Reference number  
DRS 376 : 2017  
© RBS yyyy 
© RSB 2017  
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
376 
 
First edition  
2017 -mm-dd 
 
Paper dressing (medical) towels  —
Specification  
 
  DRS 376 : 2017  
©RSB 2017  All rights reserved                  ii 
 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
Standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2017  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified , no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be  addressed to  
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
Tel. +250 252 586103/ 582945  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  DRS 376 : 2017  
iii                 ©RSB2017  All rights reserved  
 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Requ irements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  5 
4.1 Material  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  5 
4.1.1  Paper  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  5 
4.1.2  Cores ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  6 
4.2 Rolls and related dimensions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  6 
4.2.1  Construction  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  6 
4.2.2  Dimensions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  67 
5 Packing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  7 
5.1 Rolls  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  7 
5.2 Packets of folded towels  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  7 
6 Marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....Error! Bookmark not defined. 7 
7 Sampling and Inspection and acceptance criteria  ................................ ................................ .............  8 
7.1 Inspection  ................................ ................................ ................................ .Error! Bookmark not defined. 8 
7.1.1  Inspection of rolls  ................................ ................................ .................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 8 
7.1.2  7.1.2 Inspection of packets  ................................ ................................ .....Error! Bookmark not defined. 8 
7.1.3  Inspection of paper  ................................ ................................ ................. Error! Bookmark n ot defined. 8 
7.2 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..Error! Bookmark not defined. 8 
7.2.1  Rolls  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  8 
7.2.2  Paper  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  8 
7.3 Compliance with this draft standard  ................................ ..................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 9 
Annex  A (normative)  Determination of Dimensions  ................................ ................................ ..................  910 
A.1 Conditioning  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 910 
A.2 Dimensions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  910 
A.2.1  Number  of towels  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  910 
A.2.2  Length and width of towels  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  910 
A.2.3  Diameter of cores  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  910 
Annex  B (normative)  Determination of Softness  ................................ ................................ .....................  1011 
Annex  C (normative)  Determination of Total water absorption  ................................ ..............................  1112 
Annex  D (normative)  Determination of Rate of water absorption  ................................ ..........................  1213 
 DRS 376 : 2017  
©RSB 2017  All rights reserved                  iv 
 
 Foreword  
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The m ain task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards 
adopted by Technical committ ees are ratified by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 376 was prepared by Te chnical Committee RSB/TC 024,Chemicals and Consumer products ,  
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard  (s): 
SANS 1887 -1:2008, Tissue paper – Part 1: General requirements  
SANS 1887 -2:2008, Tissue paper – Part 6: Paper dressing (Medical)  towels.  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Chemicals and Consume r 
products  (RSB/TC 024) in the preparation of this standard.  
Paragraph of p articipants  
Rwanda  Standards Board (RSB) – Secretariat  
 
 DRS 376: 2017  
1                 ©RSB2017  All rights reserved  
 
 Paper dressing (Medical ) towels  — Specification  
1 Scope  
This draft standard  covers disposable paper dressing (medical) towels of two -ply construction,  in rolls or 
individually folded, for nursing applications such as hand drying and protection of bed sheets  during the 
dressing of wounds. The towels are not intended for sterilization purposes .  
The towels are not intended for the wrapping of surgical instruments or similar devices for steam  sterilizing 
since the paper could contain additives that might leach out and deposit on the instruments in  the process.  
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.  
ASTM D 590, Standard test method for petroleum wax in paper . 
ISO 187, Paper, board and pulps – Standard atmosphere for conditioning and testing andprocedu re for 
monitoring the atmosphere and conditioning of samples . 
ISO 536, Paper and board – Determination of grammage . 
ISO 1924 -2, Paper and board – Determination of tensile properties – Part 2: Constant rate ofelongation 
method . 
ISO 2470, Paper, board and pu lps – Measurement of diffuse blue reflectance factor (ISObrightness) . 
ISO 2758, Paper – Determination of bursting strength . 
ISO 3781, Paper and board – Determination of tensile strength after immersion in water . 
ISO 6588 (all parts), Paper, board and pulps  – Determination of pH of aqueous extracts . 
ISO 9184 -3, Paper, board and pulps – Fibre furnish analysis – Part 3: Herzberg staining test.  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the follow ing terms and definitions apply :  
©RSB 2017  All rights reserved                  2 
 
