tbs                      TDC8(5630)P3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Draft  
Tanzania Standard  
Textiles – Ropes Specification s: Part 2. Ropes made from Man -made 
fibres  
 
(First edition)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
 
1 
 0. FOREWORD  
0.1 The range of man -made fibre rope is sufficiently wide to satisfy the varying requirements of modern 
Industry. The differing properties of Polyester, Polyamide (Nylon), Polypropylene and Polyethylene 
enables a specific choice t o be made when selecting the rope most suited for the function it has to 
perform. For example, there are ropes which will satisfy any of the individual requirements and some 
ropes in fact satisfy almost all requirements.  
This Draft Tanzania Standard has b een set up to prescribe materials, manufacturing and performance 
requirements of ropes made from man -made fibres.  
0.2 In the preparation of this Draft Tanzania Standard  (First edition) , assistance was derived from  
 Local company specification s; 
ISO 1140:2012 Fibre Ropes – Polyamide;  
 ISO 1141:2012 Fibre Ropes – Polyester;  
ISO 1346:2012 Fibre Ropes – Polypropylene split film, monofilament and multifilament (PP2) and 
polypropylene high -tenacity multifilament (PP3), and  
ISO 1969: 2013 Fibre Ropes – Polyethylene -3 and 4 -strand ropes.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
2 
 Tanzania Bureau of Standards  
Draft Tanzania Standard                             TDC8 ( 5630 )P3 
Textiles – Ropes – Specification s: Part 2. Ropes made from man -made fibre s 
 
1. SCOPE  
This Draft Tanzania Standard describes materials, manufacturing and performance requirements of man -
made ropes made of Polyester, Polyamide (Nylon), Polypropylene and Polyethylene for general  use. 
2. NORMATIVE REFERENCES  
The following referenced documents are indispensable fo r 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.  
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 braid  – rope or textile structure formed by a braiding process, intertwining of strands in a brai ding 
process to produce a rope structure . 
3.2 cordage  – collective  terms for twines, cords and rope made from textile fibers and yarns . 
3.3 strand – largest  individual element used in the final rope making process and obtained by joining and 
twisting together several yarns or groups of yarns . 
3.4 rope fiber  – compact but flexible, torsionally balanced structure produced from strands which are laid, 
plaited or  braided together to produce a product which serves to transmit a tensile force between two 
points. Genera lly greater than 4mm  diameter  
3.5 laid rope  – rope made by twisting three or more strands together with a twist direction opposite to 
that of the stra nds 
3.6 plaited rope  – 8-strand rope consisting of two pairs of strands twisted to the right and two pairs of 
strands twisted to the left and plaited together such that the pairs of strands of opposite twist alternately 
overlay one another  
3.7 hawser -laid rope – made up of three strands, it is the fibre (or yarns) of which have been twisted 
together in a left -handed direction, these three strands are then twisted together in a right -handed 
direction to make on a rope.  
3.8 shroud -laid rope – made of four strands laid right -handed on a core  of rope.  
4. MATERIALS  
4.1 The fibres and yarns materials used in the manufacture of any given rope shall be of one generic type 
and under no circumstances shall any material other than that type of fibre be used.  
 
4.2 The fibre ropes  may be fabricated from continuous filament, heat and light resistant, indu strial grade, 
having sufficient tenacity to meet this Draft Tanzania Standard.  
  
3 
 4.3 No extraneous materials shall be added for the purpose of weighting the  rope. Extractable matter of 
the finished rope shall not exceed 2%.  
4.4 Overlay finish: When specified, a marine overlay finish shall be applied to all yarns used in the 
manufacture of the rope. The overlay finish shall be extremely resistant to removal by water, and shall 
improve fiber to fiber abrasion resistance. The finis h content of the yarn shall not exceed 5%.  
 
