DEAS  972: 201 9 
ICS 55.080  
 
© EAC 201 9                                                                                                                              First Edition 201 9  
 EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
Woven polyolefin sacks (bags) for cement  — Specification  
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  DEAS 972: 201 9 
ii © EAC 201 9 – All rights  reserved  
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© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Requirement  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  2 
4.1 Materials  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  2 
4.1.1  Fabric  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  2 
4.1.2  Stitching  thread  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 2 
4.2 Dimensions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  2 
4.3 Construc tion ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  2 
4.3.1  Sack  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  2 
4.3.2  Degree  of coverage  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  3 
4.3.3  Mass  of the sack  (bag)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  3 
4.3.4  Edge  sealing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  3 
4.3.5  Base  closure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  3 
4.3.6  Longitudinal  seams  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  3 
4.4 Mouth  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  3 
4.5 Breaking strength  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 3 
4.6 Breaking strength of welded joint (base  closure)  ................................ ................................ ..............  3 
4.7 Lamination  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  4 
5 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  4 
6 Marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  4 
6.1 Marking  on each  sack  (bag)  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  4 
6.2 Marking  on each  bale ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  4 
Annex  A (normative)  Determination of number of perforations per cent imetre  ................................ .........  5 
A.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  5 
A.2 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  5 
A.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  5 
A.4 Calculation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  5 
A.5 Report  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  5 
Annex  B (normative)  Determination of weld joint strength  ................................ ................................ ..........  6 
B.1 Principle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  6 
B.2 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  6 
B.3 Test Specimens  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 6 
B.4 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  6 
Annex  C (normative)  Dimensions  of bag ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  7 
Annex  D  (normative)  Total  mass  of bag ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  9 
Annex  E (normative)  degree  of warp  or weft coverage  ................................ ................................ ..............  10 
 DEAS 972: 201 9 
iv © EAC 201 9 – All rights  reserved  
 Foreword  
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements 
governing quality of produ cts and services in the East African Community. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged 
within the Community will be removed.  
The Community has established an East African Standards Committee  (EASC)  mandated to develop and 
issue East African Standards  (EAS) . The Committee is composed of representatives of the National 
Standards Bodies in Partner States, together with the representatives from the public and private se ctor 
organizations  in the community .  
East African Standards are developed through  Technical Committees that are representative of key 
stakeholders including government, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other interested parties. 
Draft East Afr ican Standards are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the 
Partner States. The comments received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in 
accordance with the Principles and procedures for developme nt of East African Standards.  
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the East 
African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards 
they are implementing .  
The committee responsible for this document is Technical Committee EASC/TC 061, Textile s, Textile 
products and Accessories  
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be subject of patent 
rights. EAC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  DEAS 972:2019 
 
