tbs             TDC3 (5614)P3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Draft  
Tanzania Standard  
Textiles – Towels – Specification s  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
i 
 0. Foreword  
This second edition of this Draft Tanzania Standard has been prepared to help manufacture rs of towels in 
producing products of defined quality and hence safeguarding the interests of the consumer.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition TZS 899: 2006 Textiles – Towels – Specification 
which is due for review.  
In this second edition the parameter s of mass per unit area, breaking strength and colour fastness have  
been reviewed so as to be in harmony with technological trend in Tanzania. Perform ance requirement of 
knitted terry towels have been incorporated in this second edition.  
In the preparation of this Draft Tanzania Standard assistance was derived from:  
KS 408 - Towels – Specification  
ASTM D5433 -12 Standard Performance Specifications for T owel Products for Institutional and      
Household Use  
Acknowledgement is made for the assistance received from these sources.  
 
 
 
 
  
1 
 Tanzania Bureau o f Standards  
Draft Tanzania Standard          TDC3  (5614 )P2 
Textiles – Towel – Specification s 
1. Scope  
1.1 This Draft Tanzania Standard specifies the evaluation of specific performance characteristics of 
importance in woven and knitted  terry kitchen towel, Dish towel , crash towel, Huc k towel, hand towel, 
wash towel and bath towel.  
 
1.2 The Draft Tanzania Standard may be used by mutual agreement between the purchaser and the 
supplier to establish purchasing specification requirements.  
 
1.3 This Draft Tanzania Standard is not applicable for coa ted and laminated products, nonwoven 
products, or terry fabrics used for apparel.  
 
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:  
 TZS 4, rounding off numerical values  
TZS 20 , Method for determination of number of threads per centimeter  
 
TZS 21 , Method for determination of mass per unit length and mass per unit area of woven or 
knitted fabrics  
 
TZS 22 , Method for determination of breaking load and extension of strips of woven textile fabrics  
 
TZS 23 , Method for determination of colour fastness of textile materials to artificial light  (xenon 
arc lamp)  
 
TZS 40 , Method for determination of colour fastness of textile materials to daylight  
 
TZS 43 , Method for determination of colour fastness of textile materials to washing  
 
TZS 137 , Method for determination of dimensional change of woven a nd knitted fabrics and 
garments  
 
TZS 138 , Method for determination of colour fastness of textile materials to rubbing  
 
TZS 262 , Method for determination of linear density of yarn (mass per unit length) – Skein 
method  
 
TZS 534 , Standard atmospheres for cond itioning and testing  
 
  
2 
 3. Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this Draft Tanzania S tandard, the following terms and definitions shall apply.  
3.1Pile (terry or Turkish)  
 
cut or uncut loops composing the surface of a fabric. The pile may be on one or both sides of the fabric.  
 
3.2 Towel heading  
 
Plain  (not terry) portion of the towel including the end hems. The heading may be continuous from the 
hem to the main body of the towel or may include a bar of terry as decorative element.  
 
3.3 Length of the to wel 
 
Length  of the mat erial alone without the fringes  
 
3.4 Width of the towel  
 
Total  width of the towel including the selvedges or sewn hems  
3.5 Crash towel  
Super  absorbent towels made of 100% cotton ideal for wiping up big spills.  
 
3.6 Huck towel  
 
Made  from a pure cotton fabric favored for cleaning surgical inst ruments, window washers, car dea lers 
and cleaning companies also use these long -lasting, absorbent towels, as they tend to hold up well even 
after many washings. "Huck" refers to the style of weav e used to make the fabric. A huck towel typically 
has one smooth side and one with threads slightly raised above the surface.  
 
4. Requirements  
 
4.1 Yarn – The yarn used in the manufacture of the towel shall be soft and uniform spun and free from 
spinning defects.  
 
4.2 Fabric – The fabric used shall be either of the following:  
 a) All cotton;  
 
 b) One in which the pile is composed of a minimum of 50% cotton blended with viscose and in which the 
base yarns are all cotton.  
 
4.3 B reaking strength , dimension change , bursting strength  and colour fastness ratings  
The requirement of t owels with respect  to breaking strength, bursting strength , dimensional change and 
colour fastness ratings  shall be  as given in Table 1 and Table 2 . 
 
