DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  
  DUS 1608  
First Edition  
2015 -mm-dd 
 
 
 Reference number  
DUS 1608 : 2015 
© UNBS 2015   
  
Men's, women's and children’s  leather belts — Specifications  
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEWDUS 1608: 2015  
ii © UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 2007  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from UNBS. 
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The Executive Director 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
P.O. Box 6329 
Kampala 
Uganda 
Tel: 256 414 505 995 
Fax: 256 414 286 123 
E-mail: unbs@infocom.co.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEWDUS 1608: 2015  
© UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and 
Industry established under Cap 327, of the Laws of Uganda.  UNBS is mandated to co-ordinate the 
elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT/SPS Agreements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academicians, manufacturers, government and other stakeholders. 
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEWDRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEWUGANDA STANDARD  DUS 1608: 2015  
 
© UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  1 
 Men's, women's and children’s  leather belts — Specifications 
1 Scope 
This draft Uganda standard specifies the requirements for the materials, basic design, size and construction of 
lined, unlined and reversible men's, women's and children’s  leather belts. 
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. 
ISO 11640 , Leather — Tests for colour fastness — Colour fastness to cycles of to- and-fro rubbing 
ISO 11644,  Leather — Test for adhesion of finish 
ISO 2419 , Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Sample preparation and conditioning 
ISO 3376:2011 , Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Determination of tensile strength and 
percentage extension  
ISO 3380 , Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Determination of shrinkage temperature up to 100 
degrees C 
ISO 4045 , Leather — Chemical tests — Determination of pH 
ISO 4048 , Leather — Chemical tests — Determination of matter soluble in dichloromethane and free fatty acid 
content 
ISO 4684 , Leather — Chemical tests — Determination of volatile matter 
ISO 5402- 1, Leather — Determination of flex resistance — Part 1: Flexometer method  
US 984-1 , Textiles — Sewing threads — Part 1: Sewing thread made wholly or partly from synthetic fibre s — 
Specification 
US ISO 4915 , Textiles — Stitch types — Classification and terminology 
US ISO 4916 , Textiles — Seam types — Classification and terminology 
 
3 Terms and definitions 
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions shall apply. DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEW 
2 © UNBS  2015  – All rights reserved  
 3.1  
bovine hide 
a general term for the depilated hide from a bovine animal, usually mature, and of any breed. 
3.2 
bovine leather 
leather made from the hide or skin of a mature bovine animal. 
3.3 
Calfskin   
a tanned skin from a young bovine animal. 
3.4 
exotic leather 
leather made from the skin of game, reptiles, birds, fish or other exotic species. 
3.5 
glacé kid 
chrome- tanned leather made from kidskin or goatskin, finished to a smooth, glossy finish.  
3.6 
goat skin 
a tanned skin from a goat. 
3.7 
inorganic tanned leather 
leather tanned with an inorganic tanning agent (or agents) and that may have been re-tanned with an  
inorganic or an organic tanning agent (or agents).  
3.8 
kid 
chrome- tanned leather made from kidskin or goatskin.  
3.9 
organic tanned leath er 
leather tanned with an organic tanning agent (or agents) and that may have been re-tanned with an organic or  
an inorganic tanning agent (or agents).  
3.10 
Pigskin  
a tanned skin from a pig. 
3.11 
split 
leather made from the flesh layer of a bovine hide and that has been finished as suede or with an acceptable  
synthetic coating.  
3.12 
suede 
leather buffed to an even nap on the flesh side and used with this side outwards 
3.13 
acceptable 
acceptable to the parties concluding the purchase contract, but in relation to the standardization mark and to 
inspections carried out by the Bureau, acceptable to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEWDUS 1608: 2015 
© UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  3 
 4 Material requirements  
4.1 Leather 
4.1.1  The leather shall be bovine leather, split, calfskin, goatskin, kid, glacé kid, pigskin or exotic leather, as 
required. 
4.1.2 The colour and finish of the leather shall be an acceptable match to the colour and finish required. 
4.1.3 The leather shall be well tanned and of acceptable quality. It shall be free from defects that affect its 
appearance or that may affect its serviceability (or both); it shall not be pipy or loose grained and it shall be 
well fleshed and free from flay marks. 
4.1.4 The leather shall, when tested in accordance with the relevant methods given in column 3 of table 1, 
comply with the physical and chemical requirements given in column 2 of table 1 
Table 1 - Physical and chemical requirements for leather 
Property  Requirement s Test method s 
Shrinkage temperature (°C), min.  
Inorganic tanned leather  
Organic tanned leat her  
100  
75 ISO 3380  
Grease content (moisture -free basis), 
% 3.0 to 12 .0 ISO 4048  and ISO 4684  
pH value, min.  3.3 ISO 4045  
Colour fastness ( Resistance to wet 
and dry rubbing after 50 rubs ), 
Grain side (all leather ), permissible 
colour change rating  
Flesh side (leather for the  A type 
only), permissible colour transfer rating   
 
