© KEBS 2020  Second Edition 2020   
 KENYA STANDARD                                   DKS 2720 :2020  
ICS 59.080.30 
 
 
APPROVED 
2017 -07-06 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-woven disposable wet wipes — 
Specificationii © KEBS 2020 — All rights reserved  
 DKS 2720 :2020  
 
 
 
 
TECH NICAL COM MITTEE REPRESEN TATION 
The following organizations were  represented on the Technical Committee: 
Nursing Council of Kenya 
Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) 
Kenya Medical Association 
National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) 
Kenya Medical Supplies Authority 
Radbone Clark 
Procter and Gamble 
Kimberly Clark 
Marvel Five Investments Ltd. 
InterConsumer Prod ucts Ltd. 
KIM FAY East Africa Ltd. 
Chalange Industries 
Consu mer Information Network  
The Nairobi Hospital 
Nairobi Enterprises 
Ministry of He alth — Public Health Department 
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REVISION OF KENYA  STANDARDS 
 
In order  to keep abreast of progre ss in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed.  Suggestions 
for improvements to published standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, 
are welcome. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© Kenya Bureau of Standards , 2017 
 
Copyright. Users are reminded that by virtue of Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130 of 2001  of the Laws of Kenya, copy right 
subsists in all Kenya Standard s and except as provided unde r Section 25 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produ ced by Kenya Bureau of 
Standard s may be reprodu ced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in writing 
from the Managing Director.© KEBS 2020 — All rights reserved iii  
 KENYA STANDARD                                            DKS 2720 :2020 
ICS 59.080.30 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-woven disposable wet wipes — 
Specification 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KENYA BUREAU  OF STANDA RDS (KEBS) 
 
Head  Office: P.O. Box 54974, Nairobi-00200, Tel.: (+254 020) 605490, 602350, Fax: (+254 020)  604031 
E-Mail: info@kebs.org, Web:http://www. kebs.org 
 
Coast Region Lake Region Rift V alley Region 
P.O. Box 99376 , Mombas a-80100 P.O. Box 2949 , Kisumu-40100 P.O. Box 2138 , Nakuru-20100 
Tel.: (+254 041) 229563, 230939/40 
Fax: (+254  041) 229448 Tel.: (+254 057) 23549, 22396 
Fax: (+254 057) 21814 Tel.: (+254 051) 210553, 21055 5 iv © KEBS 2020 — All rights reserved  
 KS 2720 :2017  
 
Foreword 
 
This  Kenya  Standard  was  prepared  by  the  Towels, Medical and  Hygienic  Textile  Products  Technical 
Committee under the guidance of the Standards Projects Committee and it is in accordance  with the 
procedures of the Kenya Bureau  of Standards. 
 
This standard contains tables of section proper ties and dimensions of cold rolled steel sections which are 
available in Kenya. 
 
Non-woven disposable wet wipes are generally used for cleaning purposes. 
 
During the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following document: 
SANS 1245: 2012 Edition 1, Non-woven cleaning wipes. 
Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assistance derived  from th is source. 
 KENYA STANDARD                                                                  DKS 2720:2020  
 
 
 
 
Non-woven disposable wet wipes — Specification 
 
 
 
1        Scope 
 
This Kenya Standard specifies minimum requirements for non-woven disposable wet wipes. 
This standard does not apply to swabs. 
2        Normat ive 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 latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. 
 
KS 2659, Packaging of textile products — Code of practice 
 
KS EAS 96, Sanitary towels — Specification 
 
KS ISO 139, Textiles — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing 
 
KS ISO 3071, Textiles — Determination of pH of aqueous extra ct 
 
KS ISO 9073-1, Textiles — Test methods for nonwov ens Part 1: Determination of mass per unit area 
 
KS ISO 9073-18, Textiles — Test methods for nonwovens Part 18: Determination of breaking strength and 
elongation of nonwoven materials using the grab tensile test 
 
KS ISO 1833-1, Textiles — Quantitative chemical analysis Part 1: General principles of testing 
 
KS ISO 18416, Cosmetics — Microbiology — Detection of Candida albicans 
 
KS ISO 20743, Textiles — Determination of antibacterial activity of textile products 
 
KS ISO 21149, Cosmetics — Microbiology — Enumeration and detection of aerobic mesophilic bacteria 
 
KS ISO 21150, Cosmetics — Microbiology — Detection of Escherichia coli 
 
KS ISO 22717, Cosmetics — Microbiology — Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 
 
KS ISO 22718, Cosmetics — Microbiology — Detection of Staphylococcus aureus 
 
3        Definitions  
 
For the purposes of this standard, the following definitions apply. 
 
