SIST EN 1482-1:2025

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2025
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 1482-1:2007
Gnojila, sredstva za apnjenje in inhibitorji - Vzorčenje in priprava vzorcev - 1. del:
Splošne zahteve za vzorčenje
Fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors - Sampling and sample preparation - Part 1:
General sampling provisions
Düngemittel, Kalkdünger und Hemmstoffe - Probenahme und Probenvorbereitung - Teil
1: Allgemeine Festlegungen zur Probenahme
Engrais, amendements minéraux basiques et inhibiteurs - Échantillonnage et préparation
de l’échantillon - Partie 1 : Dispositions générales pour l’échantillonnage
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 1482-1:2024
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 1482-1
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
December 2024
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 65.080 Supersedes EN 1482-1:2007
English Version
Fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors - Sampling and
sample preparation - Part 1: General sampling provisions
Engrais, amendements minéraux basiques et Düngemittel, Kalkdünger und Hemmstoffe -
inhibiteurs - Échantillonnage et préparation de Probenahme und Probenvorbereitung - Teil 1:
l'échantillon - Partie 1 : Dispositions générales pour Allgemeine Festlegungen zur Probenahme
l'échantillonnage
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 25 November 2024.

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. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists 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.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 1482-1:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 5
Introduction . 6
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 9
4 Sampling plans and quantitative data . 10
4.1 General. 10
4.2 Sampling plans . 10
4.2.1 Determination of the number of sampling units which form the sampled portion . 10
4.2.2 Identification of the sampling units to be sampled . 11
4.2.3 Collection of incremental samples . 12
4.3 Quantitative data . 12
4.3.1 Mass of incremental samples. 12
4.3.2 Mass of single combined samples . 12
4.3.3 Mass of multiple combined samples . 12
4.3.4 Mass of final sample . 13
5 Incremental sampling methods . 13
5.1 General. 13
5.2 Solid product in bulk being moved by conveyor belt – Stopping the belt method . 13
5.2.1 General. 13
5.2.2 Principle . 14
5.2.3 Apparatus . 14
5.2.4 Procedure . 14
5.3 Solid product in bulk – Mechanical sampling whilst in motion . 14
5.3.1 General. 14
5.3.2 Procedure . 15
5.4 Solid product in bulk – Manual sampling from falling stream . 15
5.4.1 Principle . 15
5.4.2 Apparatus . 15
5.4.3 Procedure . 15
5.5 Solid product in bulk – Manual sampling method by moving the bulk . 16
5.5.1 General. 16
5.5.2 Procedure . 17
5.6 Solid products in packages – Reduction method using a rotating mechanical sample
divider . 17
5.6.1 General. 17
5.6.2 Principle . 17
5.6.3 Apparatus . 17
5.6.4 Procedure . 18
5.6.5 Precautions . 19
5.7 Solid products in packages – Reduction method using a riffle divider . 19
5.7.1 General. 19
5.7.2 Apparatus . 19
5.7.3 Procedure . 20
5.8 Sampling of solid products in packages – Manual method . 21
5.9 Sampling from intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) by controlled flow . 22
5.9.1 General . 22
5.9.2 Principle . 22
5.9.3 Safety . 23
5.9.4 Apparatus . 23
5.9.5 Obtaining incremental samples . 25
5.9.6 Precautions . 26
5.10 Sampling from intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) – Manual method . 26
5.10.1 Principle . 26
5.10.2 Procedure . 26
5.11 Sampling of liquid products . 27
5.11.1 General . 27
5.11.2 Apparatus . 27
5.11.3 Procedure . 27
6 Reduction of combined sample . 30
6.1 General . 30
6.2 Solid products . 30
6.2.1 General . 30
6.2.2 Procedure . 30
6.3 Liquid products . 31
6.3.1 Apparatus . 31
6.3.2 Procedure . 31
7 Division into final samples . 31
8 Practical arrangements for final samples . 31
8.1 Containers . 31
8.2 Sealing of containers . 31
8.3 Labelling of final samples . 31
8.4 Dispatch of the final sample . 32
8.5 Storage of final samples . 32
9 Sampling report . 32
9.1 General . 32
9.2 Essential information . 32
9.3 Additional information . 33
Annex A (normative) Test for bias in mechanical samplers . 34
A.1 Principle . 34
A.2 Apparatus . 34
A.3 Test conditions . 34
A.4 Procedure . 34
A.4.1 Collection of incremental samples . 34
A.4.2 Preparation of samples . 35
A.4.3 Analysis of samples . 35
A.5 Expression of results . 35
A.5.1 General case where the incremental samples taken by the two methods do not
correspond exactly to each other . 35
A.5.2 Special case where the incremental samples taken by the two methods correspond
exactly to each other . 36
