TDC3 (6083)  P3 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Textiles – Masai Shuka  – Specifications  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 
  
Textile – Masai Shuka  – Specification  
Foreword  
This 2nd edition Draft Tanzania Standard  is issued to help manufacturers to come up with products of 
defined quality.  
 In the preparation of this Tanzania standard assistance was derived from:   
a) Local Manufacturers.  
b) BS 4766: 1976 - Dimensions of sheets for domestic beddin g, published by the British 
Standards Institution.   
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition TZS 1354 Textiles – Masai Shuka Specifications.  
   
2 
 Textiles – Masai shuka specifications.  
1 Scope  
 
This Draft Tanzania Standard  describes the constructional details and requirements of Masai  shuka.  
 
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.  
TZS 4 , Rounding off numerical values.   
TZS 20 , Textiles: Woven fabrics Determination of the number of threads per unit length.   
TZS 21 , Textiles: Woven or knitt ed fabrics - Determination of mass per unit length and per unit 
area.   
TZS 22 , Textiles: Woven fabrics Determination of breaking load and extension.   
TZS 23 , Textiles: Tests for colour fastness, - Colour fastness to light: Xenon arc.   
TZS 24 , Textiles: Tests for colour fastness - Colour fastness to washing: Test 4.   
TZS 26 , Textiles: Determination of conductivity, pH, water -soluble matter,  
chloride and sulphate in aqueous extracts.   
TZS 40 , Textiles: Tests for colour fastness - Colour fastn ess to light: Daylight.   
TZS 44 , Textiles: Woven or knitted fabrics - Determination of length and width.   
TZS 137 , Textiles: Determination of dimensional change of woven and knitted fabrics and 
garments: Machine method.    
TZS 138 , Textiles: Test for col our fastness to rubbing.   
TZS 139 , Textiles: Determination of the linear density of yarn removed from fabric free from added 
matter.   
3  Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this Draft Tanzania Standard , the following definitions will apply.  
3.1 Shuka:  Swahili  word for bedding material i.e. a rectangular piece of fabric used for covering mattress 
or human body while sleeping  
3.2 Masai Shuka : rectangular woven piece of fabric used by Masai as a bedding material as well as a 
garment   
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 4 Manufacture  
4.1 Yarn   
The yarn used in the manufacture of Masai shuka shall be of the required quality to ensure that the cloth 
complies with the requirements of this Draft Tanzania Standard . The approximate, count of warp and weft 
yarn is given in Table 1.   
4.2 Shuka  
4.2.1 Fibre yarns used in the manufacture of Masai shuka shall be woven in plain weave.   
4.2.2 The Masai  shuka shall be free from dressing and filling materials and from substances liable to cause 
subsequent tendering.  
4.2.3  Each traverse end of the Masai shuka shall be hemmed to a depth of not less than 20mm, the raw 
edges having a turn in of 7mm before the' hem is formed. The stitching shall be firm and regular. The 
hemming shall be uniform throughout and pressed flat.  
5      REQUIREMENTS  
5.1   Construction   
5.1.1 The cloth shall comply with the requirements in Table 1 .   
5.2   Sizes   
5.2.1 TheMasai shuka dimension when finished shall be as specified in table 1  
5.3    Colour fastness   
5.3.1  The colour fastness of the printed and dyed clot h shall be in accordance with the r equirements 
specified in Table 1 .   
5.4 Other requirements of the Masai shuka  shall be as given in Table 1 .   
5.5   Sealed Sample  
5.5.1  Specification of sealed sample shall conform to types of finish, general appearance, texture, shades 
and colours in Masai shuka as per sample supply agreement.  
5.5.2  The custody of the sealed sample shall be a matter of prior agreement between the buyer and the 
manufacturer.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
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 Table 1 – Requirements for Masai  shuka  
SN  Characteristics  Requirements  Test methods  
1  Dimensions, min  
• Width in cm  
• Length in cm   
150  
204  TZS 44  
 
 
 
 2   Colour fastness, min  
• Washing  
• Rubbing  
• Light   
  
4  
4 
6  
TZS 24  
TZS 138  
TZS 23  
  3    % Shrinkage:   
 Warp way  
 Weft way  
  
