ISO 13909-1:2016

Overview

ISO 13909-1:2016 - Hard coal and coke - Mechanical sampling - Part 1: General introduction (ISO) provides the foundational framework for mechanical sampling of solid mineral fuels. It defines basic terms and definitions used throughout the ISO 13909 series, describes the general principles of sampling, and lists the information required in sampling documentation and the sampling report. The document also guides users on choosing the appropriate part of the ISO 13909 series for specific sampling situations.

Key topics and requirements

• Terminology and scope: Clear definitions for concepts such as increment, primary increment, sample division, sample preparation, bias, precision, and lot/sub-lot are provided to ensure consistent use of terms in coal and coke sampling.
• General principles of sampling: Emphasis on representative sampling - all parts of a lot must be accessible and equal-mass portions must have equal probability of selection.
• Preferred sampling methods: Mechanical sampling from moving streams is the preferred method; full-depth mechanical auger sampling of stationary lots is an acceptable alternative when unbiased.
• Bias and precision considerations: Identification of potential sources of bias (location/timing of increments, incorrect extraction, loss of sample integrity) and direction to Parts 7 and 8 for methods to determine precision and test for bias.
• Sampling system elements: Guidance on integrated sampling systems, on-line vs off-line sample processing, sampler types (falling-stream, cross-belt, auger), and requirements for packing, marking and reporting samples.
• Documentation and reporting: Specifies the information to be included in the sampling report to support traceability and reproducibility.
• Normative references: Includes related technical references (e.g., ISO 565, ISO 3310-1, ISO 5725-1) relevant to sieves, test equipment, and measurement accuracy.

Applications and who uses it

ISO 13909-1 is essential for professionals involved in the sampling and quality control of hard coal and coke:

• Coal and coke producers and plant engineers designing or validating mechanical sampling systems.
• Laboratories preparing test samples and ensuring representative sampling for chemical and physical analysis.
• Traders and buyers requiring reliable sampling protocols for contractual quality assessment.
• Regulators and certification bodies assessing compliance with accepted sampling practices.
• Consultants and equipment manufacturers who need standard terminology and requirements to design compliant samplers.

Practical uses include selecting the correct ISO 13909 part for a given operation, designing unbiased sampling plans (moving stream vs stationary lot), preparing sampling reports, and minimizing sampling error and bias in routine quality control.

Related standards

• ISO 13909 series (Parts 2–8) - detailed procedures for moving streams, stationary lots, sample preparation, precision and bias testing
• ISO 14180 - guidance for sampling brown coal and lignite and coal-seam sampling
• ISO 18283 - manual sampling of coal and coke
• ISO 565, ISO 3310-1, ISO 5725-1 - normative references for sieves and measurement accuracy

Keywords: ISO 13909-1:2016, mechanical sampling, hard coal, coke, sampling procedures, sampling report, primary increment, sampling bias, moving streams, stationary lots, sample preparation.