FprEN 13039
(Main)Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of organic matter content and ash
- Abstract
This document specifies a routine method for determining the organic matter and the ash content of soil improvers and growing media.
NOTE 1 The loss on ignition (LOI) is often used as an estimate for the content of organic matter in the sample. Inorganic substances or decomposition products (e.g. H2O, CO2, SO2, O2) are released or absorbed and some inorganic substances are volatile under the reaction conditions. Thus, a conversion to the organic carbon content is not possible.
NOTE 2 This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex A, being bark (Pinus pinaster, 20 mm to 40 mm fraction), green compost (Rottegrad 5,0 mm to 15 mm), liquid digestate, mineral wool, soil improver (pellets, sieved 4 mm) and growing media blend (white peat, black peat, expanded perlite, lime, organic fertilizer)).
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 13-Jan-2027
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 223 - Soil improvers and growing media
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 223/WG 4 - Analytical methods
- Current Stage
- 5020 - Submission to Vote - Formal Approval
- Start Date
- 24-Sep-2026
- Due Date
- 21-Dec-2024
- Completion Date
- 24-Sep-2026
- Mandate
- M/XXX - M/XXX
FprEN 13039 is a draft CEN European Standard for soil improvers and growing media. It specifies a routine method for determining organic matter content and ash, so laboratories can report how much combustible material and residual mineral matter a sample contains. The method is written for testing work on these products, and it links the result to dry mass.
What does FprEN 13039 specify?
FprEN 13039 specifies a routine laboratory method for soil improvers and growing media. It covers the determination of organic matter and ash content, using loss on ignition as the basis for the result.
The document is organized into:
- Scope
- Normative references
- Terms and definitions
- Principle
- Apparatus
- Sampling
- Procedure
- Calculation and expression of results
- Test report
- Validation of the method
- Annex A with performance characteristics
| Annex | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Annex A | Performance characteristics of the method, based on an interlaboratory study |
Sampling is handled by a referenced standard, and sample preparation is also referenced rather than fully repeated in this document. That matters in practice because the method assumes the lab receives a representative sample and prepares it in the stated way before testing.
What are the key requirements of FprEN 13039?
FprEN 13039 uses a simple ignition approach: dry the test portion, burn off the organic fraction, and weigh the residue. The method is built around mass change, so careful handling, drying, cooling and weighing are central to getting a defensible result.
Sample handling and preparation
Clause 6 says sampling is not part of the method and points to EN 12579:2024. Clause 7.2 requires sample preparation according to Clause 10 of prEN 13040-1:2025. In practice, the lab needs a representative sample that has not been altered during transport or storage.
Drying and ashing conditions
Clause 4 and Clause 7.3 specify drying at 105 °C ± 2 °C and ashing at 550 °C ± 25 °C. The sample is first dried, then ignited in a muffle furnace, with staged heating up to the ashing temperature. This reduces the risk of spattering and helps separate moisture loss from ignition loss.
Apparatus and weighing
Clause 5 requires a drying oven, electric muffle furnace, basin, desiccator and analytical balance with a 0.01 g scale interval. The basin must be suitable for the sample and free from relevant volatile substances. In practice, this means the lab needs stable equipment and clean containers to avoid bias in the mass measurements.
Determination and repeat-ashing
Clause 7.3 requires cooling in a desiccator and reweighing after drying and after ignition. If the difference between the two ignition weighings is above 0.01 g, the ashing step is repeated. That gives the operator a check that the residue has reached a stable mass.
Calculation and reporting
Clause 8 expresses both organic matter content and ash content as percentages by mass of the dried sample. Clause 9 requires the test report to identify the sample, cite the document, give results to one decimal place, and note unusual features or any non-standard operation. This is the part buyers and quality teams use to compare batches and record traceability.
Method validation
Clause 10 and Annex A show that the method was validated by interlaboratory study using six matrices. The validation data include repeatability and reproducibility, which are important when a lab wants to judge whether its own results are in line with the method performance.
What terms does FprEN 13039 define?
- Organic matter - the carbon fraction of a sample that is free from water and inorganic substances.
- Ash - the mineral residue left after controlled burning removes the organic matter.
- Loss on ignition (LOI) - the mass lost during ignition, used here as an estimate of organic matter.
- Dry matter (DM) - the dried sample basis used for expressing the results.
- Repeatability - closeness of results under the same conditions in one laboratory.
- Reproducibility - closeness of results under changed conditions between laboratories.
Who uses FprEN 13039?
FprEN 13039 is used by testing laboratories, producers of soil improvers and growing media, quality managers, and buyers who need a declared composition for product control. It is also relevant for conformity assessment, product release, and routine quality checks. For users, the value of the standard is that it gives a common laboratory method for comparing materials that can vary widely in composition.
What changed in FprEN 13039 from the previous edition?
FprEN 13039 will supersede EN 13039:2011. The document states two significant technical changes:
- the scope has been adapted
- the temperature range for drying has been expanded
Which standards are used with FprEN 13039?
- CEN/TS 17732:2022 - provides the terminology used for soil improvers and growing media.
- EN 12579:2024 - covers sampling of soil improvers and growing media.
- prEN 13040-1:2025 - gives sample preparation for chemical and physical tests, including dry matter and moisture-related preparation.
