tbs             TDC8 (5625)P3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Draft  
Tanzania Standard  
Textiles – Twines – Specification s: Part 1 – Twines made from natural 
fibres.  
(Second edition)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
1 
 0. FOREWORD  
0.1 The development of this Draft Tanzania Standard  2nd edition  is based on the current practices and 
requirements of the industries and relevant authorities  dealing with twines – natural fibres . This Draft 
Tanzania Standard is the second edition  which has been technically revised, where; its foreword , 
standard title and other portions have been slight ly improved. In the cover page, the title of the standard 
has been changed from ‘‘sisal and cotton twines ’’ to read as ‘‘Textiles – Twines – Specifications: Part 1.  
Twines made from n atural fibr es’’, also the Scope (Clause 1) has to read ‘‘ This Draft  Tanzania Standard  
specifies requirements for the manufacture and performance of twines mad e from Sisal and Cotton 
fibres’’.  
0.2 In the preparation of this Draft Tanzania Standard  assistance was derived from  
BS EN ISO 5080:1999  Sisal agricultural twines . 
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition which was developed in year  – 1992  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
2 
 Tanzania Bureau o f Standards  
Draft Tanzania Standard                        TDC8 ( 5625)P3 
Textiles – Twines  – Specification s: Part 1. Twines made from natural fibres  
 
1. SCOPE  
This Draft  Tanzania Standard  describ es requirements for the manufacture and performance of twines 
made from Sisal and Cotton fibres.  
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 re ferenced 
document (including any amendments) applies :  
a) TZS 3: Atmospheric conditions for testing;  
b) TZS 4:  Rounding off numerical values.  
3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS  
For the purpose of this Draft  Tanzania Standard  the following terms and definitions shall apply : 
3.1 hairiness  – ends of fibres, standing out from twine.  
3.2 spool  – cross – wound cylindrical unit of twine.  
3.3 pack  – parcel of two or more spools.  
3.4 sample length  – length of twine taken from any one spool sufficient to obtain the required number of 
specimens for strength, linear density and runnage determinations.  
3.5 specimen  – length taken from any test sample for testing purposes.  
3.6 runnage  – normal measure of the size of twine, expressed in meters  per kilogram (s ee annex A)  
3.7 line ar densit y – mass per unit length of textile products such as ropes, lines, cords and twines. In the 
universal count system, it is expressed in Tex or kilotex (s ee annex A ). 
3.8 manufacture r’s batch  – quantity from which a specified number of packs will be drawn fo r testing.  
3.9 package - container, as a box or case, in which something is or may be packed in.  
4. GENERAL R EQUIREMENTS   
4.1 The fibre s used for the manufacture of the twines shall be of such quality and fineness as is 
necessary to produce twines having the c haracteristics required in the T ables 1, 2 and  3. With the 
exception of the fibres for cotton twines, the sisal fibres shall be well  hacked and free from defects .  
4.2 The twines shall be evenly and well spun and shall be substantially circular in cross section. 
Throughout its length, each package  of twine shall be co ntinuous and knotless. The package  shall be 
designed for the twine to  be drawn from the center. Each package  shall be capable of working with 
continuity throughout its length.   
3 
 4.3 Twist  – Unless stated or unless otherwise ordered, twines shall be left -hand or S twist.  
4.4 Treatment  – Unless otherwise stated from this Draft  Tanzania Standard 2nd edition  or in the contract 
or order, twines shall be supplied in an untreated condition.  
4.5 Mass of package  – A tolerance of + 10%, -5% shall be allowed on the specific mass of any one 
package provided that the variation from the gross specified mass of any delivery of one size and 
description does not exceed 5%.  
4.6 Linear density and runnage – The linear densit y and runnage shall be as sp ecified as in the T ables 
1, 2 and 3. They are subject to a tolerance of ± 5%. For twines that are rot -proofed, the tolerance on 
length shall be agreed between purchaser and supplier. Linear density and runnage shall be determine d 
as described in annex A.  
4.7 Breaking force – Breaking forc e shall be as specified in the T ables 1, 2 and  3. Any tolerance to be 
allowed on rot -proofed twines shall be agreed between the purchaser and the supplier. Breaking force 
shall be determined as de scribed in annex B.  
Table  1– Sisal packing twine for services use  
Reference  
number  Description  Linear density  
 
(Tex) Runnage ±5%  
 
(m/kg)  Minimum Breaking 
forces  
(daN)  Minimum ply  
(No. of threads)  
 