© EAC 201 9 – All rights reserved  1 
 Woven polyolefin sacks (bags) for cement  — Specification  
1 Scope   
This draft East African  Standard  specifies  the requirements  for woven  polyolefin  sacks  (bags)  for packing  
cemen t 
2 Normative references   
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the lates t edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
ISO 3801 , Textiles - Woven fabrics - Determination of mass per unit length and mass per unit area  
ISO 13934 -1, Textiles,  tensile  properties  of fabrics  Part 1: Determination  of minimum  force  and elongation  at 
maximum  force  using  the strip method  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.  
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following 
addresses:  
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp  
3.1 
woven  polyolefin  sack  (bag)  
a flexible  container  made  from fabric  manufactured  from woven  polyolefin  tape yarns  
3.2 
woven  polyolefin  fabric 
a sheet  material  woven  from polyolefin  tape yarns  
3.3 
polyolefin  tape yarn 
flat yarn having  a high ratio of width  to thickness  composed  of polyolefin  polymer  
3.4 
polyolefin  polymer  
a linear  polymer  obtained by polymerization of an unsaturated hydrocar bon to give a linear  saturated  
hydrocarbon.  These  are polyethylene  and polypropylene  
3.5 
coated  fabric  
a fabric  coated  on one or both sides  with a suitable  polymer   
2 © EAC 201 9 – All rights  reserved  
 3.6 
degree  of warp  coverage  
a value  expressed  as a percentage  indicating  the extent  to which  a unit area of fabric  is covered  with warp  
tapes  
3.7 
degree  of weft coverage  
a value  expressed  as percentage  indicating  the extent  to which  a unit area of a fabric  is covered  with weft tapes  
3.8 
gusset  
fold inserted in the longitudinal sides of a tube or sack 
3.9 
gusseted sack  
sack manufactured by forming a gusseted tube  
3.10 
flat sack  
block sack made from a flat tube and formed into a block by end foldings  
3.11 
valve depth  
length of the valve batch towards the inside of the valve mouth  
3.11 
valve height  
diameter of the valve mouth  
4 Requirement  
4.1 Materials  
4.1.1  Fabric  
The fabric  shall be woven  from polyolefin  tape yarns  and shall be coated.  The fabric  shall be perforated  
4.1.2  Stitching  thread  
The stitching  thread where required  shall be made  from eithe r polypropylene,  or other  material  provided  they 
are not adversely  affected  by the contents  of the sack or by the expected  climatic  conditions  in transit,  
storage  and use. 
4.2 Dimensions  
The internal  dimensions  of the  bag shall be as specified  in Table  1. 
4.3 Construction  
4.3.1  Sack  
The sack shall be produced  either  from material  woven  as a tube or from flat woven  material  and shall 
have  perforations  as specified  in Table  1.  
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  3 
 4.3.2  Degree  of coverage  
The degree  of warp  or weft coverage  shall not be less than 100. This shall be determined  in accordance  
with Appendix  A of Annex E  
4.3.3  Mass  of the sack  (bag)  
The minimum  mass  of the sack (bag)  shall be as specified  in Table  1. A laminated  bag shall have  a mass  
not less than the sum of the bag proper  and the coating. 
4.3.4  Edge  sealing  
All raw-edges  shall be sealed  to prevent  fraying . 
4.3.5  Base  closure  
4.3.5.1  The base  closure  shall be made  of a welded  joint.  A tubular  fabric  cut from a roll to a 
specified  dimension,  is folded  by a machine,  5 cm on each  side at the base  to form an overlap  of one 
centimetre.  
4.3.5.2  A rectangular  patch  measuring  9.5 cm by 39 cm is pressed  on the overlap  by means  of hot air and 
welded  at the base  to form a strong  joint complying  with the requirements  of clause  4.6. 
4.3.6  Longitudina l seams  
Where  longitudinal  seams  are used,  they shall be either  stitched  or bonded  and shall be such  as to 
ensure  compliance  with the requirements  of 4.5. All longitudinal  seams  shall be along  the edge -fold except  
for bonded  seams  which  shall  be on the back face in the center,  unless  required  to be off-set to accommodate  
printing.  
4.3.6.1  Stitched  seam  
Where  longitudinal  seam  is effected  by a turned  over and stitched  seam,  the turn-over shall be 2 cm 
minimum  and the stitch  line shall be 1 0.3 cm from the outer  edge  of the seam  so formed  and shall pass  
through  all the four thickness  of the material.  
4.3.6.2  Bonded  seam  (longitudinal)  
Where  the longitudinal  seam  is bonded,  the edges  of the material  shall be overlapped  3 cm minimum  
and bonde d with a width  of bond  of 1.5 cm minimum.  The bond  shall be such  as to ensure  compliance  
with the requirements  of 4.6 
4.4 Mouth  
The mouth  of the sack (bag)  shall have  a self-sealing  valve  and of dimensions  specified  in Table  1. The 
mouth  shall be compost  of a welded  joint formed  as in 4.3.5  
4.5 Breaking strength  
The minimum -breaking strength of the fabric shall be as specified in Table 1 . 
4.6 Breaking strength of welded joint (base  closure)  
The minimum -breaking  strength  of welded  joint at the base  and the mouth shall be as specified  in Table  1.  
4 © EAC 201 9 – All rights  reserved  
 4.7 Lamination  
A bag may be made  from a fabric  laminated  on the inner  side.  When  visually  examined,  the lamination  shall be 
even  and uniform.  
Table  1 — Requirements  for polyolefin  cement bag  
Sl No Characteristic  Requi rement,  
50 kg Test method  
i) Dimensions  of bag, cm min. Length  62 Annex C  
Width  50 
ii) Breaking  strength,  N min. Warpway  600  
Weftway  500 
iii) Dimensions  of valve,  cm Length  14.2 ± 0.5 Annex C  
Width  10 ± 0.5 
iv) Number  of perforations/cm  Warpway  3 ± 1 Annex  A 
Weftway  3 ± 1 
v) Joint  strength,  N min. 450 Annex  B 
vi) Total  mass  of bag , g, min. 80 ISO 3801  
vii) Total  mass  of sacking,  g/m²,  min. 90 ISO 3801  
a For gusseted sacks,  Length and width shall have a gusset of 11 cm . 
 
bThe speed  of 200 mm/min shall be used.  
 
