Raffia [German version]

Table of contents

General:
Product information
Packaging
Transport
  Container transport
  Cargo securing


Risk factors and loss prevention:
Temperature Odor
Humidity/Moisture Contamination
Ventilation Mechanical influences
Biotic activity Toxicity / Hazards to health
Gases Shrinkage/Shortage
Self-heating / Spontaneous combustion Insect infestation / Diseases




Product information

Product name

German Raffia, Raphia, Raphiabast
English Raffia
French Raphia
Spanish Raffia
Scientific Raphia ruffis, Raphia farinifera
CN/HS number * 5305 9 ff.


(* EU Combined Nomenclature/Harmonized System)



Product description

Raffia belongs to the category fibers/fibrous materials, which are classified as follows [24]:

Plant hairs:

Cotton seed-hairs
Kapok tree fruit hairs


Stalk fibers from dicotyledonous plants (soft fibers):

Flax, ramie (fine spinnable fibers)
Hemp, jute, kenaf (coarse spinnable fibers)


Leaf fibers (hard fibers):

Sisal, Manila hemp, palm fibers (poor spinning characteristics)


Bast:

Linden, raffia palm, willow


Basketwork material:

Coconut fiber, rattan cane, halfa, piassava, esparto


Like chair cane and piassava, raffia is a palm fiber (= leaf or leaf rib fiber from tropical palm varieties (Palmae)) and should not be confused with the palm-type fibers such as yucca and aloe, which come from the Liliaceae family. Raffia is also sold under the name raffia bast.

The raffia palm (Raphia farinifera) was originally native to Madagascar; however, stocks there have been decimated by over-exploitation. This palm is now cultivated in West and East Africa.

Raffia palms are up to 20 m high, the palm crowns carrying pinnate leaves up to 15 m long and up to 3 m wide. The young, as yet unopened leaves are covered with the raffia bast, which is removed, dried and packaged in bales.

Raffia fibers have very good strength and stretch. They are 1.5 – 1.8 m long and 0.04 m wide.


Quality / Duration of storage

Raffia from the west coast of Africa is lighter than that from the east coast.

Moisture-damaged goods must be rejected prior to loading, as the resultant mustiness, mold and rot may cause considerable depreciation.

Subject to compliance with the appropriate temperature and humidity/moisture conditions, duration of storage is not a limiting factor as regards transport and storage life.


Intended use

Raffia is principally used as a binding and basketwork material in garden and fruit cultivation as well as for weaving (mats, rugs, baskets, hats, coarse yarns for craft items).


Figure

(Click on the individual Figures to enlarge them.)

Drawing, raffia

Figure 1
Photo, raffia

Figure 2



Countries of origin

This Table shows only a selection of the most important countries of origin and should not be thought of as exhaustive.

Europe  
Africa Madagascar, South Africa, West and East Africa
Asia  
America  
Australia  


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Packaging

Raffia is transported in 100 kg bales wrapped in bast mats.

Marking of packages
Mark07.gif (2224 bytes)

Keep dry
Mark02.gif (2816 bytes)

Use no hooks
Mark04.gif (3269 bytes)

Keep away from heat
(solar radiation)


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Transport

Symbols

Symbol, Class 4.2

Spontaneously combustible,
Class 4.2 IMDG Code
Symbol, Class 4.1

Fire hazard
(Flammable solids),
Class 4.1 IMDG Code
Symbol, general cargo

General cargo



Means of transport

Ship, truck, railroad


Container transport

Standard containers , subject to compliance with water content of goods, packaging and flooring.


Cargo handling

In damp weather (rain, snow), the cargo must be protected from moisture, since raffia is strongly hygroscopic and readily absorbs moisture. This may lead to discoloration and fungal attack.

Do not use hooks for cargo handling, since they may lead to sparking when they come into contact with metal objects.

In addition, smoking is absolutely prohibited during cargo handling.


Stowage factor

2.97 – 3.26 m3/t (bales, Madagascar) [1]
4.81 – 6.20 m3/t (bales, South Africa, uncompressed)[1]
3.54 m3/t (bales, South Africa, compressed) [1]
3.11 – 3.26 m3/t (bundles) [14]


Stowage space requirements

Cool, dry


Segregation

Fiber rope, thin fiber nets


Cargo securing

The cargo is to be secured in such a way that the bales or strapping are not damaged. Undamaged strapping is essential to maintain compression of the bales during transport. If the strapping is broken, compression is diminished, which at the same time results in an increased supply of oxygen to the inside of the bales. This in turn increases the risk of combustion or feeds a fire which has already started.