 3.1 
acceptable  
acceptable to the authority administering this document or to the parties concluding the purchasecontract, as 
relevant  
3.2 
break -up 
disintegration of the tissue specimen into small pieces approximately 10 mm × 10 mm  
3.3 
crêpe paper  
paper that has been subjected to crêping  
3.4 
crêping  
operation of crinkling in order to increase its stretch and softness  
3.5 
cross directionCD  
that direction in the plain of a paper at right angles to the machine direction  
3.6 
defective  
corrugated board container, bulk package, wrapper, holder, a roll, sheet or a set of test pieces,whose average 
properties have been determined, and that fails in one more respects to comply withthe relevant requirements 
of the appropriate part of SANS 1887  
3.7 
embossed paper  
paper of whic h raised or depressed design has been produced generally by pressure from anengraved roll or 
plate  
3.8 
grammage  
mass  of a unit area of paper or board determined by the standard method of test  DRS 376: 2017  
3                 ©RSB2017  All rights reserved  
 
 NOTE Grammage is expressed in grams per square metre.  
3.9 
gramma ge, actual  
average grammage obtained on a sample of paper under specified test conditions and which should normally 
be within ± 5 % of the nominal grammage  
3.10 
grammage, nominal  
designated grammage of paper, used for reference purposes  
3.11 
hole 
opening, of which the largest dimension exceeds 4 mm, in the paper  
3.12 
inversion  
from an initial vertical position, one complete inversion is accomplished by rotation of the cylinderabout 
horizontal axis through 180° and back to the initial starting position in a time of 1 s  
3.13 
lot 
aggregate of paper or board of a single kind of specified characteristics produced under conditionsthat are 
presumed uniform, and available for sampling at one time  
NOTE A lot comprises one or more nominally identical units. Where the material to be tested has alreadybeen 
incorporated into a manufactured article (for example a packing case), the lot is the aggregate of sucharticles of a single 
kind, of specified characteristics.  
3.14 
machine directionMD  
that direction in a paper or a bo ard corresponding to the direction of travel of the web on the paperor board 
machine  
3.15 
non-wet strength tissue product  
product that has not had any wet strength enhancing material added during manufacturing   
©RSB 2017  All rights reserved                  4 
 
 3.16 
sample  
aggregate of all the specimens taken from the lot to provide information on the average quality ofthe lot and 
possibly serve as basis for a decision on the lot  
 
3.17 
sheet  
area of paper or board taken from the selected units  
3.18 
single ply  
sheet material manufactured on a tissue machin e or after converting as a part of a single or multiplytissue 
product  
3.19 
specimen  
area of paper or board cut to given dimensions, from the sheets or manufactured articles  
3.20 
test piece  
piece of paper or board on which the measurement is carried out in accordance with stipulations ofthe method 
of test  
3.21 
tissue paper  
wet- or dry -crêped or uncrêped (single ply) sheet material, manufactured on any kind of tissuepaper machine, 
mainly based on cellulosic fibre pulps  
3.22 
tissue product  
tissue paper in its converted form, single or multi -ply, embossed or not embossed, laminated or notlaminated 
as required for its intended use  DRS 376: 2017  
5                 ©RSB2017  All rights reserved  
 
 3.23 
unit 
component of a lot which may be in the form of a reel, a bale, a bundle, a parcel, the contents of apacking 
case, a pallet l oad, etc.  
4 Requirements  
4.1 Material  
4.1.1  Paper  
4.1.1.1  General requirement s 
 
Paper for dressing towels shall be manufactured from chemically processed cellulose fibres and shall, when 
tested in accordance with ISO 9184 -3.at most contain 5 % mechanical fibres . 
 