5 Packaging  
The sack  (bags)  shall be packed  in bales  of the agreed  quantity.  The bales  shall be securely  bound.  
6 Marking  
6.1 Marking  on each  sack  (bag)  
Each bag shall have an identification mark . 
6.2 Marking  on each  bale 
The following  information  shall be marked  on each  bale:  
a) manufacturer’s  name  and/or  registered  trade  mark  if any; 
b) the inscription  ‘Polyolefin  bags  for cement  of mass  50 kg'; 
c) number  of pieces  in the bale;  
d) batch  number/bale  number;  
e) country  of manufacture; and  
f) contract  mass  in kg  
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  5 
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Determination of number of perforations per centimetre  
A.1 Principle  
The number  of perforations  on a specified  area of a polyolefin  fabric  and visible  within  the aperture  of 
a standard -counting  glass  are counted  and recorded  
A.2 Apparatus  
A.2.2  Counting glass, aperture width shall be 2 ± 0.005 cm.  
A.2.3  Flat bench  
A.3 Procedure  
Lay on a flat bench the fabric (A.2.2) and place the counting glass on the fabric so that one of the edges of its 
aperture is parallel to the weft tapes, count the number of perforations along the weft tapes. Repeat with one 
of the edges parallel to the warp tapes in a similar manner. For both warp way and weft directions, make five 
determinations each . 
A.4 Calculation  
Calculate  the mean  number  of perforations  per centimeter  for each  direction.  The number  of perforations  
per square  centimeter  is given  by the product  of the mean  perforations  of warp  way and weft way. 
A.5 Report  
Report  the value  calculated  in Clause  A.4 as the number  of perforation s per cm or square  cm  
6 © EAC 201 9 – All rights  reserved  
 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Determination of weld joint strength  
B.1 Principle  
A specimen  of the weld joint is subjected to a  tensile force  on a tensile testing machine  and the resultant  force  
is recorded  
B.2 Apparatus  
B.2.1  Tensile  testing  machine  
B.2.2  Metre  rule 
B.2.3 Pair of scissors  
B.3 Test Specimens  
Cut two specimens  perpendicular  to the line of the weld,  of 50 mm by 350 mm from the base  of the 
bag incorporating  the weld joint.  
B.4 Procedure  
Test the weld joint strength  in accordance  with ISO 13934 -1  
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  7 
 Annex  C 
(normative)  
 
Dimensions  of bag 
Spread each bag on flat surface so that there are no creases or folds.  
C.1 Outside Dimensions – Two Dimensional Bag.  
C.1.1  Outside Length  — Measure the outside length of each bag to the nearest 0.1 cm in six different 
places (Three on the face and three on the back), from the bottom fold -line to the mouth, using a rule or tape 
measure graduated in centimetres.  
The outside length of each bag is the average (arithmetic mean) of the six readings.  
C.1.2  Outside Width  — Measure the outside width of each bag to the nearest 0.1 cm in six different places 
(three on the face and three on the back) from the edge of one side seam to the edge of the other seam or 
fold-line (in case there is only one side seam), usin g a rule or tape m easure graduated in centimetres  
The outside width of each bag is the average (arithmetic mean) of the six readings.  
C.2 Inside Dimensions — Two Dimensional Bag — Turn each bag inside out.  Spread each bag on a flat 
surface so that there a re no creases or wrinkles.  
C.2.1   Inside Length  — Fold the bag into half, from side to side and measure the length from the mouth to 
the stitching along the fold so formed, to the nearest 0.1 cm.  Repeat the procedure for the other side of the 
bag and calc ulate the average inside length for each bag from the two readings.  
C.2.2   Inside width — Fold the bag into half, from top to bottom and measure the width from the folded side 
to the stitching along the fold so formed, to the nearest 0.1 cm.  Repeat the pr ocedure for the other side of the 
bag and calculate the average inside width of each bag from the two readings.  
C.3  Outside Dimensions – Three Dimensional Bag — Lay each bag on a flat surface.  Fold the bottom 
of the bag and the two side -widths so that th e bag assumes a flat two -dimensional state with the four corners 
of the bottom part lying on the same line and the two handles lying one on top of the other.  Ensure that the 
side fold -lines so formed are in line and parallel to each other.  
C.3.1  Outside L ength  — Measure the outside length of each bag to the nearest 0.1 cm in six different 
places (three on the face and three on the back) from the edge of one side seam (or fold line so formed as 
described above) to the other side -seam or fold -line, using a r ule or tape mea sure graduated in centimetres.  
The outside length of each bag is the average (arithmetic mean) of the six readings.  
C.3.2  Outside Width  — Measure the outside width of each bag to the nearest 0.1 cm in six different places 
(three on one side and three on the other side) from the ‘inside pocket’ fold -line to the edge of the side -seam 
or side fold -line, using a rule or tape mea sure graduated in centimetres.  
The outside width of each bag is the average (arithmetic mean) of the six readings multip lied by two.  
C.3.3  Depth  — Measure the depth of each bag to the nearest 0.1 cm in six different places (two on each 
side) from the bottom stitch -line to the mouth, using a rule or tape measure graduated in centimetres.  
The depth of each bag is the average (arithmetic mean) of the six readings.  
C.4 Handle Dimensions — Lay the bag on a flat table, ensuring that there are no wrinkles.   
8 © EAC 201 9 – All rights  reserved  
 C.4.1  Span of the handle  — Measure the span of each handle to the nearest 0.1 cm, using a rule or tape 
measure graduated in cen timetres.  Repeat the same procedure for the handle on the other side of the bag.  
The span of the handle for each bag is the average for the two readings.  
C.4.2  Height of the Handle loop  — With the specimen lying on a flat table without folds or wrinkles a nd the 
handle under no tension, measure the height of the handle loop to the nearest 0.1 cm from the mid -point of 
the handle -span to the appex of the loop.  Repeat the procedure for the handle on the other side of the bag.  
The height of the handle loop for  each bag is the average of the two readings.  
 
