ISO 8681:1986

Overview - ISO 8681:1986 (Petroleum products and lubricants classification)

ISO 8681:1986 establishes a general classification system for petroleum products, lubricants and related products and defines the principal classes and designations used across ISO standards. It sets the format and naming principles used to label product families and categories so that individual product-class rules can be developed in the relevant technical standards.

Keywords: ISO 8681:1986, petroleum products classification, lubricants classification, ISO designation system.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Purpose: Provide a uniform method for classifying petroleum products, lubricants and related materials so product families and categories are consistently designated in ISO standards.
• Classification principle: Products are classified primarily by field of application; where appropriate, classification can be based on product type (e.g., fuels).
• Designation format:
  • General form: ISO - CLASS - CATEGORY - NUMBERS (if any)
  • Abbreviated: CLASS - CATEGORY - NUMBERS
  • The class is a single prefix letter that identifies the main group (e.g., F, S, L, W, B).
  • The category is 1–4 letters; the first letter identifies the family and subsequent letters are defined within the specific family standard.
  • Numbers may be added for further subdivision where defined by the relevant standard.
• Class letters defined in ISO 8681 (examples from the standard):
  • F - Fuels
  • S - Solvents and raw materials for the chemical industry
  • L - Lubricants, industrial oils and related products
  • W - Waxes
  • B - Bitumen
• Delegation to specific standards: Detailed rules for categories and numerical codes are specified in the individual ISO standards covering each product family (e.g., lubricants, fuels).

Practical applications and users

ISO 8681 is a foundational reference used by:

• Standards writers and ISO technical committees defining product-specific classification rules.
• Petroleum and lubricant manufacturers standardizing product codes and labels.
• Procurement specialists and specifications writers who reference standardized designations.
• Testing laboratories, certification bodies and regulatory agencies ensuring consistent identification across markets.
• Supply chain and logistics teams managing product cataloguing, ordering and compliance.

Typical use cases:

• Creating product specifications that reference an accepted ISO class/category code.
• Harmonizing catalogues and datasheets across international markets.
• Establishing a common vocabulary for contract and regulatory documentation.

Related standards

• ISO 6743/0 - Lubricants, industrial oils and related products - Part 0: General (referenced)
• ISO 8216/0 - Petroleum products - Fuels - Part 0: General (referenced)

ISO 8681:1986 provides the naming framework; consult the relevant family standards for the detailed category and numbering rules.