A.6 Interpretation of the results . 36
Annex B (informative) Examples of rotating sample dividers . 37
Annex C (normative) Test for bias in a rotary divider . 40
Annex D (informative) Examples of apparatus for sampling liquid products . 41
Annex E (normative) Methods of mixing for liquid products . 49
E.1 General. 49
E.2 Small containers . 49
E.2.1 Hand shaking . 49
E.2.2 Rocking . 49
E.3 Drums and casks (up to about 1,8 m deep) . 49
E.3.1 Rocking in a see-saw fashion . 49
E.3.2 Rolling to and from . 49
E.3.3 Mechanically driven drum shaker or roller . 49
E.3.4 Mechanical mixing . 49
E.3.5 Hand mixing . 51
E.3.6 Compressed gas . 52
E.4 Shallow tanks . 52
E.5 Deep tanks . 53
E.5.1 General. 53
E.5.2 Pumped circulation . 53
E.5.3 Compressed gas . 53
E.6 Precautions for sampling multi-phase liquids, including slurries . 53
E.7 Precautions for sampling liquids with significant vapour pressure . 54
E.7.1 Introduction . 54

E.7.2 General precautions . 54
E.7.3 Gases liquefied by pressure at ambient temperatures . 54
E.8 Precautions against static electricity. 54
E.8.1 Generation of static electricity . 54
E.8.2 Discharge of static electricity . 55
Bibliography . 56

European foreword
This document (EN 1482-1:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 260 “Fertilizers
and liming materials”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2025, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by June 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 1482-1:2007.
EN 1482-1 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 1482-1:2007:
— Title, Introduction, Scope, Normative References, Terms and definitions have been updated;
— Requirements on sampling for detonation testing, oil retention and other tests added to 4.3.2;
— The mass of the final sample in 4.3.4 has been specified;
— 5.11 has been modified to improve sampling procedures.
EN 1482, Fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors — Sampling and sample preparation consists of four
parts:
— Part 1: General sampling provisions;
— Part 2: General sample preparation provisions;
— Part 3: Sampling of static heaps;
— Part 4: Sampling for microbiological presence in fertilizers.
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.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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 the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
This document covers the following aspects of sampling, derived from the International Standards and
documents indicated but presented in a simplified and condensed form. The titles of the International
Standards are given in the Bibliography.
— Sampling plans and quantitative data: ISO 8634, ISO/TR 5307, ISO/TR 7553 and Regulation (EU)
2019/1009;
— Sampling methods: ISO 3963;
— Reduction: ISO 7410, ISO 7742, ISO 8358;
— Sampling reports: ISO 5306.
EN 1482-2 covers the general methods for the reduction and preparation of samples of fertilizers, liming
materials and inhibitors for analysis. EN 1482-3 covers the sampling of specified products when stored
in a static heap. EN 1482-4 covers the sampling of specified fertilizers to be tested for the presence of
regulated microbes.
Figure 1 gives a schematic diagram of the sampling and sample preparation process for solids.
The fundamental principle of representative sampling is that every particle has an equal chance of being
selected or rejected. In some circumstances this principle cannot easily be complied with, particularly in
the case of bulk heaps of solid products not specified in EN 1482-3, or large storage tanks of liquid
products as the majority of the product cannot be reached by any sampling device. The fertilizers, liming
materials or inhibitors in these cases are sampled during transfer, during the building up of the heap,
during the filling of the storage tank, during dispatch or where it is being moved solely for sampling
purposes.
Figure 1 — Schematic diagram of sampling process for solids for chemical and physical testing
1 Scope
This document specifies sampling plans and methods of representative sampling of fertilizers, liming
materials and inhibitors, in liquid and solid form, for physical and chemical analysis. This document
covers sampling of products in bulk only while in motion and from packages and containers up to and
including 1 000 kg of product in solid form and 1 000 l of product in liquid form.
NOTE 1 The sampling of bulk heaps of specified types of fertilizers and liming materials is covered in EN 1482-3.
Sampling for detection of microbial presence is covered by EN 1482-4.
NOTE 2 The term product is used throughout the body of this document and is understood to include fertilizers,
liming materials and inhibitors unless otherwise indicated.