  
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  9 
 Annex  D  
(normative)  
 
Total  mass  of bag  
Determine the mass of each bag in the test sample to the nearest 1.0 g, using a weighing balance 
measuring to an accuracy of 0.1 g.  Calculate the average mass of a ba g. Denote this by ‘M’ . 
D.1 CONTRACT MASS OF A BALE  
Calculate the contract mass of a bale using the following formula:  
  CM = M’ x N 
 
where,  
 
CM = contract mass of a bale  
M’ = nominal mass of a bag.  
N = total number of bags in the bale (test result from 3.3). 
D.2 CORRECT MASS OF BALE  
Calculate the correct mass of a bale using the formula  
  CB  =  N x M (100 + RA)  
   (100 + R)  
where,  
  CB = correct mass of a bale  
  N = total number of bags in a bale (test result 3.3) 
  M  = average mass of a bag (test result 6) 
  R  = average moisture regain in a bag (test result from 13) 
  RA = recommended moisture allowance  
  
10 © EAC 201 9 – All rights  reserved  
 Annex  E 
(normative)  
 
degree  of warp  or weft coverage   
E.1 Mark out separately five distinct spaces (areas), each measuring 20 cm x 20 cm, on each sample  of 
wrapping cloth.  
E.2 Count the number of warp tapes within each space (area).  Denote this by ‘N’.  
E.3 Count also the number of weft tapes within each space (area) and denote this by ‘ n’. 
E.4 Remove ten (10) warp tapes form each sample and measure the w idth of each tape to the nearest 0.10 
mm.  Calculate the mean warp tape width and denote this by ‘ a’. 
E.5 Remove also ten (10) weft tapes form each sample and measure the width for each tape to the nearest 
0.10 mm.  Calculate the mean weft tape width and d enote the by ‘ b’ mm. 
E.6 Determine the degree of warp coverage ‘ Kp’ and weft covering Kf as follow:  
E.6.1 Kp = 1/5 ( Kp1 + Kp2 + Kp3 + Kp4 + Kp5) 
 where,  
  Kp =    Degree of warp coverage for the sample and  
Kp1 Kp2 …Kp5 = Degree of warp coverage for each ma rked space (area).  
  Kpt = 0.5 Na  
 where,  
  t  = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  
  a  = mean warp tape width in mm and   
  N  =  Number of  warp tapes/20 cm.  
 
E.6.2 (Kf1 = 1/5 ( Kf1 + Kf2 + Kf3 + Kf4 + Kf5) 
 where,  
  Kf   =  Degree of weft coverage for the sample and  
Kf1, Kf2 …Kf5 = Degree of weft coverage for each marked space (area).  
  Kft  =  0.5 nb 
 where,  
   t   =  1, 2, 3, 4, 5,  
  n   =  number of weft tapes/20 cm, and  
  b   =  mean tape width in mm.  DEAS 972: 201 9   
 
© EAC 201 9 – All rights  reserved