SPT 1   
Heavy   
18182   
55  
177  
3 
 
SPT 2   
Course   
6667   
150  
108  
3 
 
SPT 3  
  
Extra 
medium   
5000  
  
200 
  
79 
  
3 
 
 
SPT 4   
Medium   
3333   
300  
54  
2 
 
SPT 5   
Fine  
2500   
400  
38  
2 
 
SPT6   
Extra fine   
1980   
505  
31  
2 
 
Note - The SI unit of force is the newton (N). A load of 1kg = 0.981 decanewton (daN), further details are given in 
annex C  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
4 
 Table  2 – Sisal packing twine  for ordinary commercial use  
Reference  
number  Linear density  
 
(Tex) Runnage ±5%  
 
(m/kg)  Minimum Breaking 
forces  
(daN)  Minimum ply  
(No. of threads)  
 
SPT 1   
20000   
50  
299  
4 
 
SPT 2   
15385   
65  
201  
3 
 
SPT 3   
10000   
100  
142  
3 
 
SPT 4   
8333   
120  
123  
3 
 
SPT 5   
6667   
150  
108  
3 
 
SPT6   
6667   
150  
108  
4 
 
SPT 7   
5000   
200  
79  
3 
 
SPT 8   
3333   
300  
54  
2 
 
SPT 9   
1653   
605  
26  
1 
 
Table  3 – Cotton parceling twine (polished)  
References  
number  Linear density  
 
(Tex) Runnage  
±5% 
(m/kg)  Minimum breaking  
force  
(daN)  Minimum ply  
(No. of threads)  
CPT 00  7692  130 60 3 
CPT 0  6667  150 50 3 
CPT 1  5882  170 40 3 
CPT 2  4545  220 34 3 
CPT 3  3846  260 29 3 
CPT 4  2778  360 20 3 
CPT 5  1905  525 15 3 
CPT 6  1307  765 10 3 
CPT 104  825 1212  7 1 
CPT 103  621 1610  5 1 
 
 
 
 
  
5 
 5. PACKING  
Packing shall be in accordance with the instructions issued with the contract.  
6. MARK ING 
6.1 Each package  of twines  shall have a label securely attached which shall be clearly and legibly marked 
with the following:  
a) Manufacturer’s name and/or trade mark;  
b) The reference number  
c) The material  
d) The length of twine  
e) The linear density and runnage and  
f) Any other marking required by the buyer.  
The marking shall be protected against obliterations.  
6.2 The packages or bundles may also be marked with the tbs Certification Mark.  
NOTE – The tbs Certification Mark may be used by manufacturers only under  license from TBS. Particular 
of conditions under which the licenses are granted may be obtained  from TBS.  
7. SAMPLING  
Sampling shall be as representative as possible of the batch that is to be subjected to the measurements 
and tests, and samples shall be selected away from the ends of the packages at points where they are in 
true lay.  
7.1 Lo t – A quantity of packages  of the same linear density, same type, and same dimensions, 
manufactured under similar conditions and delivered to a buyer against a dispatch note shall constitute a 
lot. 
7.2 The conformity of the lot shall be determined on the b asis of test carried out on the same sample 
selected from it.  
7.3 The number of package  to be selected at random from a lot shall be as give n in Table 3 : 
 Table 3 – Sampling plan  
 
Lot size   
Sample size  
0 to 10 packages  1 
11 to 100 packages  10 
101 and above  100 
  
7.4 For evaluating the length, linear  density, breaking load and  the number o f packages selected 
according to 7.3 shall constitute the test sample.  
For evaluating the gross mass of the lot all the package  in the lot shall constitute the test s ample.   
6 
 7.5 Length per package  – The length of twine per package of each package tested shall be determined 
in accordance with the method given in annex A and shall be not less than the length declared.  
7.6 Linear density and runnage – The linear density and runnage of sample lengths shall be determined 
in accordance with the method given in annex B and shall be in accordance with the appropriate figures 
given in Table 1.  
7.7 Breaking Load  
7.7.1 The breaking load of each sample shall be determined in accordance with the method given in 
annex C and shall be not less than that given in Table 1.  
7.7.2 For the breaking load test, take into consideration only the results obtained when the break occurs 
between the grips of the testing machin es. If one of the ten specimens from a sample spool  fails to reach 
the minimum breaking load specified in Table 1 for which the twine being tested, the results shall be 
rejected and another package of twine sampled in its place.  
This retest procedure is ap plicable to all sample packages representing a batch.  
Should any test result from the reset sample package or packages fail to reach the minimum breaking 
load requirement, the batch represented by the sample packages shall be deemed to comply with the 
requirements of t his Draft Tanzania Standard . 
7.8 Criteria for conformity – The lot shall be declared as conforming to this D raft Tanzania Standard if 
the condition s below are satisfied:  
a. The length of each package  is not less than the specified length and  
b. The average values of the test results in respect of other requirements conform to the 
requirements specified in the standard.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
7 
 ANNEX A  
DETERMINATION OF LINEAR DENSITY AND RUNNAGE  
 
