  
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 5 Sampling and inspection  
5.1 Definitions  
5.1.1  Defective  
A test sample or a container of the emulsion paint that fails in one or more respects to comply with the 
relevant requirements of t he standard.  
5.1.2  Batch  
The quantity of emulsion paint of the same grade and colour, in containers bearing the same batch 
identification,  produced by one manufacturer, and submitted at any time for inspection and testing.  
5.2 Sampling  
5.2.1  Sampling shall be carried out in accordance with ISO 1512. When sampling takes place at the 
supplier's warehouse, the samples shall comply with the requirem ents of Clause 5.  
5.2.2  A sample volume of 1 litre will be required for testing for compliance with this standard.  
5.3 Compliance with this standard  
The batch shall be deemed to comply with the relevant requirements of the standard if, on inspection of the 
containers in the lot and on testing of the samples taken in accordance with Clause 4, no defective is found.  
6 Pack aging and marking  
6.1 Pack aging containers  
The paint shall be pack aged in clean, dry, corrosion -resistant containers. The containers shall be strong 
enough to withstand normal usage, and shall be adequately sealed to prevent leakage and contamination of 
the contents during normal transportation, handling and storage.  
6.2 Marking  
The following information shall clearly, legibly and durably be marked on each  container, or a label securely 
fixed to the container:  
a) manufacturer's name and address and the brand name of the product ; 
b) words "Emulsion Paint" and the grade of paint ; 
c) colour and colour code ;  
©RSB 2016 All rights reserved                  6 
 
 d) batch identification number ; 
e) net weight of the material ; 
f) list of ingredients ; 
g) best before date ; and  
h) storage and usage instructions . DRS 299: 2016  
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 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Determination of fungus resistance  
A.1 Principl e 
Aluminium metal panel is evenly coated with two coats of the paint by brushing and then air dried for a 
specified period. The p anel is exposed on a exposure rack for a specified period and the intensity of fungal 
growth is observed.  
A.1.1  Exposure rack  
A.1.1.1  Exposure rack shall usually support the panels at an angle of 45 o to the horizontal.  
A.1.1.2  The rack shall be so situated that  the specimens are not protected or overshadowed by        
neighbouring objects.  
A.1.1.3  The construction of the racks shall be such that the backs of the specimens are freely exposed to 
the atmosphere and such that water drainage does not occur from one p anel to the other.  
A.1.1.4  Specimens shall not be in electrical contact with metals, nor as far as possible in direct contact 
with wood or other porous material. If panels are supported in grooves, the suitable drainage holes shall be 
provided to prevent a ccumulation of water.  
A.2 Procedure  
Apply two coats of the paint by brushing on a 300 mm x 150 mm x 4 mm clean, dry, aluminium panel with ½ 
hour drying between coats. The edges and back of the panels shall be coated with protective paint. Expose 
the panels on the exposure rack and examine the fungal growth on the panels monthly, for six months  
 
 
 
 
 
  
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 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Determination of drying time  
B.1 Apparatus  
B.1.1  Drying time recorder  
B.1.2  Glass panels,  50 x 100 mm  
B.2 Procedure  
Determine the surface and had drying times  of the paint film by using a drying recorder and by carefully 
following the instruction manual of the equipment.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DRS 299: 2016  
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 Annex  C 
(normative)  
 
Determination of pH  
C.1 Principle  
The paint is mixed with freshly boiled water to remove the carbon dioxide and hydroge n ion concentration is 
measured using pH meter.  
C.2 Procedure  
Weigh 5.00 ± 0.01 g of the paint in a 150 mL beaker and add 50 g freshly boiled distilled water. Mix well by 
means of a glass rod and cool to 23  2 °C. Measure the pH using glass calomel electrode.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
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 Annex  D 
(normative)  
 
Determination of resistance to wet abrasion  
D.1 Principle  
The painted panels are subjected to wet rubbing in the abrasion test apparatus at a specified speed and load 
of the brush. The panels are examined at the end of the stipulated oscillations for film defects.  
D.2 Appa ratus 
D.2.1  Wet abrasion tester, having the following accessories:  
D.2.1.1  Washing unit, of such a construction as to hold the brush in a box or holder which moves 
backwards and forwards in a straight line across the test panels at the rate of 38 ± 2 strokes per min. The 
trays shall be watertight to hold the panels . 
D.2.1.2  Brush a pad made out of polyurethane foam of density 25 kg/m3 and of size 85 mm x 36 mm x 12 
mm. The total mass of the brush and the hol der shall be 500 g . 
D.2.1.3  Fractional horsepower motor, of suitable speed to regulate the oscillations of the brush.  
D.3 Reagents  
D.3.1  Soap solution  
Dissolve 0.5 grams of laundry soap (conforming to EAS 31, Standard specification for laundry soap ) weighed 
to the n earest 0.001 g (previously dried at 105  2 °C for 30 minutes) in distilled water to give 0.5 per cent 
(m/v) solution.  
D.4 Procedure  
D.4.1  Preparation of the panel  
D.4.1.1  Clean a glass panel of dimensions 415 mm x 120 mm. Apply coat of the undercoating enamel to 
give a wet film thickness of 35 m to 38 m and store at 120 °C for 30 min utes. Rub down with an emery 
paper and wipe until the glass is removed completely.  
D.4.1.2  Apply a coat of the paint by use of a brush or film applicator to give a wet film thickness of 150 
m. Allow this to air dry for 168 hours.  DRS 299: 2016  
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 D.4.1.3  Dip the brush in distilled water at 25 °C for 30 min to a depth of 12 mm. Shake off excess water 
and soak i n soap solution for 5 min. Fix the painted test panel in the tray in position with painted surface 
upwards. Mix the brush in its holder having a total load of 0.5 kg and adjust the stroke in such a way that not 
less than 10 mm of the film is left free on b oth ends. Start the oscillations of the brush.  
D.4.1.4  Keep the panel wet by adding soap solution, at the rate of 10 to 12 drops per minute in the path of 
the brush. Wash with water and allow to dry, and examine the film for any defects and note the number  of 
oscillations when these defects start showing.  
   
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 Bibliography  
[1] KS03 - 811, Kenya standard specification for emulsion paint for interior and exterior use  
[2] KS 03 - 812, Kenya standard specification for matt emulsion paint for interior and exterior use  
  DRS 299 : 2016  
ICS 87.040  
 
 
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