The paper shall comply with the following visual requirements:  
a) shall be white, unless otherwise specified by the purchaser  
 
b) manufactured from processed cellulose fibres, shall present a neat, wellfinished appearance and shall 
be free of all imperfections or defects  (or both) which might affect appearance, normal life, or 
serviceability.  
 
c) be clean, and shall be reasonably free from visible wood splinters, specks, holes, tears, wrinkles, 
abrasive particles, or other imperfections.  
 
d) shall have no disagreeable odour, ei ther wet or dry.  
 
e)  shall be uniform in colour and trimmed with clean smooth edges.  
 
f) shall be either a roll (see 4.2) or individually folded (see 4.3), as required by the putchaser  
 
g) shall be crêped and may have an embossed finish.  
 
4.1.1.2 Physical properties  
 
The physical properties of the paper shall comply with the physical requirements as listed in  
Table 1. 
 
 
 
Table 1 — Physical requirements for  paper for  Paper dressing (medical) towels  
Parameter  Requirement  Test Method  
Basis Weight g/m2, min. 46/43,7 c ISO 536.  
Rate of absorption ofwater , secs, Max 20a Annex D   
©RSB 2017  All rights reserved                  6 
 
 Totalabsorptionof water  %, min.  250 Annex C  
Tensile strength N/m, min.  
Wet 
Dry  
30 
130  
ISO 3781.  
ISO 1924 -2. 
Softness mN, max  130 Annex B  
Brightness of white paper %, min.  80 ISO 2470.  
pH value, permissible range  4.4 – 10.0 ISO 6588,  
aRate of absorption of 0.02 mL of water.  
 
4.1.2  Cores  
Cores shall be of a material that is suitable for the purpose and such that the core will not become deformed 
or collapse under normal conditions of transportation, storage, handling and usage.  
4.2 Rolls and related dimensions  
4.2.1  Construction  
4.2.1. 1 The two -ply paper web shall be firmly and neatly wound on a core.  
 
4.2.1. 2 The web of paper on a roll shall be subdivided into towels by being perforated at intervals of444 mm 
(see Table 2), or as specified by the purchaser The quality of the perforations  shall be such that, when a roll is 
tested in accordance annex E , each of the ten towels under test is  severed along a row of perforation and the 
tear is along the row of perforation only.  
 
4.2.1. 3 There shall be at most two malformed towels at the core end of the roll.  
 
4.2.1. 4 The outer end of the length of paper on a roll sha ll be secured to the roll in such a way that it  remains 
secured during normal handling and transportation, yet can be freed without damage to more  than one layer 
of paper.  
4.2.1. 5 The plies of paper in a web shall not become separated from one another duri ng normal use of  the 
towels.  
4.2.1. 6 There shall be no breaks or splices in a roll.  
4.2.1. 7 The roll shall be free from any other defect that might impair the function of the roll.  
4.2.2  Dimensions  
When determined in accordance with Annex A , the dimensions relating to each roll shall comply with the  
appropriate requirement of Table 2. 
Table 2 — Dimensions relevant to rolls  
 DRS 376: 2017  
7                 ©RSB2017  All rights reserved  
 
 Width of towel  
mm Length of towel  
mm Nominal number of  
towels per roll  Internal diameter of core  
mm 
254 ± 3   
 