 
 
  
3 
 Table 1   knitted and woven Terry fabric Specification Requirements.   
 
SN  
Characteristics   
Kitchen 
towels   
Dish cloth   
Bath, Hand wash 
cloths, Baths 
sheets.   
Test method  
 1 Breaking strength  
Warp, min;  
Weft, min;   
178N  
133N   
220N  
178N   
178N  
133N   
TZS 22  
 
2  
Bursting Strength   
222N   
222N   
133N   
TZS 22  
3 Dimensional Change  
 
Warp, max; 
Weft, max;  
Bow and Skew, max;   
 
10% 
5% 
5%  
 
10% 
5% 
5%  
 
10% 
5% 
5%  
 
TZS 137  
 
Table 2– Colour fastness ratings for  terry towel  
 
 
5. Finish  
5.1 The borders of the towel along the length shall be finished with selvedges which shall not be less than 
4 mm wide. The selvedges shall be woven firm, straight and even.  
 
5.2 The borders of the towel along the width shall be finished with selvedges, hems or fringes. T he fringes 
shall be at least 25 mm long. The sewn borders shall be not less than 8 mm wide, the raw edges having a 
turn-in of a minimum 4 mm before the hem is forme d. 
 
5.3 The sewing thread shall be of even tension and the ends finished securely and neatly. The number of 
stitches shall be n ot less than 32 stitches per 10 cm. The sewing thread shall match the shade and colour 
fastness as the towel.  
 
5.4 The bleached cl oth shall have a full white finish. The dyed towel shall be evenly dyed, free from stains 
and patches. The colour fastness of the dyed towel shall comply with the requirements given in t able 2.   
SN  
Agency   
Minimum     Rating   
Test method  
 
i) 
  
Light   
4  
TZS 23  
 
ii) 
 
  
Washing  
 
  
Color change  
 
Staining   
4 
 
3  
TZS 43  
 
iii) 
 
  
Rubbing  
  
Wet  
 
Dry   
3 
 
4  
TZS 138   
4 
 6. Absorbency  
The absorbency of the towel when tested in accordance with annex A, shall not exceed  
20 seconds for duration of complete saturation.  
7. Dimensions  
The dimensions of the towel shall be as declared on the lab el subjected to tolerance of ±2 % or if not 
declar ed shall be one of the following combinations wit h the tolerance of ±2 % 
 
Table 3  Dimensions  
 
 
 
 
 
 
8. Grading  
Towels shall be graded into Grades A and B as specified below.  
 
8.1 Grade A  
In addition to complying with all the requirements of this Draft Tanzania Standard, when visually 
examined, Grade A towels shall not have any major or minor defects specified in Annexes B and C.  
 
8.2 Grade B  
In addition to complying with all the requirements of this Draft Tanzania Standard, when visually 
examined, Grade B towels shall not have any major and not more than three  (3) minor defects specified 
in Annexes C.  
 
9. Marking and packing  
9.1 Marking  
 
The towel shall be marked with the following information:  
a) Manufacturer’s name and or/ trade name  
b) Name of the material  
c) Size of the towel  
 
9.2 Packing  
 
The towel shall be packed in a suitable material e.g. polyethylene bags to ensure protection against 
stains and dust.  
 
 
 
 
 
  
Hand and kitchen towel,  cm  
40x70  
Bath towel, cm 
 
 
 40x80  
60x120  
70x140  
80x160 (beach towels)  
Face towel, cm 
       30x30  
                  25x25   
5 
 Annex A  
(Normative)  
Determination of absorbency  
 
Wash the towel in water at approximately 95oC and let it dry. Cut from the test towel three square test 
specimens of approximately 75mm. Condition them in accordance with TZS 534 (see clause 2). Place 
each specimen on the surface of water at a temperature of 25oC±5oC and measure the sinking time of the 
specimen. The average of the three readings is the absorbency time of the towel.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
6 
 Annex B  
(Normative)  
 
List of major defects of towels  
 
 
i) Weft crack or two or more missing picks across the width of the towel.  
 
ii) More than two adjacent ends running parallel, broken or missing and extending beyond 15 cm.  
 
iii) Conspicuous broken pattern.  
 
iv) Gout due to foreign matter, usually lint or waste woven into towel.  
 
v) Coloured fleck.  
 
vi) Defective hemming.  
 
vii) Blurred or dark patch.  
 
viii) Patchy or streaky or uneven dyeing.  
 
ix) Dye bar.  
 
x) Oil or other stain more than 10 mm in size.  
 
xi) More than one adjacent end missing in the body of the material running throughout the towel or more   
than three ends missing  at a place and running over 60 cm.  
 
xii) Smash rupturing the texture of the towel.  
 
xiii) Hole, cut or tear in the body of the material.  
 
xiv) Damaged selvedge throughout the towel.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
7 
 Annex c  
(Normative)  
List of minor defects in towels  
 
i) Weft bar due to difference in raw material, count , twist, luster, colour, shade or pick spacing of adjacent 
groups yarn.  
 
ii) Warp or weft float in the body of the towel.  
 
iii) Uneven pile.