BRITISH STANDARD BS EN 13590:2003 Packaging — Flexible carrier bags for the transport of various retail goods — General characteristics and test m e t h o d s for the determination of volume and carrying capacity The European Standard EN 13590:2003 h a s the status of a British Standard ICS 55.080 NO COPYING WITHOUT BSI PERMISSION EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW British Standards BS EN 13590:2003 National foreword This British Standard is the official English language version of EN 13590:2003 The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted by Technical Committee PKW/5, Primary and transport packaging, to Subcommittee PKW/5/26, Packaging made from flexible materials, which has the responsibility to: — aid enquirers to understand the text; — present to the responsible international/European committee any enquiries on the interpretation, or proposals for change, and keep the UK interests informed; — monitor related international and European developments and promulgate them in the UK A list of organizations represented on this subcommittee can be obtained on request to its secretary Cross-references The British Standards which implement international or European publications referred to in this document may be found in the BSI Catalogue under the section entitled "International Standards Correspondence Index", or by using the "Search" facility of the BSI Electronic Catalogue or of British Standards Online This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract Users are responsible for its correct application Compliance w i t h a British Standard d o e s not of itself confer i m m u n i t y from legal obligations This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on April 2003 S u m m a r y of p a g e s This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, the EN title page, pages to 14, an inside back cover and a back cover The BSI copyright date displayed in this document indicates when the document was last issued A m e n d m e n t s issued since publication Amd No © BSI April 2003 ISBN 580 41525 Date Comments EN 13590 EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME E U R O P E E N N E E U R O P A E C H E NORM March 2003 I C S 55.080 E nglish v e r s i o n P a c k a g i n g -Flexible c a r r i e r b a g s for the t r a n s p o r t o f v a r i o u s r e t a i l g o o d s - G e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t ics a n d t e s t methods f o r t h e determi n a t i o n of volume a n d c a r r y i n g capacity Emballage - S a c s en matériau souple p o u r l e t r a n s p o r t d e m a r c h a n d i s e s de detail va riees -Caractéristiques génétiques et méthodes d'essai pourg l a Détermination du volume et de la capacité de transport Verpackung - T r a g e t a s c h e n flirden Transport verschiedener Einzehandelsguter-AIgem ein e E igenschaflen und P riifi/erfehiEn fiirdis Bestm m u n g d e s Volume n s und d e r T r a g e k a p a z i a t This European Standard w a s approved by CEN on Decemb e r 0 CEN me m b e r s are bound to comply w i t h the CEN /CENELEC I n t e r n a l R e g u l a t i o n s w h i c h stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a n a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d w l h o u t a n y alteration.Up-to-date lists a n d b i b l i o g r a p h i c a l r e f e r e n c e s concerning such n a t i o n a l standards may be obtained on a p p i c a t i o n to the M anagem e n t Centre or to any CEN m em b e r This E u r o p e a n Standard exists in three official versions ( English, French, G e r m a n ) A version in any o t h e r language made by translation u n d e r t h e responsibility of a CEN m em b e r i n t o its own language a n d notifed to the M anageme n t C e n t r e h a s the same status as the official versions CEN members are the n a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d s bodies o f Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, F i n l a n d , F r a n c e , Germany, G r e e c e , Hungary, I c e l a n d , l r e l a n d , Italy, l u x e m b o u r g , Ma l t a , Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, S p a i n , S w e d e n , Switz e r l a n d a n d U n i t e d Kingdom EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COM ITE EUROPEEN DE N O R M A L I S A T I O N EUROPAISCHES K O M I T E E FUR NORMUNG Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 © 2003 CEN All rights o f e x p l o i t a t i o n in any form a n d by any m e a n s reserved worldwide for CEN national Mem b e r s B-1050 Brussels Ref.No.EN 13590.2003 E EN 13590:2003 (E) Contents page Foreword Introduction Scope Normative references Terms and definitions 4 General 5 Test methods Marking Annex A (Normative) Filling material 13 14 EN 13590:2003 (E) Foreword