4 
 
4 ISO 11640  
Adhesion of finish, N, min.  
Dry 
Wet  
3.5 
2 ISO 11644  
Flex endurance (flexometer), after 
10,000 cycles  Only fine cracks in the finish are 
permitted  ISO 5402 -1 
Breaking strength, N, min  400 ISO 3376  
4.2 Sewing threads 
The threads shall be glacé cotton, polyester, polyamide, cotton-and-polyester, core-spun cotton-and 
polyamide or linen threads, and shall comply with the relevant requirements of US 984-1. The colour of the 
threads shall be uniform and, unless a contrasting colour is an intended feature, shall acceptably match that of 
the leather with which they are used. The colour of thread used for any seam of contrasting colour shall be as 
required. 
4.3 Metal components 
4.3.1 General 
All metal components, whether functional or decorative, shall be of an intrinsically corrosion-resistant metal or 
shall have been so coated as to render them resistant to corrosion. They shall be of adequate size and DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEW 
4 © UNBS  2015  – All rights reserved  
 strength for their intended function. Their design shall be such that, when closed, no sharp edges, prongs or 
decorative shapes protrude. 
4.3.2 Buckles 
Buckles may have one or more prongs, or may be of the plain or roller type, or be slide buckles. The width of 
a buckle shall be such as to ensure an acceptable fit with the belt to which it is attached. 
4.3.3 Closure fittings 
Spring-loaded closure fittings or clasps, when relevant, shall be as required, but shall be of acceptable design. 
4.3.4 Press studs 
Press studs shall be of the male and female type and shall have a tenacious grip. 
4.3.5 Rivets 
Rivets shall be of one of the following types: 
a) tubular rivets with caps; 
b) bifurcated rivets with caps; 
c) solid copper rivets with caps; or 
d) ribbed nails with locking washers. 
5 Design and construction requirements 
5.1 General 
The constructed belts shall conform to the sample held and approved by the South African Bureau of 
Standards. 
5.2 Type, design and size of belts 
5.2.1  Type 
The belts shall be of one of the following types (or acceptable modifications of these types), as required: 
a) type A: belts of leather and of unlined construction, incorporating a buckle or a closure fitting; 
b) type B: belts of leather and lined with leather, incorporating a buckle or a closure fitting; or 
c) type C: belts of reversible construction, incorporating a buckle or a closure fitting. 
5.2.2  Design 
The design of the belts shall be as required, and shall be such as to be technically acceptable. DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEWDUS 1608: 2015 
© UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  5 
 5.2.3  Sizes 
5.2.3.1 Adult belts shall be supplied in sizes of 87 cm, 92 cm, 97 cm, 102 cm and 107 cm or in other sizes, 
as the purchaser may require. 
5.2.3.2 Children belts shall be supplied in sizes as given in table 2 or in other sizes, as the purchaser may 
require. 
5.2.3.3 The sizes shall be determined by measuring the belt from the centre buckle hole to the buckle edge 
of the belt. 
Table 2: Sizes of children belts 
Category  Sizes  
Inches  Cm 
Extra small  Up to  20 Up to 50  
Small  21 – 24  53 – 60  
Medium  25 – 27  63 – 68  
Large  28 – 29  71 – 73  
Extra large  30 – 32  76 – 81  
Note   Unit conversion: 1 inch = 2.54 cm  
5.3 Construction 
5.3.1  Lining and interlining 
5.3.1.1 Belts of type B shall be lined with leather that complies with the requirements of 4.1.4 
5.3.1.2 Belts of type B and of type C may be interlined with fabric or other acceptable interlining material. 
5.3.2  Strength of belts 
Finished belts, when tested in accordance with ISO 3376 shall have a breaking strength of at least 400 N. 