3.1 
abso rbency time 
rate at which a liquid is dispersed into the non-woven disposable wet wipe 
 
 
© KEBS 2020 — All rights reserved                                                                                                                  1 
 DKS 2720 :2020  
 
3.2 
acceptable 
acceptable to the authority administering this standard, or to the parties concluding the purchase 
contract, as relevant 
 
3.3 
length of piece  
distance between the beginning and the end of the sample in the lengthwise or machine direction 
 
3.4 
overall width of piece  
distance between the outermost edges of the sample measured perpendicular to the longitudinal edges 
 
3.5 
usable width of piece  
width of the fabric excluding any selvedge materials, marks, pin-holes or other non-homogeneous areas of 
the fabric. 
 
3.6 
non woven 
structures  of textile materials, such as fibres, continuous filaments, or chopped yarns of any nature or origin, 
that have been formed into webs by any means, and bonded together by any means, excluding the interlacing 
of yarns as in woven fabric, knitted fabric, laces, braided fabric or tufted fabric 
 
NOTE 1   Film and pape r structures are not considered as nonwoven s. 
 
NOTE 2    For some end uses or specifications, the usable width may be defined different ly, as agree d between the interested parties. 
 
4        Requir ements 
 
4.1      General 
 
Non-woven disposable wet wipes shall 
 
a)         be in accordance with good manufacturing practices 
b)         be of a non-woven construction, 
c)         be of acceptable uniform make and finish, 
 
d)         be free from defects that might impair their appearance or serviceability (or both). 
 
4.2      Requirements for non-woven wet wipes 
 
Non-woven hygienic wet wipes shall comply with the requirements given in Table 1. 
 
Table 1 — Requirements for non-woven wet wipes 
 
S/N Characteristic Unit Requirement Test method 
i) Fibre composition % A blend of at least 20 
% cellulose and the 
remaining 
percentage of   upto 
80  %  manmade  (or 
synthetic fibres) KS ISO 1833-1 
ii) Size Length mm As   declared   on   the 
label Annex B 
2                                                                                                                   © KEBS 2020— All rights reserved 
  
S/N Characteristic Unit Requirement Test method 
i) Fibre composition % A blend of at 
least 20 
% cellulose and 
the remaining 
percentage  of   
upto 
80  %  manmade  
(or synthetic 
fibres) KS ISO 1833-1 
ii) Size Length  
mm As  declared  on  
the 
label  
Annex B 
Width As  declared  on  
the label 
iii) Mass per unit area Total length  
g/m2, 
min.         36 KS ISO 9073-1 
Total width 
Mass piece 
iv) Breaking strength Machine 
Direction-Wet N, min.         30 KS ISO 9073-18 
Cross 
Direction -Wet N, min.  
        2.5 
v) Absorbency            time 
(max)(for manufacturer)  seconds 5 Annex A 
vi) pH   4.6 – 8.0 KS ISO 3071 
vii) Moisture content  % Above 50% Annex C 
viii) Anti-bacterial activity (if 
declared) minimum  Anti- 
bacterial 
activity 
value (A) 2 KS ISO 20743 
ix) Total viable count  cfu/g 1
0
0 KS ISO 21149 
x) Pseudomonas 
aeruginosa  cfu/g Not   detectable   
per 
gram  of sample KS ISO 22717 
xi) Staphylococcus aureus   cfu/g Not   detectable   
per 
gram  of sample KS ISO 22718 
xii) Candida albicans  cfu/g Not   detectable   
per 
gram  of sample KS ISO 18416 
xiii) Eschirichia coli  cfu/g Not   detectable   
per 
gram  of sample KS ISO 21150 
xiv) Number of wipes  pcs As declared Sensory 
xv) Flushability    KS EAS 96 
 
 
5        Test methods 
 
5.1      Conditioning 
 
Condition the test samples in accordance with KS ISO 139. 
 
5.2      Fibre  compo sition 
 
Use KS ISO 1833-1. Check for compliance with Table 1. 
 