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Risk factors and loss prevention

RF Temperature

Raffia requires particular temperature, humidity/moisture and possibly ventilation conditions (SC VI) (storage climate conditions).

Favorable travel temperature range: no lower limit – 25°C

Raffia must be stowed away from heat sources.

Every hold should be equipped with means for measuring temperature. Measurements must be performed and recorded daily.


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RF Humidity/Moisture

Raffia requires particular temperature, humidity/moisture and possibly ventilation conditions (SC VI) (storage climate conditions).

Designation Humidity/water content Source
Relative humidity 65% [1]
Water content 12% [1]
12.0% [14]
Maximum equilibrium moisture content 65% [1]


Raffia behaves strongly hygroscopically (hygroscopicity). It must be protected from sea, rain and condensation water and also from high levels of relative humidity, as otherwise the resultant mustiness, rot and mold may cause depreciation.


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RF Ventilation

Raffia requires particular temperature, humidity/moisture and possibly ventilation conditions (SC VI) (storage climate conditions).

If the product is loaded for shipment in a dry state, it does not have any particular ventilation requirements.

Problems arise if the product, packaging and/or ceiling/flooring are too damp. In this case, the following ventilation measures should be implemented:

Air exchange rate: 10 changes/hour (airing)

Since raffia very readily absorbs oxygen, before anybody enters the hold, it must be ventilated and a gas measurement carried out if necessary, since a shortage of oxygen may endanger life.


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RF Biotic activity

Raffia displays 3rd order biotic activity.

It belongs to the class of goods in which respiration processes are suspended, but in which biochemical, microbial and other decomposition processes still proceed.


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RF Gases

Raffia very readily absorbs oxygen. An oxygen shortage may therefore arise in closed holds and containers. Before anybody enters such holds, the holds must be ventilated and a gas measurement carried out where necessary.

The increase in CO2 and CO content indicates a cargo fire. The TLV of the hold air is 0.49 vol.%.


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RF Self-heating / Spontaneous combustion

Raffia is assigned to Class 4.1 of the IMDG Code (Flammable solids). However, its specific characteristics and negative external influences (see below) may cause it to behave like a substance from Class 4.2 (Substances liable to spontaneous combustion) of the IMDG Code or ADR.

Its high cellulose content makes raffia particularly liable to catch fire through external ignition (heating). Therefore, it must always be protected from sparks, fire, naked lights and lit cigarettes. Smoking is absolutely prohibited. In accordance with the IMDG Code, ventilation openings leading into the hold should be provided with spark-proof wire cloth.

Raffia must be stowed away from animal and vegetable fats/oils, oil-bearing seeds/fruits, copra and raw wool, since oil-impregnated fibers promote cargo fire.

Fire-fighting is best performed using CO2 or foam.


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RF Odor

Active behavior Raffia is neutral in odor.
Passive behavior Raffia is sensitive to unpleasant or pungent odors. Foreign odors produced by highly odor-tainting goods may cause depreciation.



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RF Contamination

Active behavior Raffia does not cause contamination.
Passive behavior Raffia is sensitive to contamination by dust, dirt, fats/oils and rust as well as oil-containing goods, such as oil-bearing seeds/fruits, copra, raw wool etc., since oil-impregnated fibers promote self-heating/cargo fire. Holds or containers must accordingly be clean and in a thoroughly hygienic condition. Residues from previous cargoes, such as ores, stones, coal, metal filings, fertilizers etc., result in losses.



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RF Mechanical influences

Care must be taken to ensure that mechanical influences do not cause damage to strapping.


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RF Toxicity / Hazards to health

Since raffia is highly oxygen-absorbent, a life-threatening shortage of oxygen may arise in the hold or container. Thus, before anybody enters the hold, it must be ventilated and, if necessary, a gas measurement carried out. The TLV for CO2 concentration is 0.49 vol.%.


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RF Shrinkage/Shortage

Unclearly marked bales may result in losses of volume due to incorrect delivery.


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RF Insect infestation / Diseases

No risk.


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