5.3.3  Riveting 
All rivets shall be securely and neatly attached and of sufficient length to allow the caps to be firmly clinched. 
5.4 Stitches, seams and stitching 
5.4.1  General 
All sewing shall be in accordance with US ISO 4915 and US ISO 4916. 
5.4.2  Stitches 
All functional stitches shall be of stitch types 101, 301, 304 or 308 of US ISO 4915 and the number of stitches 
shall be 6 to 10 per 25 mm. 
5.4.3  Seams 
Seams shall be free from twists, pleats and puckers. The seam allowances shall be subject to the tolerances 
normal to good manufacturing practice. DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEW 
6 © UNBS  2015  – All rights reserved  
 5.4.4  Stitching 
Stitching may be functional or decorative (or both). In no instance shall the number of stitches per unit length 
be of such frequency as to impair or appreciably reduce the strength of the material being stitched. 
The ends of all stitched seams shall be back-stitched and free from loose threads. 
5.5 Workmanship and finish 
Workmanship and finish shall be in accordance with sound trade practice. Belts shall be clean, well made, and 
free from any defects that affect their appearance or that may affect their serviceability (or both). 
Sewing shall be uniform, and double rows of stitching shall be uniform unless intended to be otherwise. 
6 Marking and packaging 
6.1 Marking 
6.1.1  Belts 
Each belt shall be neatly, legibly and indelibly marked with the following information: 
a) the m anufacturer's name, trade name or trade mark; 
b) the batch identification;  
c) the size; 
d) type of material, and; 
e) country of origin. 
6.1.2  Bulk containers 
The following information shall appear in neat, legible and indelible marking on the outside of each bulk 
container: 
a) the manufacturer's name, trade name or trade mark; 
b) the type of design; 
c) the colour; and 
d) the quantity, and; 
e) country of origin. 
6.1.3  Additional marking 
When so required by the purchaser, belts or bulk containers (or both) shall bear information additional to that 
specified in 6.1.1 and 6.1.2. 
6.2 Packaging 
The belts shall be packed in individual bags made of suitable material and then so packed, in suitable bulk 
containers, as to protect them from damage during transportation and storage. DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEWDUS 1608: 2015 
© UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  7 
 7 Methods of test 
7.1 Conditioning of test specimens, and test conditions 
Prepare and condition the test specimens in accordance with ISO 2419, and conduct the physical tests 
without removing the specimens from the conditioned atmosphere. 
7.3 Grease content 
Use ISO 4048 , but express the results on a moisture-free basis, using ISO 4684 to determine the  moisture 
content.  
7.8 Breaking strength of belts 
Use ISO 3376, but use a completed belt of full width and thickness. The belt shall be buckled (closed). Clamp 
the belt 100 mm from each side of the closure in the jaws of the tensile testing machine. Operate the machine 
until a force of 400 N is applied. Report only the force at which rupture occurs (and the nature of the rupture), 
or that the specimen did not rupture. DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEW 
8 © UNBS  2015  – All rights reserved  
 Bibliography 
[1] SABS 1540, Specifications – Men's and women's leather belts 
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD ON PUBLIC REVIEWDUS 1608: 2015 
© UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  9 
 Certification marking 
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conjunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
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