508 ± 3  444 ± 8  
 
444 ± 8 100 (+4  
         -2)  
100 (+4  
        -2) 38 ± 2  
 
38 ± 2  
 
4.3 Format of folded towels, and related dimensions  
4.3.1 Towels shall consist of two -ply paper, shall be rectangular and shall have a nominal unfolded size of 
425 mm × 480 mm. When tested in accordance with Annex A , the actual dimensions shall be at least 422 mm 
× 472 mm or as specified by the purchaser  
4.3.2 Towels shall be folded with a C -fold. The length and width of the folded towels shall be 250 mm ± 4 
mm and 100 mm ± 4 mm respectively. Towels may be either completely separate or loosely linked by means 
of, at most, six ties in a row. Each tie shall be 1 mm  wide at most.  
5 Packing  
5.1 Rolls  
Rolls of dressing towels shall be individually and completely wrapped in suitable material to protect during 
handling and storage.  
5.2 Packets of folded towels  
Each packet of folded dressing towels shall contain hundred towels and shall be wrapped over its entire 
length. Packets shall be further packed  as to preserve the product integrity during handling and storage . 
6 Labelling  
The following information shall appe ar in legible and indelible marking on a label within, or on the wrapping of 
each roll or packet, and shall be clearly visible from the outside of a wrapped roll or packet. Outer containers 
such as boxes shall also bear these markings, which shall be visib le when the containers are stacked:  
a) the manufacturer’s name or trademark, or both;  
b) a description of the product (i.e. paper dressing towels);  
c) the format type (i.e. rolls or folded towels);  
d) the quantity of towels on the roll or in the packet;  
e) the size of the towels; and  
f) any additional marking as may be required by the purchaser).   
©RSB 2017  All rights reserved                  8 
 
 7 Sampling  
Use the sampling procedures given in table 3 to determine whether a lot complies with therelevant 
requirement of this draft standard , and deem the samples so taken to represent the lot forthe respective 
properties . 
 
7.1.1  Rolls  
From the lot draw at random the number of rolls given in Table 3, appropriate to the lot size. After  inspection , 
take two of these rolls for the tests described in Annex A  
7.1.2  Paper  
From the full width of each roll cut a length of paper, each length being approximately equal and adequate to 
provide the necessary test pieces. While cutting these lengths of paper, make a note of any breaks or splices 
in the lengths of pape r. Retain the remnants of the rolls for the examination for breaksand splices described in 
4.2.1.6.  
Table 3 — Sampling  
 
 
 
DRS 376: 2017  
9                 ©RSB2017  All rights reserved  
 
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Determination of Dimensions  
A.1 Conditioning  
Precondition and condition all tissue paper and tissue products under test in accordance with ISO 187, using 
the conditioning atmosphere designated, 23°C± 1 °C and 50 % ± 2 % RH , and carry out the tests given in 5.2 
in an atmosphere maintained at these cond itions. Also during conditioning, ensure that test pieces and test 
sheets are laid flat instead of being suspended, as in the latter case their properties to be tested might be 
affected.  
A.2 Dimensions  
A.2.1  Number of towels  
Count the number of towels on each of five rolls or in each of three packets and record the results for each roll 
or packet.  
 
A.2.2  Length and width of towels  
Measure, to the nearest 1 mm, the length and width of each of two towels taken from each of five rolls or 
packets under test, and record the measurements for each towel. In the case of towels in packets, measure, 
to the nearest 1 mm, the width of the folded towels for compliance with the requirements of 4.3.2, and record 
the measurements for each towel. In the case of rolls, check for complianc e with table 1.  
 
A.2.3  Diameter of cores  
Measure, to the nearest 0.5 mm, the inside diameter of the core of each of the two rolls and record the  
result for each core. If a core is slightly oval, determine the maximum and minimum values obtainable for the 
internal diameter, and take their average to represent the internal diameter. Check for compliance with table 1.  
 
   
©RSB 2017  All rights reserved                  10 
 
 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Determination of Softness  
B.1 General  
From the sample, cut ten pairs of test specimens.  
B.2 Apparatus  
 
Suitable instrument , that measures the combination of resistance due to the surface friction and  flexural 
rigidity of sheet material when forced by a blade through a slot that has parallel edges and a  width of 6.35 
mm, and that has been calibrated in accordance with the manuf acturer's instructions. In the case of paper 
towels, use a slot width of 10 mm.  
 