5. MANUFACTURE  
5.1 The rope s shall be 3-strand hawser -laid, 4-strand shroud,  8-strand plaited or 12 -strand plaited 
construction , as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 . 
5.1.1 3-strand hawser -laid rope shall be made with 3 -strands, each strand having an identical structure 
and number of yarns. The strands shall be formed and the rope laid to produce a torque -balanced 
product.  
5.1.2 4-strand shroud -laid rope shall be made of four strands laid right -handed on a cor e of rope.  
5.1.3 8-strand s plaited rope shall be made of 2 pairs of right -twisted strands and 2 pairs of left -twisted 
strands plaited together such that pairs of strands of the opposite twist alternately pass one over the 
other, with all strands having ide ntical structure and the same number of yarns.  
5.1.4 12-strands plaited rope may be made from three or more strands . 
5.2 The mixing of fibre  types and grades or fibers of different manufacturers shall not be permitted in the 
same rope.  
5.3 The use of an internal marker or a surface yarn maker shall be the only exception to the strand -to-
strand uniformity requirement.  
5.4 Unless otherwise specified, the length of each finished fibre rope shall be continuous throughout its 
ordered length.  
5.5 The finished rope shall meet or exceed all the requirements of this Draft Tanzania Standard and the 
applicable product standard.  
 
5.6 The finished rope shall contain no cuts, kinks, soft spots, scratch or damaged sections, or broken, 
lose or projecting en ds in the rope . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
4 
  
Figure 1 – Shape of a 3 -strand hawser -laid rope (type A)  
 
 
Figure 2 – Shape of a 4 -strand shroud -laid rope (type B)  
 
 
 
Figure 3 – Shape of an 8 -strand braided rope (type C)  
 
 
Figure 4 – Shape of a 12 -strand braided rope (type  D) 
 
6. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS  
6.1 The performance requirements of the fibre ropes shall meet or exceed the requirements as list ed in 
Tables1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7  
 
6.2 When required, performance properties such as elasticity splice ability and hardness shall be included 
in the individual rope standard  
 
 
 
 
5 
 Table 1 – Requirements of 3-strand hawser laid and 4 -strand shroud laid Polyester ropes, type A 
and B.  
 
Nominal diameter  
 
(mm)  Linear density  
 Minimum breaking strength  
 
(kN) (Ktex) Tolerance %  
4 11.5  
 
±10 1.96 
4.5 14.2 2.3 
5 18.0 3.1 
6 23.5 4.4 
8 45.0 8.2 
10 70.5  
±8 13.0 
12 100.0  18.1 
14 140.5  25.0 
16 180.5   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
±5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 28.1 
18 240.0  40.2 
20 295.0  49.5 
22 350.0  58.2 
24 425.0  67.5 
26 495.0  80.0 
28 575.5  90.0 
30 650.0  110.5  
32 750.0  120.0  
36 950.5  148.5  
40 1145.0  190 
44 1400.0  225 
48 1650.0  270 
52 1995.6  305 
56 2150.0  344 
60 2500.0  386 
64 300.0  400  
6 
 Table 2 – Requirements of 8- and 12 -strand braided Polyester ropes, type C and D.  
 
Nominal diameter  
 
(mm)  Linear density  
 Minimum breaking strength  
 
(kN) 
 (Ktex) Tolerance %  
12 100 ±8 16 
16 180  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
±5 
 
 
 
 
 
 28 
20 280 45.6 
 24 400 70 
28 500 90 
30 580 105 
32 670 124 
36 850 148 
40 1100  170 
44 1300  250 
48 1600  280 
52 1800  350 
56 2100  380 
60 2500  430 
64 2800  480 
72 3600  550 
80 4500  770 
88 5500  850 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
7 
 Table 3  – Requirements  of 3-strand hawser laid and 4 -strand shroud laid Polyamide (Nylon) ropes, 
type A and B.  
 