This d o c u m e n t ( E N 13590:2003) h a s b e e n p r e p a r e d by Technical Commi t t e e CEN/TC 261 " P a c k a g i n g " , the s e c e t a r i a t o f which is held by AFNOR This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, e i t h e r b y p u b l i c a t i o n of an i d e n t i c a l t e x t o r by endorsement, at the latest by September 2003, and conflicting n a t i o n a l standards s h a l l b e wihdrawn at the latest by Septemb e r 00 Annex A is normative According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal R e g u l a t i o n s , the n a t i o n a l standards organizations of the following countries are bound to i m p l e m e n t t h i s European Standard: Austria, Belgium , Czech R e p u b i c , Denmark, F i n l a n d , F r a n c e , G e r many, G r e e c e , Hungary, Iceland, l r e l a n d , Italy, Luxembourg, M a l t a , Netherlands, Norway, P o r t u g a l, Slovakia, S p a i n , S w e d e n , S w i t z e r l a n d and the United Kingdom EN 13590:2003 (E) Introduction Efficient packaging is of g r e a t importance for the distribution and the protection of goods Insufficient or inappropriate packaging can lead to dam age or wastage of the contents of the p a c k Scope This European Standard specifies g e n e r a l characteristics and t e s t methods for determination of volume and car r y i n g c a p a c i y of flexible c a r r i e r b a g s with handles for transport of various unspecified retail goods F o r specific retail goods there should be an agreeme n t between s u p p l i e r and buyer a b o u t the application of this standard This standard is applicable to c a r r i e r b a g s m ade o f p a p e r , thermoplastic ma t e r i a l a n d or any other flexible m a t e r i a l Normative r e f e r e n c e s This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications These normative references are c i t e d at the appropriate places in the text, and the publications are listed here after F o r dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications appty to this European Standard only when incorporated in it by an amendment or revision F o r undated references the latest edition of the publication referred to a p p l i e s (including amendments) EN ISO 2233, Packaging-Complete filled transport packages and unit loads-Conditioning for Testing (ISO 2233-2000) EN ISO 8367-1, Packaging-Dimensional (ISO 8367- 1-1993) tolerances for general purpose sacks - Part 1: Paper sacks EN ISO 8367-2, Packaging - Dimensional tolerances for general purpose sacks - Part 2: Sacks made from thermoplastic flexible film (ISO 8367-2:1993) Terms and definitions F o r the purposes of this European Standard, the following terms and definitions apply 3.1 gusset fold inserted i n t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l e d g e o f a tube o r b a g 3.2 base g u s s e t fold inserted in the bottom o f t h e bag 3.3 tube one or more p l i e s in the form o f a flattened cylinder cut into p r e s c r i b e d lengths ply film or sheet of flexible m aterial, or com b i n a t i o n of such m aterials, forming the walls o f a bag EN 13590:2003 (E) 3.5 length of bag, a greatest distance between the transverse e d g e s of the f l a t b a g , perpendicular to the bottom 3.6 width of bag, b distance between the longitudinal edges of the f l a t b a g , g u s s e t n o t i n c l u d e d , parallel to the bottom 3.7 width of gusset, e distance between the e x t e r n a l c r e a s e s of the unfolded g u s s e t 3.8 width of bottom, c distance between the two bottom edge folds o r t h e e x t e r n a l c r e a s e s o f t h e b a s e gusset, me a s u r e d a t t h e centre, parallel to the bag 's length 3.9 handle device forming p a r t o f t h e bag allowing the insertion of hands for the e a s y carrying of a b a g 3.10 length of handle, d overall length from the top to the m aximum p o s s i b l e filling height of the b a g 3.11 width of handle, f minimal width of a handle measured on the flat bag General 4.1 Material The m a t e r a l s h a l l b e agreed between s u p p l i e r and buyer The c a r r i e r b a g s m ay be m ade o f p a p e r , thermoplastic m a t e r i a l a n d or any other flexible material NO TE M aterials should be chosen and joined together in such a way that recovery is promoted 4.2 Shape and dimensions The shape and dimensions shall be agreed between s u p p l e r and buyer This standard a p p l i e s to c a r r i e r b a g s w ih any shape and dim ension B ags m ay be provided w ih gus sets Some examples are shown in Figure 1, including reference to the definitions given in paragraph EN 13590:2003 (E) Plastic Bag Paper bag Top view Figure — Example of carrier bags to illustrate definitions F o r all dimensions, if n o t otherwise agreed, the g e n e