kSIST FprEN 13590:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies general characteristics and test methods for determination of volume and carrying capacity of flexible carrier bags with handles for transport of various unspecified retail goods.; This document is applicable to:; - carrier bags made of paper, thermoplastic material and/or any other flexible material;; - carrier bags with any shape and dimension;; - carrier bags with or without gussets.

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 19-Jan-2026
• ICS: 55.080 - Sacks. Bags
• Technical Committee: EPO - Packaging - sales and grouped
• Current Stage: 5020 - Formal vote (FV) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 13-Oct-2026
• Due Date: 01-Dec-2026
• Ref Project: FprEN 13590 - Packaging - Flexible carrier bags for the transport of various retail goods - General characteristics and test methods for the determination of volume and carrying capacity

• Revises: SIST EN 13590:2003 - Packaging - Flexible carrier bags for the transport of various retail goods - General characteristics and test methods for the determination of volume and carrying capacity
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2026

kSIST FprEN 13590:2026 is a SIST draft European Standard for flexible carrier bags with handles used to carry various retail goods. It specifies general characteristics and test methods for determining bag volume and carrying capacity, so suppliers, buyers, quality teams and test laboratories can describe and verify these bags in the same way.

What does kSIST FprEN 13590:2026 specify?

kSIST FprEN 13590:2026 covers flexible carrier bags with handles and defines how to measure their volume and carrying capacity. It applies to bags made of paper, thermoplastic material, or other flexible materials, in any shape and dimension, with or without gussets.

The document is organized into eight clauses and two annexes. Clause 4 covers volume and initial carrying weight, Clause 5 covers the test principles, Clause 6 gives the carrying-capacity test procedure, Clause 7 covers the test report, and Clause 8 covers marking.

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	Normative filling material for carrying-capacity testing
Annex B	Informative parameters to agree when ordering carrier bags

What are the key requirements of kSIST FprEN 13590:2026?

kSIST FprEN 13590:2026 is built around a controlled test sequence: measure the bag, set an initial test load, condition the sample, run the carrying-capacity test, and record the results. In practice, this means the same bag type can be checked and described with repeatable methods.

Volume measurement and starting load

Clause 4 requires the bag to be empty when measured. The volume is calculated from the dimensions shown in Figure 1, using the bag shape that matches the product, and the result is based on the average of five bags.

Clause 4 also defines how to choose the initial test weight. For a maximum-capacity test, the document uses the measured volume and a constant factor of 0,56; for an agreed capacity check, the agreed weight may be used directly. This matters because the test starts close to the expected load instead of building up from a very low value.

Sampling and conditioning

Clause 5 requires a type test on at least 100 bags selected at random from normal production. The samples are conditioned and tested according to EN ISO 2233, condition G, at controlled temperature and humidity for bags sensitive to humidity.

This is important because the test is meant to represent real production, not a single hand-picked sample. Conditioning makes results more comparable between laboratories and between production lots.

Test material and equipment

Clause 5.3 and Annex A require high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cylinders as the filling material. Clause 5.4 describes the test equipment, including a grip shaped like a hand, a handle stop, and controlled lifting and lowering movement at a specified speed.

In practice, the equipment has to hold the bag the same way each time and move it in a controlled cycle. That reduces variation from the test set-up and makes failures easier to interpret.

Carrying capacity and elongation

Clause 6.1 defines the carrying-capacity test as repeated lifting and lowering until the bag breaks or completes the required number of lifts. Small holes up to a stated size are tolerated while the bag is hanging, but larger holes and handle ruptures count as failure. The load is adjusted step by step until the maximum carrying weight is established.

Clause 6.2 checks elongation on one bag from the sample batch if the bag stretches under load. The bag is loaded, held for a fixed time, then remeasured, and the elongation is stated as a percentage. This tells the user whether the bag deforms too much during use.

Report and marking

Clause 7 lists the information that has to appear in the test report, including the bag description, the number of bags tested, the volume, the carrying capacity, and handle elongation if applicable. Clause 8 sets the information that can be marked on the bag after testing, including the reference to the document, supplier identification, year of testing, laboratory name, carrying capacity, and volume.

What terms does kSIST FprEN 13590:2026 define?