A - 1 Principle  
Weigh, under specified conditions, specimens of specified length, then followed by calculation of the 
linear density and the runnage (or length in meters per kilogram).  
A – 2 Apparatus  
A-2.1 Balance, accurate to 0.5g  
A-2 .2 Wrap – reel of known perimeter  
A – 3 Specimens  
Selection  
Select 10 m (heavier twi ne) or 20m (lighter twine)  from each package , proceeding in the following manner : 
Directly from the center of each package , in an anti –clockwise direction, draw the first 10m of twine and 
discard them. Then draw 10m of twine (for twine 1000m/kg and heavier) or 20m of twine (for twine lighter 
than 1000m/kg) and wind them as adjacent turns (without overlapping) on the wrap – reel, exercising just 
sufficient tension on the twine to maintain straightness.  
Each specimen of 10m or 20m thus obtained constit utes a test piece.  
A - 4 Procedure s 
Weigh each specimen to the nearest 0.5g ( let m, be the  mass obtained in grams ). 
A-5 Expression of result  
A – 5.1 Calculation of linear density   
For each specimen, calculate the linear density T, in Tex using the formula:  
       
  
Where  
          m, is the mass, in grams, of the specimen and  
    I, is the length, in meters of the specimen.  
A-5.2 Calculation of runnage  
Calculate  the runnage L, in meters per kilogram of twine, using the following formula:  
L=    
   
Where, T is the linear density  
A – 5.3 If a specimen is outside the tolerance, a check test shall be carried out on another spool.  
A –5.4 If the result of the check test is found to be within the limits of the permitted tolerances, it is the 
result of the check test which is adopted for the value of the linear density.   
8 
 ANNEX B  
METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF BREAKING LOAD  
B.1 Apparatus  
Use a power  driven constant rate of extension or constant rate of traverse testing machine, which 
includes a pair of suitable d evices to hold the specimens, a means of elongating the specimen at suitable 
rate and load – indicating mechanism to indicate or record continuously the load applied to the specimen.  
The machine shall comply with the specified requirements for grade A mach ine. i.e . the maximum 
permissible error shall not exceed 1% of the applied load or 0.2% of the maximum of the scale, whichever 
is the greater. Subject to agreement between the purchaser and the supplier a power – driven machine of 
the constant rate of loading type may be applied.  
B.2 Specimens  
Take five test specimens per sample length . The free length of the test specimen between holding 
devices at the start of the test shall be 500mm.  
B.3 Speed  
The rate of transverse of the straining head of  Constant rate of exten sion (CRE ) and Constant rate of 
traverse  (CRT) machine shall be 500mm ± 50mm per minute.  
If a Constant rate of loading ( CRL) machine is used, the rate of loading shall be such that the time to 
break is 60 ± 10 seconds.  
B.4 Procedure s 
Insert the specimen carefully between the holding devices, set the machine in operation and increase the 
load continuously until the specimen breaks. Record the maximum load attained. Should any specimen 
slip in either of the holding devices or at either of the holding device s at a load less than the appropriate 
minimum breaking load specified in the schedule, disregard the result and test a fresh specimen.  
B.5 Results  
Express  the result for breaking load of each specimen in kg or decanewton to the nearest 1%  
The SI unit for force is the newton (N).  A load of 1kg  =0.981 decanewton  (daN)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
9 
 ANNEX C  
C.1 EQUIVALENT BREAKING FORCE IN DECANEWTONS  
Table  4 – daN equivalent for 1kg and 1b values given in T ables 1, 2 and  3. 
 
kg  
lb  
daN  
kg  
lb  
daN 
5 11 5 51 112 50 
7 15 7 55 120 54 
10 22 10 61 135 60 
15 34 15 80 180 79 
20 45 20 110 240 108 
27 60 26 125 280 123 
30 67 29 145 320 142 
32 70 31 180 400 177 
35 78 34 205 450 201 
39 85 38 305 670 299 
41 90 40 - - - 
 
C.2 EQUIVALENT MEASURE OF SIZE IN m/kg  
Table  5 – m/kg  equivalent for  yd/lb  values given in T ables 1, 2 and 3 
 
yd/lb   
m/kg   
yd/lb   
m/kg  
25 50 130 260 
28 55 150 300 
33 65 180 360 
50 100 200 400 
60 120 250 505 
65 130 260 525 
75 150 300 605 
85 170 380 765 
100 200 600 1212  
110 220 800 1610