B.3 Procedure  
 
Take two test specimens and place one of the specimens centrally over the slot with its machinedirection 
parallel to the slot opening. Start the blade mechanism . Take the maximum readingregistered on the gauge. 
Repeat the test on the second test specimen but with the cross direction  
parallel to the slot opening.  
 
Calculate and report to three significant figures the average of all the readings in millinewtons as thesoftness 
of the paper. Check for compliance with Table 1. 
 
Test each pair of specimens in this way, testing the specimens from one sheet from one side a ndthose cut 
from the other sheet from the opposite side of the paper.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DRS 376: 2017  
11                 ©RSB2017  All rights reserved  
 
 Annex  C 
(normative)  
 
Determination  of Total water absorption  
C.1 Test specimens  
From the sample, cut ten test specimens and condition them as per A.1 above..  
 
C.2 Apparatus  
 
Balance , that has a sensitivity of 1 mg (or better).  
Drainage strip , that consists of a piece of wet towel -paper of size 3 mm × 40 mm.  
 
C.3 Procedure  
Determine the mass of a test specimen and submerge it in distilled water for 2 min. Remove, press onto one 
corner of the test specimen a drainage strip so that the longitudinal axis of the strip forms a continuation of the 
diagonal of the test specimen, and then suspend the assembly by diagonally opposite corner over water in a 
vessel that has a tight-fitting cover. Close the vessel, allow the test specimen to drain for 30 min, then remove 
it, discard the drainage strip, place the test specimen in a tared weighing bottle, and determine its mass. Test 
each specimen in this way, and from the results . 
calculate and record the average total absorption (i.e. the percentage increase in mass based on the original 
dry mass) for each packet/roll and for the sample.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
©RSB 2017  All rights reserved                  12 
 
 Annex  D 
(normative)  
 
Determination of Rate of water 
absorption  
D.1 Test specimens  
From the sample, cut ten test specimens and condition them as per A.1  
Test half of the test specimens from one side of the paper and the other half from the other side.  
 
D.2 Apparatus  
 
Water applicator,  that consists of a micrometer syringe or a suitable pipette that can  
deliver accurately 0.01 mL or 0 .02 mL  of water (see also notes 1 and 2 to 5.2.2.3).  
 
Stopwatch . 
 
D.3 Procedure  
Place a test specimen on the rim of a beaker that has a diameter of approximately 50 mm. Fill the syringe with 
distilled water at 23°C± 1 °C  and ensure that trapped air bubbles are removed. Hold the syringe at an angle of 
about 30° to the horizontal with the tip nearly in contact with the paper, and allow the required millilitres (see 
also notes 1 and 2) of water to flow onto the test specimen . Keep the tip of the syringe in the drop of water 
until delivery is complete. Measure with the stopwatch the rate of absorption, in seconds, from the instant the 
water touches the test specimen until the drop of water is completely absorbed, as indicated by no further 
reflection of light from it when viewed at an angle. Carry out five tests on each side of the paper. Calculate and 
report to three significant figures the average water absorption rate in seconds. Check for compliance with 
Table 1. 
 
 
NOTE 1 For paper dressing (medical, non -sterilization purposes) towels 0.02 mL  of water should be allowed to flow onto  
the test specimen.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DRS 376: 2017  
13                 ©RSB2017  All rights reserved  
 
 Annex  E 
(normative)  
 
Assessment of perforation  
E.1 Test specimen  
Use all the perforated rolls drawn in accordance with Table  3 
. 
E.2 Procedure  
 
At a position chosen at random on the roll under test, detach a sheet by holding it between thumb  and 
forefinger at its perforated end and exerting a steady pull at an angle of about 10° to the edge  
of the roll.  
Carry out the test on f ive consecutive sheets in each roll.  
 
Examine the torn ends for compliance with 4.2.2.  
 
 
 DRS 376:2017  
ICS 85.080 
 
©RSB2017A ll right s reserved