0.5%  
0.75%   
 TZS 26  
 
4 Count of yarn (approx.) in tex or metric count (Nm) or yarn 
count (Ne) see note 1)  
 Warp way  
 Weft way  
  
 
2/32 
2/32 TZS 139  
(See clause 2)  
5 Number of yarns per centimetres  
 Ends/cm  
 Ends/cm   
13±1  
11±1  TZS  20  
6 Mass/m2  in grams  170 TZS 21  
7 Breaking load on 50 × 200mm strip in Newton (N) Min.  
 Warp way  
 Weft way   
 
363 
308  
TZS 22  
 
NOTES 1.  
i) To convert metric count (Nm) to universal count, in tex , divide 1000 by the metric count and to convert yarn count 
(Ne) to tex, divide 590.5 by the yarn count.   
ii) Ends, picks, mass and breaking load specified, relate to the specific state of finish in which the Masai shuka are 
delivered.   
iii) The Sl unit for force  is the Newton. A force of 1 Newton (1 N) is approximately equal to the load effect of 0.1 kg.   
iv) Length and width specified, related to body Length and width relate to the specific state of finish in which the fabric 
is delivered  
  
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 6     MARKING  
6.1 The Masai shuka shall be marked at one end with the following:   
a) Name of the material;   
b) Manufacturer's name, and or supplier’s name, initials or trade mark;   
c) Design number;   
d) Width and length of the piece.   
6.2 The Masai shuka may also be marked with the TBS Standards Mark.   
NOTE  2  
The ‘tbs’ standards mark may be used by manufacturer only under licence from TBS. Particulars of 
conditions under which the licences are granted may be obtained from TBS.   
7         PACKING  
 The Masai shuka shall be 'packed in polyethylene bags, bales or cases.  
 
8        SAMPLING   
8.1Lot  
The quantity of Masai shuka of the same type and quality delivered to one buyer against one dispatch 
note shall constitute a lot.   
8.2 The conformity of the lot to the requirements of this standard shall be determined on the basis of tests 
carried out on the samples selected from the lot.   
Table 2  – Sample size and criteria for conformity  
Number of  
pieces in the  
lot  Sample size (No. of 
pieces to be 
selected)  Permissible No. of  
Non -conforming 
pieces  Sub –sample size (No.  
of pieces to be 
selected)  
Up to 100  
101 to 300  
301 to 500  
501 to 800  
801 to 1300  
1301 and above  10  
15  
25  
35  
50  
75  0  
1  
1  
2  
3  
4  5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
 
8.3 Unless otherwise agreed upon between the buyer and the manufacturer, the number of pieces to be 
selected at random from a lot shall be in accordance with the second column of Table 3. These pieces shall  
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 be selected from at least 10 per cent of the bale, an equal number of pieces as far as possible, being at 
random from each bale.   
8.4 For evaluating (a) ends and picks, (b) mass, (c) width and length, the sample selected, as in the second 
column of Table 3 shall constitute the sample.   
8.5 The number of pieces specified in the fourth column of Table 3 shall constitute the test sample for 
evaluating the following:   
a) Breaking load;   
b) Colour fastness to:   
1) Washing;   
2) Light  
3) Rubbing;  
c) Shrinkage or elongation in %   
These pieces may be drawn from the pieces selected for the purpose of 8.4  
8.6 Criteria for conformity   
The lot shall be considered to be in conformity with the requirements of this standard, if the following 
conditions are satisfied :   
a) The number of non -conforming pieces with respect to:   
1) Ends and picks   
2) Mass/m2 
3) Width and length of the pieces, does not exceed the corresponding number given in 
the third column of Table 3.   
b) From the observed values of the breaking load tests in respect of each piece in the test sample, the 
average breaking load value is calculated. From all such  average values, the grand average ( ) and 
the average range ( R )is calculated and the value of t he expression  -O.4R 1is found to be greater 
than or equal to the specified value.  
c) From the observed values of shrinkage the average (  ) and the range ( R ) are calculated and the value 
of the expression  + OAR is less than or equal to the specified valu e.  
d) From the observed pH values, the average ( ) and  the range ( R) are calculated and the value of the 
expression  +0.4R and  - O.4R lies within the specified limits.  
NOTE 3  
i Average (  )  is the value obtained by dividing the sum of the observed values by the number of 
tests.  
ii Range ( R) is the difference between the maximum and the minimum in a set of observed values.