Nominal d iameter  
(mm) Linear d ensity  Minimum breaking strength  
(kN) (Ktex) Tolerance (%)  
4 7.5  
 
±10 1.7 
4.5 9.15 2.3 
5 12.5 3.7 
6 15 5.4 
8 27.0 9.0 
10 50.0  
 
±8 12.0 
11 70.0 14.0 
12 80 19.5 
14 100 24.5 
16 140  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
±5 35.6 
18 180 48.0 
20 220 55.0 
22 250 68.0 
24 330 83.5 
26 380.5  100 
28 450 115 
30 500 125 
32 600 145 
36 750 180 
40 900 230 
44 1000  275 
48 1200  300 
52 1450  360 
56 1700  400 
60 2000  450 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
8 
 Table 4  – Requirements of 8- and 12 -strands braided Polyamide (Nylon) ropes, type C and D.  
Nominal d iameter  
(mm) Linear d ensity  Minimum breaking strength  
(kN) (Ktex) Tolerance (%)  
8 48.0  
±8 10 
10 56 11 
12 70.5 18 
16 140  
 
 
 
 
±5 30 
20 218 48 
24 335 70 
28 445 110 
32 580 166 
36 700 190 
40 900 210 
44 990 260 
48 1100  290 
52 1400  350 
56 1600  425 
60 2000  470 
 
 
 
Table 5  – Requirements of 3-strand hawser laid and 4 -strand shroud laid Polypropylene ropes, 
type A and B.  
Nominal d iameter  
(mm) Linear d ensity  Minimum breaking strength  
(kN) (Ktex) Tolerance (%)  
4 5.5  
±10 1.8 
4.5 8.0 2.2 
5 9.0 3.0 
6 14  
 
±8 3.5 
8 25 6.2 
10 33 9.5 
12 55 12.0 
14 75  
 
 
 
±5 19.5 
16 100 24 
18 125 34.8 
20 165 40 
22 190 50.5 
24 230 60 
26 285 70 
28 345 81.5 
30 380 91 
 
 
  
9 
 Table 6  – Requirements of 8- and 12 -strand braided Polypropylene ropes, type C and D.  
Nominal d iameter  
 (mm) Linear d ensity  Minimum breaking strength  
 (kN) (Ktex) Tolerance (%)  
8 35  
±8 
 6.5 
10 46 8.5 
12 55 12.3 
16 95  
 
 
 
 
±5 
 
 
 
 
 
 23 
20 175 35 
24 230 48.5 
28 330 78 
32 420 95 
36 500 115 
40 650 150 
44 760 185.5  
48 980 240 
52 1020  270 
56 1200  290 
60 1450  335 
 
Table 7  – Requirements of 3-strand hawser laid and 4 -strand shroud laid Polyethylene ropes, type 
A and B.  
Nominal d iameter  
 (mm) Linear Density  Minimum breaking strength  
 (kN) (Ktex) Tolerance (%)  
4 7.5  
 
±10 
 
 1.2 
4.5 8 1.8 
5 10 2.0 
6 15.5 2.5 
8 27.0 4.5 
10 45  
±8 
 6.8 
12 65 10.3 
14 87 14.5 
16 112  
 
 
 
 
±5 
 
 
 
 20.0 
18 150 24.6 
20 185 30.0 
22 220 38.0 
24 260 44.4 
26 300 54.0 
28 350 60.0 
30 425 70.3 
32 480 84.5 
36 600 100 
 
  
10 
 7. PACKING, PACKAGING AND LABELING  
7.1 Packing  
The identity of the material, quality and origin of a nylon rope conforming to this Draft Tanzania Standard 
shall be marked alongside the package  so as to remain visible during usage. For covered ropes, the 
marking tape shall be incorporated between the cover and the core or within the core.   
7.2 Packaging  
7.2.1 The packaging unit may be a reel, a coil, a box or a bag or as specified by the purchas er. 
7.2.2 The finished rope shall be supplied in a package, so that it can be distributed freely without 
entanglement of any kind.  
7.2.3 Either the unit mass or the length may be used to invoice the rope. When the gross mass is used for 
invoicing, the mass  of the packaging shall not exceed 1.5% of the gross mass of the rope.  
7.3 Labeling  
Each packaging unit shall have a label, which is firmly fixed in place, giving the following information:  
a) constituent material;  
b) identification of manufacturer and c ountry of origin;  
c) reference number; and  
d) delivered length.  
 