• Gusset - A fold inserted in the longitudinal edge of a tube or bag, which changes the bag shape and usable volume.
• Base gusset - A fold inserted in the bottom of the bag, which affects the base geometry and capacity.
• Tube - One or more plies in the form of a flattened cylinder cut into prescribed lengths.
• Ply - A film or sheet of flexible material, or a combination of such materials, that forms the bag wall.
• Handle - The part of the bag that allows hands to be inserted for carrying a load.
• Length of bag up to handle - The overall length from the bottom to the start of the handle, measured perpendicular to the bottom.
• Total length of bag - The overall length from the bottom to the top, including the handle.

Who uses kSIST FprEN 13590:2026?

kSIST FprEN 13590:2026 is used by bag manufacturers, suppliers, buyers, and testing laboratories. Annex B is especially relevant when a supplier and buyer agree on material, shape, dimensions, volume, and carrying capacity before ordering.

Quality managers and packaging engineers use it to define type tests, compare production batches, and decide what to record on reports and markings. Test laboratories use it to set up the equipment, condition samples, and run the load and elongation tests in a repeatable way.

What changed in kSIST FprEN 13590:2026 from the previous edition?

kSIST FprEN 13590:2026 supersedes EN 13590:2003. The foreword states these main changes:

• the document was revised to the latest Internal Regulations Part 3 principles and rules;
• the structure was updated with new clauses on volume and initial carrying weight, and on principles;
• EN ISO 6590-1 was added as a normative reference;
• the term and definition for total length of bag was added;
• Figure 1 was expanded with an additional carrier-bag example;
• elongation of the flexible bag was added to the carrying-capacity test procedure;
• the responsible supplier was removed from the test report items;
• elongation of the handle in percent was added to the test report;
• the year and month or week of manufacture were removed from marking;
• the year of testing was added to marking;
• Annex B was added.

Which standards are used with kSIST FprEN 13590:2026?

Standard	What it contributes
EN ISO 2233	Conditioning for testing complete, filled transport packages and unit loads
EN ISO 8367-1	Dimensional tolerances for paper general-purpose sacks
EN ISO 8367-2	Dimensional tolerances for sacks made from thermoplastic flexible film
ISO 6590-1	Vocabulary for paper sacks, used in the terms and definitions

What does the kSIST FprEN 13590:2026 document contain?

kSIST FprEN 13590:2026 contains the bag-shape diagram in Figure 1, the test equipment illustrations in Figures 2 to 5, and the calculation approach for volume and initial test weight. It also gives the step-by-step carrying-capacity procedure, the elongation measurement method, and the pass/fail logic used to establish maximum carrying weight.

Annex A gives the HDPE cylinder filling material used in testing, with its dimensions and surface requirements. Annex B lists the parameters to agree when ordering carrier bags, which helps align supplier specifications with buyer expectations before testing begins.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 13590:2026
01-januar-2026
Embalaža - Prožne vreče za nošenje različnega drobnega blaga - Splošne
značilnosti in preskusne metode za ugotavljanje prostornine in nosilnosti
Packaging - Flexible carrier bags for the transport of various retail goods - General
characteristics and test methods for the determination of volume and carrying capacity
Verpackung - Tragetaschen für den Transport verschiedener Einzelhandelsgüter -
Allgemeine Eigenschaften und Prüfverfahren für die Bestimmung des Volumens und der
Tragekapazität
Emballage - Sacs en matériau souple pour le transport de marchandises de détail
variées - Caractéristiques générales et méthodes d'essai pour la détermination du
volume et de la capacité de transport
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 13590
ICS:
55.080 Vreče. Vrečke Sacks. Bags
oSIST prEN 13590:2026 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN 13590:2026
oSIST prEN 13590:2026
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 13590
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
November 2025
ICS 55.080 Will supersede EN 13590:2003
English Version
Packaging - Flexible carrier bags for the transport of
various retail goods - General characteristics and test
methods for the determination of volume and carrying
capacity
Emballage - Sacs en matériau souple pour le transport Verpackung - Tragetaschen für den Transport
de marchandises de détail variées - Caractéristiques verschiedener Einzelhandelsgüter - Allgemeine
générales et méthodes d'essai pour la détermination Eigenschaften und Prüfverfahren für die Bestimmung
du volume et de la capacité de transport des Volumens und der Tragekapazität
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 261.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 13590:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

