ISO 13909-1:2025

International
Standard
ISO 13909-1
Third edition
Coal and coke — Mechanical
2025-07
sampling —
Part 1:
General introduction
Charbon et coke — Échantillonnage mécanique —
Partie 1: Introduction générale
Reference number
© ISO 2025
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Structure . 5
5 General principles of sampling . 5
6 Choice of sampling procedure . 6
7 Integrated sampling systems . 6
8 Packing and marking of samples . 7
9 Sampling report . 7
Bibliography . 8

iii
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 27, Coal and coke, Subcommittee SC 4, Sampling.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 13909-1:2016), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— the title has been changed to coal and coke and aligned with the rest of the ISO 13909 series;
— the scope has been modified to specifically include sampling of brown coals and lignites.
A list of all parts in the ISO 13909 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
International Standard ISO 13909-1:2025(en)
Coal and coke — Mechanical sampling —
Part 1:
General introduction
1 Scope
This document defines the basic terms used in the sampling of coal and coke, describes the general principles
of sampling and details the information to be provided in the documentation and the sampling report. It also
lists the other parts of the ISO 13909 series and gives guidance on the selection of the appropriate part.
The ISO 13909 series also includes sampling of brown coals and lignites.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions 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
air-drying
process of bringing the moisture content of the sample (3.31) near to equilibrium with the atmosphere in the
area in which further reduction and division of the sample are to take place
Note 1 to entry: Air-drying to equilibrium with the atmosphere applies to coal. Drying of coke is generally to facilitate
sample preparation (3.34).
3.2
bias
systematic error (3.10) which leads to the average value of a series of results being persistently higher or
persistently lower than those which are obtained using a reference sampling method
3.3
coefficient of variation
standard deviation (3.37) expressed as a percentage of the absolute value of the arithmetic mean
3.4
common sample
sample (3.31) collected for more than one intended use
3.5
continuous sampling
taking of a sample (3.31) from each consecutive sub-lot (3.39) so that increments are taken at uniform
intervals whenever the fuel is handled at the point of sampling

3.6
cut
increment (3.15) taken by a primary sampler or sample divider
3.7
cutter
mechanical sampling device which extracts increment(s) (3.15)
3.8
divided increment
part obtained from the division of the increment (3.15) in order to decrease its mass
Note 1 to entry: Such division may be done with or without prior size reduction.
3.9
duplicate sampling
particular case of replicate sampling (3.30) with only two replicate samples (3.31)
3.10
error
difference between the observation and the accepted reference value as defined in ISO 5725-1:2023 3.2
Note 1 to entry: This can be designated as systematic error [bias (3.2)] or random error (3.29).
3.11
fixed mass division
method of sample division (3.33) in which the mass retained is predetermined and independent of the mass
of the feed
3.12
fixed ratio division
method of sample division (3.33) in which the division ratio is predetermined
Note 1 to entry: In fixed ratio division, the mass of sample (3.31) retained is a fixed proportion of the mass of the feed.
3.13
fuel
coal or coke
3.14
test sample for general analysis
sample (3.31), prepared to pass a sieve of nominal size of openings 212 µm conforming with ISO 3310-1, used
for the determination of most chemical and some physical characteristics
3.15
increment
portion of fuel (3.13) extracted in a single operation of the sampling device
3.16
lot
defined quantity of fuel (3.13) for which the quality is to be determined
Note 1 to entry: A lot may be divided into sub-lots (3.39).
3.17
manual sampling
collection of increments (3.15) by human effort
3.18
mass-basis sampling
taking of increments (3.15) whereby the position of each increment to be collected from the stream of fuel
(3.13) is measured by a mass interval of stream flow and the increment mass is fixed

3.19
mechanical sampling
collection of increments (3.15) by mechanical means
3.20
mechanical sampling system
combination of sampling and sample preparation (3.34) performed mechanically
3.21
moisture sample
sample (3.31) taken specifically for the purpose of determining total moisture
Note 1 to entry: For coke, this sample may also be used for general analysis.
3.22
nominal top size
aperture size of the smallest sieve in the range included in the R 20 Series (as defined in ISO 565, square
hole) on which not more than 5 % of the sample (3.31) is retained
3.23
off-line sample preparation
sample preparation (3.34) performed manually or mechanically on the samples (3.31) produced by the
mechanical sampling system (3.20), using equipment not integral to the mechanical sampling system itself
3.24
on-line processing
processing of the primary sample (3.31) material using equipment integral with the sampling system
3.25
outlier
result which meets statistical criteria identifying an outlier, especially exceeding Cochran’s maximum
variance test, and for which there is direct physical evidence of causation by gross deviation from the
prescribed experimental procedure
3.26
physical sample
sample (3.31) taken specifically for the determination of physical characteristics, such as physical strength
indices or size distribution
3.27
precision
closeness of agreement between independent test results obtained under stipulated conditions
Note 1 to entry: This is often defined using an index of precisi
...