- ISO 5725-2 - provides the statistical basis used for validation, repeatability and reproducibility.
What does the FprEN 13039 document contain?
FprEN 13039 contains the full laboratory procedure, from apparatus and sample preparation through drying, ignition and weighing. It also includes the calculation formulas for organic matter content and ash content, and the reporting items required in the test report. Annex A summarizes the interlaboratory validation and performance characteristics for six representative materials.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
FprEN 13039 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of organic matter content and ash". This standard covers: This document specifies a routine method for determining the organic matter and the ash content of soil improvers and growing media. NOTE 1 The loss on ignition (LOI) is often used as an estimate for the content of organic matter in the sample. Inorganic substances or decomposition products (e.g. H2O, CO2, SO2, O2) are released or absorbed and some inorganic substances are volatile under the reaction conditions. Thus, a conversion to the organic carbon content is not possible. NOTE 2 This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex A, being bark (Pinus pinaster, 20 mm to 40 mm fraction), green compost (Rottegrad 5,0 mm to 15 mm), liquid digestate, mineral wool, soil improver (pellets, sieved 4 mm) and growing media blend (white peat, black peat, expanded perlite, lime, organic fertilizer)).
This document specifies a routine method for determining the organic matter and the ash content of soil improvers and growing media. NOTE 1 The loss on ignition (LOI) is often used as an estimate for the content of organic matter in the sample. Inorganic substances or decomposition products (e.g. H2O, CO2, SO2, O2) are released or absorbed and some inorganic substances are volatile under the reaction conditions. Thus, a conversion to the organic carbon content is not possible. NOTE 2 This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex A, being bark (Pinus pinaster, 20 mm to 40 mm fraction), green compost (Rottegrad 5,0 mm to 15 mm), liquid digestate, mineral wool, soil improver (pellets, sieved 4 mm) and growing media blend (white peat, black peat, expanded perlite, lime, organic fertilizer)).
FprEN 13039 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 65.080 - Fertilizers. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
FprEN 13039 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN ISO 18589-5:2021, EN ISO 13160:2021, EN ISO 13163:2022, EN ISO 13165-2:2022, EN ISO 19581:2025, EN ISO 11665-6:2020, EN ISO 13162:2021, EN ISO 20044:2024, EN ISO 13161:2020, EN ISO 22125-2:2019, EN ISO 13165-3:2024, EN ISO 22515:2021, EN ISO 11929-4:2023, EN ISO 23548:2025, EN ISO 18589-1:2021. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
FprEN 13039 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2019/1009; Standardization Mandates: M/564, M/564 AMD 1, M/564 AMD 2, M/XXX. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
FprEN 13039 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2025
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Določanje organske snovi in pepela
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of organic matter content and ash
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung des Gehaltes an
organischer Substanz und Asche
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Détermination de la teneur en matière
organique et des cendres
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 13039
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 13039
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2025
ICS 65.080 Will supersede EN 13039:2011
English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of
organic matter content and ash
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate -
Détermination de la teneur en matière organique et Bestimmung des Gehaltes an organischer Substanz und
des cendres Asche
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 223.
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 13039:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
prEN 13039:2025 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Principle . 4
5 Apparatus . 5
6 Sampling . 5
7 Procedure . 5
7.1 Safety . 5
7.2 Test sample . 5
7.3 Determination . 5
8 Calculation and expression of results . 6
9 Test report . 6
10 Validation of the method . 6
10.1 Validation in accordance with ISO 5725-2. 6
10.2 Performance characteristics. 6
Annex A (informative) Performance characteristics of the method . 7
Bibliography . 10
prEN 13039:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 13039:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 223 “Soil
improvers and growing media”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 13039:2011.
prEN 13039:2025 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 13039:2011:
— the scope has been adapted.
— the temperature range for the drying has been expanded.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
prEN 13039:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies a routine method for determining the organic matter and the ash content of soil
improvers and growing media.
NOTE The loss on ignition (LOI) is often used as an estimate for the content of organic matter in the sample.
Inorganic substances or decomposition products (e.g. H O, CO , SO , O ) are released or absorbed and some
2 2 2 2
inorganic substances are volatile under the reaction conditions. Thus, a conversion to the organic carbon content is
not possible.
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.
CEN/TS 17732:2022, Soil improvers and growing media – Terminology
EN 12579:2024, Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling
prEN 13040-1:2025, Soil improvers and growing media — Sample preparation — Part 1: Sample
preparation for chemical and physical tests, determination of dry matter content, moisture content and
laboratory bulk density
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in CEN/TS 17732:2022 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
organic matter
carbon fraction of a sample which is free from water and inorganic substances
3.2
ash
residual mineral matter remaining after the destruction of organic matter/material by controlled burning
4 Principle
The test portion is dried at 105 °C ± 2 °C, then ashed at 550 °C ± 25 °C. The ash is determined as the
residue on ignition. The organic matter is taken to be the loss of mass on ignition. Both are expressed as
a percentage by mass of the dried sample.
NOTE 1 Loss on ignition (LOI) is an empirical parameter, thus in principle there is no interference connected to
the determination. However, for some purposes the determination of LO
...