 
 
 
 
3                                                                                                                   © KEBS 2020— All rights reserved© KEBS 2020 — All rights reserved 5  
 5.3      Size 
 
Check  Annex B. 
 
5.4      Mass per unit area  
 
KS ISO 9073-1. Check for compliance with Table 1. 
 
5.5     Breaking strength, wet 
 
Use KS ISO 9073-18, but immerse each sample before testing for at least 60 s in distilled water and test 
each specimen immediately after removal from the water. Check  for compliance with Table 1. 
 
6        Packaging and marking 
 
6.1       Packaging 
 
Non woven disposable wet wipes shall be packaged according to KS 2659. 
 
6.1.1      The  wipes  shall  be  packed in  a  suitable  package that  shall  protect them  from  any form  of 
contamination and damage. 
 
6.1.2    The primary pack seal shall be secure and allow resealing as many times as possible ensuring wet 
wipe is not dry. 
 
6.1.3    Shall be delivered in a clean and commercially dry condition. 
 
6.1.4   Only non-woven wet wipes of the same size shall be packed together in secondary package. 
 
6.2      Marking 
 
6.2.1    The primary packs shall be marked with  legible and indelible pre-printed marking bearing the 
following information: 
 
a)         Manufacturer’s name, address and/or trade mark; 
b)         Importer/distributors name, address (if applicable); 
c)         number of wipes in a pack; 
d)         Intended use e.g. baby, adult, facial, skin; 
 
e)         Size of wipe in the pack; 
 
f)          Ingredients “fibre content” or “material content”; 
 
g)         Instruction for use, storage and disposal; 
 
h)         Country of origin; 
 
i)          Date  of manufacture and expiry; or best before; 
 
j)          Batch number; and 
 
k)         Each package shall have the relevant quality mark. 
 
6.2.2    Secondary packaging 
 
The outside of each secondary package shall bear the following information in legible and indelible marking: 
 
a)         The manufacturer’s name and/or registered trade mark; © KEBS 2020 — All rights reserved 5  
  
b)         Detailed description of wipe contained within”; and 
 
c)         The number of packages. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 © KEBS 2020 — All rights reserved 5  
 Annex A 
 
(normative) 
Method for determin ation of  absorben cy rate (for m anufacturers) 
A.1     Apparatus 
A.1.1    Water tub, of a depth of at least 100 mm and maintained at room temperature. 
 
A.1.2    Stop watch, with an accuracy of 0.2 s. 
 
A.1.3    Cylindrical basket, weighing 2.7 g  0.3 g of height of   80 mm, diameter 50 mm with square 
opening of 15 mm to 20 mm, made of copper wire of 0.4 mm diameter. 
 
A.1.4    Weighing machi ne 
 
A.1.5    Forceps 
 
A.1.6    Glass beakers, each of capacity 2 L, or other suitable transparent containers, each of which is filled 
to a depth of approximately 200 mm with distilled water maintained at a temperature of 20 ºC ± 2 ºC and has 
a surface area of adequate size to allow the test specimen to float freely. 
 
A.2     Preparation of  test specimens 
 
Take three  test specimens, each of mass at least 5 g and composed of a number of pinches of fibres taken 
from widely separated parts of the conditioned laboratory sample. 
 
A.3     Procedure  
 
A.3.1    Compress the first test specimen to a volume of approximately 20 mL. 
 
A.3.2    By means of the forceps (see A.1.5), place the test specimen lightly on the surface of the distilled 
water (see A.1.6) and simultaneously start the stopwatch (see A.1.2). 
 
A.3.3    Using the stop watch,  measure the time it takes the basket and its contents to sink below the surface 
of water in seconds. 
 
A.3.4    Record the absorption period to the nearest 0.1 s. 
A.3.5    Repeat the test for at least three  test specimens. 
A.4     Calculation 
Calculate, to the nearest second, the arithmetic mean of the three test results. 
 
A.5     Test report 
 
Report the following information: 
 
a)         all the data needed to identify the laboratory sample tested; 
 
b)         confirmation that the test was carried out in accordance with this standard; 
 
c)         any deviation from this standard; and 
 
d)         the mean absorbency rate, expressed in seconds, of the absorbent cotton wool.6 © KEBS 2020 — All rights reserved  
 DKS 2720 :2020  
 
 
Annex B 
(normative) 
 
Method for determin ation of  length and width 
 
 
B.1     Apparatus 
 
B.1.1    Steel scale, that is of a length exceeding the width of the fabric to be measured,  and is graduated in 
centimeters and millimeters. 
 