r a l v a l u e s of tolerances s h a l l b e in accordance wih EN ISO 8367-1 or EN ISO 8367-2 The width o f h a n d l e s shall be such that they can fulfill their carrying purposes 4.3 Volume The volume shall be agreed between s u p p l i e r and buyer The volume of the c a r r i e r bag shall be determin e d in accordance with the test method given in 5.5.1 4.4 Carrying capacity The carrying c a p a c i t y shall be agreed between supplie r a n d buyer The carrying c a p a c i y of the c a r r i e r bag shall be determi n e d in accordance wih the test method given in 5 EN 13590:2003 (E) Test m e t h o d s 5.1 Sampling ln order to a s s u r e the performance of the b a g s produced, a type t e s t h a s to be done once for each type with at least 100 b a g s manufactured u n d e r normal i n d u s t r i a l c o n d i t i o n s selected at random 5.2 Conditioning The s a m p l e s shall be c o n d i t i o n e d and tested in accordance wih EN ISO 2233, condition G, i e temperature 23 °C ± °C (w ih relative humi d i t y 50 % ± % for bags sensitive to humi d i t y ) 5.3 Filling material 5.3.1 Filling material for the determination of the volume The filling material used for testing the volume of c a r r i e r b a g s consist of plastic granules wih bulk specific m a s s between 500 kg/m3 a n d 600 kg / m3 F o r t h e determi n a t i o n of bulk d e n s i t y a litre c a p a c i y c y l i n d e r w i h an i n n e r d i a m e t e r o f m m ± mm is filled to the top wih the plastic granules The cylinder content is compacted by i m p a c t i n g the cylinder tw ice onto a table and then the volume is measured The granules are weighted and the bulk specific m a s s is calculated 5.3.2 Filling material for testing the carrying capacity The filling ma t e r i a l u s e d for testing the carrying capacity of c a r r i e r b a g s shall consist of high density polyethylene (H D P E) cylinders as specified in annex A 5.4 Equipment An example of equipme n t for testing the volume and the carrying c a p a c i t y is shown in Figure This equipment tests one carrier bag at a time EN 13590:2003 (E) Key Lifting cylinder Time S urface: Laminated fibre board P ositioner Number of lifts Upper turning point T i m e Photocell Lower Turning Point Figure — Example of testing equipment The lifting and lowering movements are carried out by a mechanism which allows to c o n t r o l o f the top and bottom turning p o i n t s The equipmen t i s constructed so that the lifting and l o w e r i n g speed of the bag is (0,65 ± 0,05) m /s The speed shall to be reached is less than 20 mm and shall be constant all throughout both the lifting and l o w e r i n g procedures, w ith a smooth moveme n t a t t h e top turning point The speed of the lifting mechanism shall be constant within the speed tolerences irrespective of the loaded w eights The filled carrier bag is using both its handles on the g r i p of the m achine which is formed like a hand (see example in Figure 3) EN 13590:2003 (E) D imensions in millimeters Tolerance ± 0,5 mm No sharp e d g e s Symmetric Key Excluded from the standard Figure — Testing equipment - Grip EN 13590:2003 (E) A handle stop is required The h a n d le stop shall be so constructed that it fits perfectly i n the g r i p and keeps the handles t i g h t t o the g r i p wihout damaging them The handle stop shall prevent the handles from coming loose (see example in Figure and the general view of g r i p and handle stop Figure 5) D in ensions ii m fflin ettes 75 Tolerance ± 0,1 mm M a t e r a l : P lastic , rubber or wood Figure — testing equipment - Handle stop 10 EN 13590:2003 (E) Key A H a n dle stop B G rip Figure — General view of grip and handle stop assembly The bag is free lifted for 0,5 s ± 0,05 s ( ie approximately 300 m m - m m ) and then lowered again The number of lifts is counted The bottom turning p o i n t i s controlted by a photocell or an equivalent device, so that the relaxation of the bag is the same w h e t h e r i t i s stretched or not When the bottom of the bag h a s touched the bottom p l a t e during the downward m ove, the m achine handle is l o w e r e d a d d i t i o n a l ly 50mm ± m m At the lower turning p o i n t t h e c a r r i e r b a g is placed and rested on a horizontal rigid smooth surface 5.5 P r o c e d u r e for t e s t i n g 5.5.1 Determination of the volume F o r the determi n a t i o n of the volume the following steps are n e e d e d : a) the c a r r i e r b a g is in both is handles so t h a t i t i s hanging free, e g o n the g r p of the testng m a c h i n e ; b) the bag is filled to the rim w ih p l a s t i c granules (see 3.1); c) the bag is p u t down and completely released still holding the handles; d) the bag is lifted a g a i n and freely as in a) and i t