FINAL DRAFT UGANDA 
STANDARD  
  FDUS 895-2 
First Edition  
2011-mm-dd 
 
 
 Reference number  
FDUS 895-2: 2011 
© UNBS 2011  
  
Specification for expanded metal — Part 2: Building products  
 FDUS 895-2: 2011 
ii © UNBS 2011 – 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 
respons ible for its correct application  
© UNBS 20 11  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
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permission from UNBS.  
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The Executive Director  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala  
Uganda  
Tel: 256 41 4 505 995  
Fax: 256 41 4 286 123  
E-mail: unbs@infocom.co.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  
 FDUS 895-2:2011 
© UNBS 2011 – 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 mandat ed 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 Agreeme nts 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 
consu mers, 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 re commending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee for Building and civil engineering 
standards  (UNBS/TC 3) during the development of this standard:   
 Makerere University  
 Department of Geological Mines& Surveys  
 Uganda Baati Ltd  
 Roofings Ltd  
 Kyambogo University  
 Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
 FINAL DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  FDUS 895-2: 2011 
 
© UNBS 2011 – All rights reserved  1 
 Specification for expanded metal — Part 2: Building produ cts 
1 Scope  
This part of the specification covers eigh t types of building  product made fro m expanded metal and intended 
for use as a  plaste r base or as a reinforcing medium fo r brickwork.  
NOTE  1 The requirements that should  be specified by the purchaser  and are listed in A nnex A. 
NOTE 2  Guidance on the verification of the quality of expanded metal building products produced to this part of the 
specification is given in Annex B . 
NOTE 3  Notes on typical uses of expanded metal building products are given in Annex C . 
2 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this part standard  the terms and defin itions given i n Part 1 of the specificatio n and the 
following apply:   
2.1  
building product  
product in sheet or roll form that has been made from expanded metal and th at is intended for use in certain 
specified building applications  
2.2  
Roll 
building product supplied in roll form  
2.3 
Size (of angle bead or corner mesh)  
combination of the width of each expanded wing or leg and the length of the product  
2.4 
Size (of plas ter stop)  
combination of the width of the  expanded wing and the length of th e product  
3 Requirements  
3.1 Material  
A building product shall be of mild steel or a pre-galvanized  mild steel such that, when the product is tested in  
accordance with 5.3, the me tal strands show no signs of cracking or fracture.  
3.2 Type 
A building product shall be of one of the types listed i n Column 1 of Table 1.  FDUS 895-2: 2011 
2 © UNBS 2011 – All rights reserved  
 3.3 Dimensions   
The size of a building product shall be one of the combinations listed in column 2 of Table 1, approp riate to 
the product type, and the strand thickness shall be one of the values given in column 3 of Table 1, appropriate 
to the size of the product. No actual dimension of a product shall differ from the nominal value given in column 
2 or 3 of Table 1 by m ore than the appropriate tolerance.  
3.4 Squareness  
Any ou t-of-squareness of a building product i n sheet form shal l be such that the differenc e between the 
lengths of the diagonals  does not exceed 2 mm per 100 mm of the sheet length  (SW). 
3.5 Straightness,  twist and warp  
3.5.1  Angle bead and corner mesh  
Any deviation from straightnes s of angle bead and corner mesh shal l not exceed 6 mm per metre of the length 
and there shall be no twist i n the length of the product.  
3.5.2  Rib lath and strip mesh   
When  deter mined in accordance with 5.2 any warp (see Fig ure 2) in rib lath or strip mesh shall not exceed 6 
mm per metre of the length.  
3.5.3  Plaster  stop 
Any deviation from straightness of a plaster stop shall not exceed 6 mm per metre of the length and any twist 
shall not exceed 10º per  metre of the length.  
3.6 Workmanship  
Sheets and rolls of building products shal l be regular i n shape, and the  dimensions of the meshes and stran ds 
shall be uniform.  
3.7 Freedom from defects  
Except for sharp point s caused by open  meshes at the edges, sheets and roll s of building pro ducts shal l be 
free from broken strands and from burr s, ragged edges, cracks,  welds and other surface defect s. 
3.8 Protective coating   
Building products no t made from pre -galvanized  mild steel shall have a protective coatin g of black  bitumen 
paint. FDUS 895-2: 2011 
© UNBS 2011 – All rights reserved  3 
 
