DRAFT TANZANIA STANDAR D 
 MEDC 10(5517) P 3 - Farm Implements - Shovels Specifications  (Rev TZS 
435:1992 ) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
©TBS 2018                                                                                                               Second  Edition  
 
 1                                                                                                              
 
DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD                                                DTZS 435: 2018  
 
 
Farm implements - Shovels - Speci fication  
 
0  Foreword  
 
The main objective of this Tanzania Standard is to give material characteristics of a shovel  
 
This standard Tanzania standard was prepared in response to a request frorm the manufacturers 
of shovels so as to promote export trade.  
 
The Tanzania Standard is related to the manufacturing processed prevailing in the country.  
 
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this Tanzania S tandard is 
complied with the final value observed or calculated expressing the result o f a test mace or 
analysis shall be rounded off in accordance  TZS 4: 1979 , (see clause 2)  .   
 
The number of significant places retained in the rounded off value should be the same as that of 
the specified value in this  Tanzania Standard    
 
1  Scope  
 
This Tanzania Standard gives the material and other requirements of a shovel.  
 
2 References  
 
For the purposed of this Tanzania Standard the following references shall apply:  
 
a) TZS 4: 1979 – Rounding off numerical values  
b)  TZS 10:1979 – General requirements  for the supply of metallurgical materials  
c) TZS 14: 1979   plain carbon  – Determination of the sulphur content by combustion 
method    
d) TZS 15: 1979 – Steel  - Determination of phosphorus by alkali metric method,  
e) TZS 241: 1984 -  Steel – Rockwell hardness test (B and C scales),   
f) TZS 244: 1984 -   Farm implements  – method of sampling . 
 
3 Definitions   
 
Definitions of shovel, grip and size  
 
grip  - Refers to the part shown in figure 2  
 
shovel – As shown in figure 1, which includes the blade,  socket,  handle and grip . The design 
shall not necessarily be the same.  
 
size – Degree of smallness or largeness.  
  
 
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 2 DTZS 435: 2018  
 
 
4  Materials   
 
Material used for manufacture of the blade and socket shall be steel with chemical composi tion 
as specified in the table,  or any other type of steel which can give the required physical 
properties of the shovel  
 
 
Table  1  - Chemical composition of steel for manufacture of blade and socket  
 
 
Element  Composition, %by wt.  
 
Minimum  Maximum  
 
 
Carbon  
Manganese  
Phosphorus  
Sulphur   
0.42 
0.50  
0.49 
0.80 
0.050  
0.050  
 
 
Material of the handle may be of wood or plastic.  
 
5  Hardness  
 
The blade when tested dup to 45% of its height measured f rom the cutting edge and in 
accordance with TZS 241: 1984 (se e clause 2) shall have a hardness of 39 – 48 HRC or  its 
equivalent . 
 
6 Requirements   
 
6.1 Grip and handle shall not rotate in use.  
 
The grip and the handle should be smooth; free from cracks, sharp edges,  
 
6.2 The handle shall be tested for strength by cla mping it and subjecting the same to a bending 
moment of equivalent to  50 kgf at a radius of 750mm for an hour without breading or showing a 
permanent deformation (see figure 3).  
 
6.3 Dimension of shovel shall be in accordance to agreement between purchaser  and 
manufacturer.   
 
7 Workmanship  and finish  
 
7.1 The blade and  socket shall be free from pits, cracks, flaws, burrs and other visual defects.   
 
 7.2 A coating of protective paint or grease on the working part of the blade shall be provided.  
The top part  not in direct contact with the soil shall have an anti - corrosion paint coating.  
 
 
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 3 DTZS 435: 2018  
 
 
8 Marking and packing  
 
The shovel shall be marked with manufacturers name or registered trade mark.  It may also be 
marked  with TBS Certification Mark, batch and code number.  
 
Note – The TBS Certification mark may be used by manufactures only under licence f rom 
TBS.  Particulars  of conditions under which the licence may be granted may be obtained 
from TBS.  
 
The shovel shall b e packed according to agreements between purchasers and manufacturers.  
 
Round mouth open socket shovel  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure  1  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 4  
DTZS 435: 2018  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 2  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 3  
 
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