i s then filled up w ih granules to cm from its u p p e r edge or patch handles; 11 EN 13590:2003 (E) e) the b a g i s weighed a n d i t s w e i g h t i s n o t e d ; F) r e p e a t a ) to e) for 10 b a g s , a n d c a l c u l a t e the a v e r a g e weight; g) calculate the a v e r a g e volume in liters by d i v i d i n g the a v e r a g e weight w i t h the bulk specific mass d e f i n e d i n 5.3.1 The volume is rounded to the n e a r e s t full litre so t h a t an a v e r a g e volume of e g 15,5 liters is r o u n d e d to 16 liters 5.5.2 Determination of the carrying capacity The Carrier bag is p l a c e d o n a b a l a n c e a n d filled w i h the filling material given in 5.3.2.The b a g is filled to the we i g h t calculated i n 5.5.1 or, otherw ise, a s a g r e e d b e t w e e n s u p p l i e r a n d b u y e r The b a g is lifted by both its h a n d l e s from the balance Then it is h u n g in its h a n d l e s on the grip of the tes ting ma c h i n e T h e handle stop is then p u s h e d into the g r i p T h e lifting b a r w ih the filled c a r r i e r b a g is placed in its u p p e r position The ma c h i n e is started a n d the b a g is lowered a n d lifted until it b r e a k s or h a s b e e n lifted 20 time s The p a s s / f a i l a r e a s follows: a) h o l e s w i h a m axim u m dim ension o f mm , while the b a g is h a n g i n g , a r e permi t t e d ; b) i f h o l e s a r e b i g g e r t h a n m m , o r i n the c a s e o f h a n d l e r u p t u r e s , the b a g i s c o n s i d e r e d a s broken I f o n ly b a g o u t o f b a g s f a i l s , the c a r r y i n g c a p a c i y i s a c c e p t e d a n d the t e s t i s finished If mo r e than b a g fails, the load is d e c r e a s e d by kg a n d a n o t h e r t e s t s e r i e s of 20 b a g s is started a n d so o n If a t l e a s t o u t of the first t e s t e d b a g s d o n t b r e a k until 20 lifts, the weight is i n c r e a s e d by kg a n d a new t e s t s e r i e s o f new b a g s i s started a n d s o o n I f a t l e a s t o u t of first b a g s b r e a k b e f o r e they h a v e b e e n lfted 20 t i m e s , the t e s t i s interrupted, the weight is r e d u c e d by kg a n d a new t e s t s e r i e s of new b a g s is started, a n d so o n A f t e r a t l e a s t b a g s h a v e p a s s e d the t e s t w i h the last weight, the t e s t i s e x t e n d e d until o u t o f b a g s stand 20 lifts 5.6 Test report The t e s t r e p o r t s h a l l i n c l u d e : a) name a n d a d d r e s s of tes ting laboratory; b) name a n d a d d r e s s of responsible supplier; c) full description d) r e f e r e n c e to the p r e s e n t E u r o p e a n S t a n d a r d , i e E N 13950; e) total numb e r o f b a g s tes ted a n d test result for each bag; f) m e a s u r e d volume o f t h e b a g s in liters; g) c a r r y i n g c a p a c i y in kilograms 12 of the tes ted c a r r i e r b a g type a n d t e s t date (s); EN 13590:2003 (E) Marking All the information shall be m arked in the same font Bags shall be m arked w ith the following in f o r m a t i o n : a) suppleir's name, trade mark or identification m ark; b) y e a r a n d month o r w e e k of manufacture; c) numb e r of this European Standard, i e EN 13590; d) the carrying c a p a c i t y in kilograms (kg) ( the carrying capacity shall not be g r e a t e r than the carrying c a p a c i t y stated in 5.5 2) e) the volume in liters ( the volum e s h a l l n o t b e g r e a t e r than the volume calculated in 5.5.1 ) 13 EN 13590:2003 (E) Annex A ( normative ) Filling material 50 mm Specifications: Height D iam e t e r Edge Surface Materal 50 mm ± mm 50 mm ± mm 1mm ± 0,5 mm , 45° sm ooth HDPE Figure A.1 — Filling material 14 BSI — British Standards Institution BSI is the independent national body responsible for preparing British Standards It presents the UK view on standards in Europe and at the international level It is incorporated by Royal Charter Revisions British Standards are updated by amendment or revision Users of British Standards should make sure that they possess the latest amendments or editions It is the constant aim of BSI to improve the quality of our products and services We would be grateful if anyone finding an inaccuracy or ambiguity while using this British Standard would inform the Secretary of the technical committee responsible, the identity of which can be found on the inside front cover Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 9000 Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7400 BSI offers members an individual updating service called PLUS which ensures t h a t subscribers automatically receive the latest editions of standards Buying standards Orders for all BSI, international and 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