8. 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.  
8.1 Lot – A quantity of package  of the same line ar density, same type  and same dimensions, 
manufactured under similar conditions and delivered to a buyer against a dispatch note shall constitute a 
lot. 
8.2 The conformity of the lot shall be determined on the basis of test carried out on the same sample 
selected from it.  
8.3 The number of package  to be selected at random from a lot shall be as given 8:  
     Table 8 – Sampling plan  
Lot size  Sample size  
0 to 10 packages  1 
11 to 100 packages  10 
101 and above  100 
 
8.4 For evaluating the length, linear density breaking load and pitch, the number o f packages selected 
according to 8 .3 shall constitute the test sample.  
 
8.5 Criteria for conformity – The lot shall be declared as conforming to this Draft 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.   
11 
 ANNEX  
A – 1 Mass  
A – 1.1 Without removing the wrapping material, weigh each package in the lot to the nearest 0.5kg 
and determine the total gross mass of the entire package in the lot.  
A – 1.2 For the purposes of determining the length of the package, calculate the net mass of each 
coil constituting the test sample, (for purposes of 8.4) by removing the wrapping material and then 
weighing the coil.  
A – 2 Pitches of rope  
Take each package in the  sample and apply an appropriate tension as specified in the Table 1, 2 and 
3. In plane parallel to the axis of the rope, place two “pitch marks" on two successive spirals of the 
same strand of the rope and measure the distance between the two points. Whil e the ropes are still 
under tension, measure the diameter with the help of a Vernier caliper to the following accuracy.  
                 Diameter of rope                           Measurement accuracy  
                       Up to 96mm                                            1mm  
                       Above 96mm                                          5mm  
A – 3 Linear density  
A - 3.1 Length of coil – From one end of one of the coils in the sample, cut off a test specimen 
exactly 2m (l) in the length aft er applying tension by hand. Weigh the specimen in grams (m). Mark a 
length of 1m ( d1) in the center of the specimen. Apply an appropriate tension as specified in Tables 1, 
2 and 3. While rope is still under tension, measure to the nearest mm the distance d2 between the 
marks.  
A – 3.2 Calculate the length the linear density T by the following formula:  
                                         
       
               Where  
              T – linear density in kilotex or g/m  
              m – mass of the test  piece in g  
              d1 – distance between the marks (1m)  
               l – length of the test specimen (2m) and  
              d2 – distance between the marks under tension in meters  
A - 3.3 Calculate the length of the coil by dividing the net weigh t of the coil as obtained in A - 1.2 by 
the linear density of the corresponding coil obtained in A - 3.2. 
 
 
 
  
12 
 A - 4 Breaking load  
A – 4.1 Apparatus – Rope tensile testing machine of appropriate capacity with constant rate of traverse 
of the straining head of not less than 150mm/ minute.  
A-4.2.1  With ordinary grips - Mount each specimen with an initial length of not less than one metre 
between the grips of the testing machine. Apply gradually and continuously increasing load until the 
specimen breaks. If fractures occur at or near the grips at le ss than the specified breaking load, disregard 
the test and take a further test. Accept the test results corresponding to any specimen without fractures 
through causes attributable to grip damage as meeting the requirements of the specification provided th at 
the load recorded is not less than 95% of the minimum specified breaking load.  
NOTE – When agreed to between the buyer and seller, ropes with the ends "eye – spliced" may be used  for 
the tests in which case the rope will be deemed to comply with the req uirements of this specification 
provided that the breaking load obtained from the specimen is a minimum of 90 percent of the specified 
breaking load given in Tables 1, 2 and 3 and provided that the fractures occurs at the splice.  
A-4.2.2 With bollard grips  – small size ropes may be tested on testing machine with bollard grips. In such 
cases mount the test specimen with an initial length of not less than 250mm between the bollards of the 
testing machine ensuring that the rate of transverse of the straining l oad for constant rate of transverse 
machine is as near as possible numerically equal in mm per minute to the length of specimen. Apply 
gradually and continuously increasing load until the specimen breaks.  
If fracture occurs at or near the grips at less th an the specified breaking load, disregard the test and take 
a further test. Accept the test results corresponding to any specimen that fractures through causes 
attributable to grip damage as meeting the requirements of this specification provided that the load 
recorded is not less than 95 percent of the minimum specified breaking load (see also N ote under A -
4.2.1)