oSIST prEN 13590:2026
prEN 13590:2025 (E)
Contents Page
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Determination of volume and initial carrying weight . 5
4.1 General. 5
4.2 Material . 5
4.3 Determination of volume . 5
4.3.1 General. 5
4.3.2 Volume for a carrier bag according to shape A . 6
4.3.3 Volume for a carrier bag according to shape B . 6
4.3.4 Volume for a carrier bag according to shape C . 7
4.4 Determination of initial test weight . 7
4.4.1 General. 7
4.4.2 Calculation of initial test weight . 7
4.4.3 Initial test weight by agreement . 7
5 Principles . 8
5.1 Sampling . 8
5.2 Conditioning . 8
5.3 Filling material for testing the carrying capacity . 8
5.4 Equipment . 8
6 Testing procedure for carrying capacity . 12
6.1 Determination of the maximum carrying weight . 12
6.2 Determination of the elongation of the flexible bag . 13
7 Test report . 13
8 Marking . 14
Annex A (normative) Filling material . 15
Annex B (informative) Parameters to be considered when ordering carrier bags . 16

oSIST prEN 13590:2026
prEN 13590:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 13590:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 261 “Packaging”,
the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 13590:2003.
prEN 13590:2025 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 13590:2003:
— the document has been revised according to the latest updated version of the principles and rules of
the Internal Regulations Part 3;
— the document has been restructured to shape two new clauses on the determination of volume and
initial carrying weight and principles, respectively;
— EN ISO 6590-1, has been listed as a normative reference in Clause 2;
— the term and definition for the total length of bag has been added to Clause 3;
— Figure 1 has been expanded to include an additional example of a carrier bag in Clause 4;
— the determination of the elongation of the flexible bag has been added to the testing procedure for
carrying capacity;
— the name and address of responsible supplier is deleted from the list of information included in the
test report;
— the elongation of the handle in percent is added to the list of information included in the test report;
— the year and month or week of manufacture has been deleted from the information included in the
marking;
— the year of testing has been added to the list of the information included in the marking;
— Annex B on Parameters to be considered when ordering carrier bag has been added to the document.

oSIST prEN 13590:2026
prEN 13590:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies general characteristics and test methods for determination of volume and
carrying capacity of flexible carrier bags with handles for transport of various unspecified retail goods.
This document is applicable to:
— carrier bags made of paper, thermoplastic material and/or any other flexible material;
— carrier bags with any shape and dimension;
— carrier bags with or without gussets.
2 Normative 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.
EN ISO 2233, Packaging — Complete, filled transport packages and unit loads — Conditioning for testing
(ISO 2233)
EN ISO 8367-1, Packaging — Dimensional tolerances for general purpose sacks — Part 1: Paper sacks
(ISO 8367-1)
EN ISO 8367-2, Packaging — Dimensional tolerances for general purpose sacks — Part 2: Sacks made from
thermoplastic flexible film (ISO 8367-2)
ISO 6590-1, Packaging — Vocabulary — Part 1: Paper sacks
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN ISO 6590-1 and the following
apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
gusset
fold inserted in the longitudinal edge of a tube or bag
3.2
base gusset
fold inserted in the bottom of the bag
3.3
tube
one or more plies in the form of a flattened cylinder cut into prescribed lengths
3.4
ply
film or sheet of flexible material, or combination of such materials, forming the walls of a bag
oSIST prEN 13590:2026
prEN 13590:2025 (E)
3.5
handle
device forming part of the bag allowing the insertion of hands for the easy carrying of a load
3.6
length of bag up to handle
overall length from bottom to the start of the handle, perpendicular to the bottom
3.7
width of bag
distance between the longitudinal edges of the flat bag, gusset not included, parallel to the bottom
3.8
width of bottom
distance between the two bottom edge folds or the external creases of the base gusset, measured at the
centre, parallel to the bag's length
3.9
length of handle
overall length from the top to the maximum possible filling height of the bag
3.10
width of gusset
distance between the external creases of the unfolded gusset
3.11
width of handle
minimal width of a handle measured on the flat bag
3.12
total length of bag
overall length from bottom to the top, including the handle, perpendicular to the bottom
4 Determination of volume and initial carrying weight
4.1 General
The testing procedure always starts by determining the volum
...