ISO 28499-2:2009

Overview

ISO 28499-2:2009 is an international standard published by ISO that provides detailed guidance on the grading of buffalo hides and buffalo calf skins based on their mass and size. This standard applies specifically to water-buffalo hides and calf skins used for tanning and excludes wild buffalo and American bison. It covers various conditions of raw materials, including raw, wet-salted, dry-salted, and dried states. By standardizing classification criteria, this document supports consistent quality assessment in the leather industry, facilitating trade and processing of buffalo hides.

Key Topics

• Scope and Application
  ISO 28499-2:2009 focuses exclusively on water-buffalo hides and calf skins intended for tanning, ensuring that grading methods are relevant to commercial tannery practices. It does not apply to hides from wild buffalo species or American bison.

• Definitions
  The standard clarifies critical terminology including:

  • Buffalo calf skin: skin of a young or immature buffalo
  • Buffalo hide: outer hide covering of a fully-grown buffalo
  • Green mass: the weight of trimmed, defatted hides before preservation processes

• Trimming Procedures
  Before grading, hides and skins undergo specific trimming:

  • Buffalo hides are trimmed at fore and hind shanks, rump, brisket, and head areas.
  • Buffalo calf skins require shorter shanks and removal of the head behind the ears and cheeks.
    Proper trimming ensures uniformity when weighing and grading.

• Mass Determination
  Hides and skins are weighed with precision, accounting for residual moisture, dung, salt, and other matter depending on their preservation state:

  • Raw hides to nearest 0.5 kg; calf skins to nearest 0.1 kg
  • Wet-salted hides and skins are brushed to remove salt before weighing
  • Dry-salted and dried materials are shaken free from extraneous matter prior to weighing

• Grading on Mass
  The standard categorizes hides and skins into four mass-based categories:

  • Light
  • Medium
  • Heavy
  • Extra-heavy
    These are aligned with weight ranges for raw, wet-salted, dry-salted, and dried conditions.

• Grading on Size
  Size grading is based on the surface area in square decimeters (dm²), using similar category designations as mass grading to facilitate quality classification and sorting.

Applications

• Leather Industry: Tanners and leather processors apply ISO 28499-2 to grade buffalo hides and skins consistently, enabling objective quality control and pricing based on standardized mass and size categories.
• Trading and Procurement: Buyers and suppliers benefit from a universally recognized grading system to negotiate fair values and ensure product specifications meet processing requirements.
• Quality Assurance: Grading provides a measurable parameter to maintain batch uniformity, optimize processing efficiency, and reduce disputes over raw material quality.
• Export and Import: The standard supports international trade by providing a clear reference for hide grading, reducing ambiguities related to product assessments across borders.

Related Standards

• ISO 28499-1: Describes defects in buffalo hides and calf skins, complementing grading by size and mass.
• ISO 28499-3: Focuses on grading hides based on defect types, enhancing comprehensive classification.
• ISO 2820: Provides methods for trimming raw hides, referenced for trimming procedures within ISO 28499-2.
• ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2: Governs the drafting and approval process for ISO standards ensuring quality and international consensus.

Conclusion

ISO 28499-2:2009 is a critical tool for the standardized grading of buffalo hides and calf skins by mass and size. Its application ensures uniformity in the leather production chain, supporting quality, efficiency, and transparency from raw material procurement to finished product output. By adhering to this standard, stakeholders in the leather industry can enhance operational consistency and global market acceptance.

Keywords: ISO 28499-2, buffalo hides grading, buffalo calf skins classification, leather tanning standards, hide mass grading, hide size grading, wet-salted buffalo hides, dry-salted buffalo skins, leather industry standards.