B.1.2    Marking pen 
 
B.2     Procedure  
 
B.2.1   Procedure for width 
 
B.2.1.1 Lay the test sample flat and full width (without subjecting it to tension) on a plane surface and 
condition it in that state for at least 24 h in accordance  with KS ISO 139. 
. 
B.2.1.2  Take, to the nearest 1 mm, five measurements a cross the overall width or between the innermost 
selvedge threads (as relevant) of the conditioned test sample at approximately equal intervals throughout its 
length. 
 
B.2.1.3   Calculate the arithmetic mean of the five measurements and record it as the width of the sample. 
 
B.2.2   Procedure for length 
 
Take a laborato ry sample as specified in the relevant product  specification. Where no specification exists, 
take the laborato ry sample as agreed upon between the test laborato ry and the manufacturer to ensure a 
reasonable and acceptable reliability at a reasonable and acceptable confidence level. 
 
B.2.2.1 Lay the laboratory sample flat and full width (without subjecting it to tension) on a plane surface and 
condition it in that state for at least 24 h in accordance  with KS ISO 139. 
. 
B.2.2.2  From the conditioned laboratory sample cut a test specimen across the full width of the laboratory 
sample along a datum line drawn (see B.1.2) at right angles to the selvedges and as close as possible to the 
beginning and the end of the laboratory sample. 
 
B.2.2.3 Take, to the nearest millimeter, five measurements (see B.2.1.2) of the length of the test specimen at 
approximately equal intervals across its width. 
 
B.2.2.4 Calculate the arithmetic mean of the five measurements and record it as the length, in metres  
(accurate  to the nearest centimeter), of the laboratory sample.© KEBS 2020 — All rights reserved 7  
  
 
Annex C 
(normative) 
 
Determ ination of mo isture content 
 
C.1     Principle 
 
A specimen of specified mass of filler material of the non-woven disposable wet wipe is dried in an oven at 
specified temperature and the moisture content is determined. 
 
C.2     Apparatus 
 
C.2.1    Balance, with an accuracy of 0.05 % of t he weighed mass. 
 
C.2.3    Sample container, waterproof when sealed, will be used for transfer of analyzed material and 
during weighing. 
 
C.2.4    Oven, well ventilated with a temperature of 102 ºC to 105 ºC. 
 
C.3     Sample  preparation 
 
C.3.1    Take a sufficient number of dry sample containers, number them and take their masses after they 
are held open for a short period of time so that they will have the same air pressure as  the surrounding 
atmosphere. Then leave them o pen until you take the test piece. 
 
C.3.2    Take 5 random pieces of the wet wipe. The test pieces shall weigh 5 g. 
 
C.3.3    If the surrounding atmosphere is hot and humid, prevent water condensation on the internal and 
external  surfaces of the container. 
 
C.3.4    Handle the  test pieces gently to prevent dirt or changes in water content. Don’t touch the test pieces 
with your bare hands. Put the test pieces in a container just after taking them and close the container 
immediately. 
 
C.4     Procedure  
 
C.4.1    Dry the test pieces in an oven with a temperature of 102 ºC to 105 ºC. Open the containers lid and 
dry the specimen inside the container. Open the container for a moment, to balance the air pressure inside 
the  container with  the  surrounding pressure, weigh  the  container that  holds  the  specimen again  and 
calculate the weight of the specimen. 
 
C.4.2    First cycle of drying will last at least 30 min. Return the container with the test pieces to the oven, for 
at least half the first cycles drying time. Take the  container out and take the  mass with the test pieces inside. 
Repeat the drying and weighing cycles. When the drying time on every cycle is at least half of the total 
previous drying cycle times. Continue the process until the difference between  two consecutive masses does 
not exceed 0.1 % of t he original mass of the specimen. 
 
C.5     Calculations  
 
Calculate the moisture content using the following formula and round the results up to the nearest 0.1 %. 
 
V = 100 a - b 
A8 © KEBS 2020 — All rights reserved  
 where,  
 
a          is weight of the container with the specimen before drying (in grams); 
 
b          is weight of the container with the specimen after drying (in gra ms); and  
 
V          is water content (in weight %).