 
4 Packaging and marking  
4.1 Packing   
Unless otherwise agreed between the purchaser and the supplier, expanded metal sheets and plates shall be 
supplied loose or securely tied together in bundles, or packed in su itable containers. Only products of the 
same type and size shall be packed together in the same bundle or container.  
4.2 Marking   
The following information legibly and durably marked on a tag  or label  that is securely attached to the loose 
product, bundle or container, as relevant:  
a) the manufacturer's name or trade name or trade mark;  
b) the product type ; FDUS 895-2: 2011 
4 © UNBS 2011 – All rights reserved  
 c) when relevant, the quantity of building products in each bundle or container.  
5 Inspection and methods of test  
5.1 Inspection  
Visually examine and measure eac h building product in the sample for compliance with al l the requirements of 
clauses 3 and 4 for which tests to asse ss compliance are not given in 5.2 and 5 .3 (see also Annex D  
regarding the accuracy of building products.  
5.2 Determination of warp.  (rib la the and strip mesh ) 
Determine, as follows, the warp of each building product in the sample as follows ( see also Fig ure 2): 
Lay the building product  (concave face downwards) on a plane surface, ensure that the corners at the ends of 
the side or end on which  the warp is to be measured are in contact with the plane surface, and measure the 
maximum deviation between the surface and the side or end ( as relevant ) . Repeat the test on the remaining 
side or end, and determine the maximum warp in each case. Check for comp liance with the requirement of 
3.5.2 
5.3 Formability test  
5.3.1 Preparation of test specimens  
From a sample building product, cut a test specimen of dimensions either,  
a) in the case of products having a width equal to or exceeding 150 mm: 150 mm x 150 mm; or  
b) in the case of products having a width of less than 150 mm: 150 mm in length, and of width equal to 
the maximum width of the flat expanded metal part of the product.  
5.3.2  Procedure  
Using a mandrel of radius 6 mm, bend the specimen through approxi mately 90º in either direction along the  
longer axis of symmetry of the specimen or, in th e case of a square specimen, along eith er axis of symmetry. 
Examine the metal i n the bend fo r complia nce with the requirements of 3 .1. 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Notice to purchasers  
The following requirements shall be specified in tender invitations and in each order or contract:  
a) the type of building product (see 3.2) ; and  
b) when relevant, the size of building product (see 3.3) . FDUS 895-2: 2011 
8 © UNBS 2011 – All rights reserved  
 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Quality evaluation of expanded metal building products produced to the 
requirements laid down in this part of the specification  
When a purchaser requires quality verification on an ongoing basis of expanded metal buildin g products 
produced to this part of the specification, it is suggested that, rather than to evaluat e the final product only, he 
also directs his attention to the quality management system applied by the manufacturer. In this connection it 
should be noted t hat this standard  covers the provision of an integrated quality management system.  
 
 FDUS 895-2: 2011 
© UNBS 2011 – All rights reserved  9 
 Annex  C 
(normative)  
 
Typical uses of expanded metal building products  
D.1 General  
Building products are secured to a wall as a keying foundation for plaster surfaces or a s a means of 
reinforcin g brickwork [see D .2(c)]. Owing to the thin sectio n of the materia l from which these products are 
manufactured, the product will tend to follow th e form of the brickwork. Consequently,  while it is necessary to 
lay down limit s on the departure from straightness, or on th e degree of twist or warp of a building product in 
the interests of quality control during and afte r ma nufacture, a building product tha t complies with these 
requirements could, after being secured to a wal l, be so distorted as to no longer lie within the specified limits . 
D.2 Typical uses  
D.2.1  Angle bead  
Expanded wing angle bead is used to provide a true straight edge for forming an arris on external corners in 
plasterwork, and to resist damage at this vulnerable point  of the plaster rendering. The expanded wings of the 
angle bead anchor securely in the full depth of the plaster on both sides of the arris .  
D.2.2  Base bead  
Expanded wing base bead is used to provide a straight dividing strip between sections of plaster, different 
types of plaster, and between plaster and other non -compatible materials. When spaced at regular intervals 
base bead can be used as a depth guide for rendering a flat and level plaster surface to receive tiling, e t c.  
D.2.3  Brick reinforcing  
Brick reinforcing is used by embedding it in the horizontal mortar joints of brick and block work as a 
reinforcement to reduce the detrimental effects of vibration, changes of temperature and tensional stresses 
caused by ground settlement beneath the brick or  block work.  
D.2.4  Corner mesh  
Corner mesh is used as reinforcement for internal corners in plasterwork to reduce the possibility of cracking 
of the plaster because of shrinkage.  
D.2.5  Plaster lath  
Plaster lath is used as a keying and an anti - cracking ba se for general plasterwork and is also used as a 
background for sprayed finishes on wall and suspended ceiling applications.  
D.2.6  Plaster stop  
Expanded wing plaster stop is used to provide a straight edge and finish for plasterwork at all openings and 
abutments. It can also be used where plaster butts against tiles, face bricks, skirtings, exposed steelwork and 
woodwork.  FDUS 895-2: 2011 
10 © UNBS 2011 – All rights reserved  
 D.2.7  Rib lath  
Having stiffening ribs, rib lath is capable of larger spans than are possible with plain metal lath when used as a 
backgr ound for suspended ceilings and partitions. Rib lath is also used for external render and stucco work.  
D.2.8 Strip mesh  
Strip mesh is a general purpose reinforcin g for plaster and is used along stress lines where cracking is likel y 
to occur. Typical applic ations are at the corner s of door  frames and window frames, around a ir brick s, vents 
and arches.  It is als o used as a backing for plaste r over narrow gaps such  as service chases for water pipes 
and electrica l conduits.  FDUS 895-2: 2011 
© UNBS 2011 – All rights reserved  11 
 Bibliography  
US 8 95-1, Expanded metal  Part I: Sheets and plates  
 FDUS 895-2: 2011 
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 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 Bu reau 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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ICS nn.nnn.nn  
Price based on nn pages  
© UNBS 2011 – All rights reserved