It is applicable to the sampling of batches of fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors supplied or ready
for supply to third parties, as such, or in smaller batches, each of which would be subject to local, national
or regional legislation.
This document does not cover complete, statistical sampling plans.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the
following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant
biostimulants and where the following category organic fertilizers, organo-mineral fertilizers, inorganic
fertilizers, liming materials or inhibitors is the highest % in the fertilizing product blend by mass or
volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If the category (organic fertilizers, organo-mineral
fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, liming materials or inhibitors) is not the highest % in the fertilizing
product blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the fertilizing product blend applies. In case a
fertilizing product blend is composed of components in equal quantity, the user decides which standard
to apply. Special care is needed to ensure that the fertilizing product blend is and stays homogeneous and
well mixed when sampled.
NOTE 3 It is the responsibility of manufacturers, importers and sellers, however, to ensure they supply a product
that complies with its label declaration at the moment of delivery and fulfils the expectations of the end user at the
moment of application.
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.
EN 1235, Solid fertilizers — Test sieving (ISO 8397:1988 modified)
EN 12944-1, Fertilizers and liming materials — Vocabulary — Part 1: General terms
ISO 2602, Statistical interpretation of test results — Estimation of the mean — Confidence interval
ISO 3310-1, Test sieves — Technical requirements and testing — Part 1: Test sieves of metal wire cloth
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 12944-1 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
batch
total quantity of product present assumed to have the same characteristics
Note 1 to entry: A batch is produced by the same process at the same time, under the same conditions and labelled
in the same manner, and assumed to have the same characteristics to be sampled using a particular sampling plan.
3.2
sampled portion
quantity of product from the same batch from which one
representative combined sample is taken
Note 1 to entry: In some instances, the batch and the sampled portion will be the same.
3.3
sampling unit
defined quantity of product having a boundary, which can be physical or hypothetical
Note 1 to entry: An example of a physical boundary is a container. An example of a hypothetical boundary is a time
interval for a flow of product.
3.4
incremental sample
quantity of product taken from a sampling point
3.5
combined sample
combination of all incremental samples taken from one sampled portion
3.6
reduction
process of producing a representative smaller mass of product from a larger mass, with the remainder
being discarded
3.7
reduced sample
representative part of the combined sample obtained by a process of reduction in such a manner that the
mass is at least the mass of the required final samples
3.8
division
process of producing a number of representative smaller portions, approximately equal in mass to each
other, from a larger mass
3.9
final sample
representative part of the combined sample taken from the sampled
portion obtained, where necessary, by a process of reduction
3.10
delivery
quantity of product transferred at one time
3.11
laboratory sample
final sample intended for laboratory testing
3.12
ammonium nitrate fertilizer of high nitrogen content
straight or compound solid inorganic macronutrient fertilizer, which is ammonium nitrate-based and
contains 28 % or more by mass of nitrogen (N) as a result of ammonium nitrate
4 Sampling plans and quantitative data
4.1 General
Correct sampling is a difficult operation which requires great care. The need to obtain a fully
representative sample for both the chemical and physical testing of products cannot be stressed too
much. Sampling plans have been produced to cover a range of quantities of product and these form the
basis of International Standards (see Bibliography).
The sampling plans given in this document are not based on strict statistical principles but samples
obtained by following the procedures described in this clause shall be considered to be representative of
the original batch or sampled portion.
This clause specifies sampling plans for the evaluation of deliveries of products as well as statutory
control plans which shall be followed in certain circumstances.
For the commercial evaluation of a large delivery which is supplied for resale in smaller batches a number
of samples representing parts of the delivery are required in order to assess the variability of the batch.
For example, a delivery of 5 000 t shall be treated as at least five deliveries of 1 000 t each and a separate
final sample shall be collected and prepared from each. The determination in this document is based on
a simple relationship between the amount to be sampled and the minimum number of incremental
samples to be taken.
The methods of sampling to be used are described in Clause 5.
4.2 Sampling plans
4.2.1 Determination of the number of sampling units which form the sampled portion
4.2.1.1 General
The number of sampling units from which incremental samples shall be taken depends on the size of the
batch.
4.2.1.2 Product in packages or containers
In the case of product in packages or containers, the sampling unit is a package. The minimum number of
individual packages from which incremental samples shall be taken is given in Table 1. In this context a
package is normally taken to hold no more than 50 kg – larger containers such as Intermediate Bulk
Containers (IBCs) are treated according to the procedure in 5.9 or 5.10. For packages weighing less than
1 kg each, it might be necessary to increase the number of packages to ensure a sufficiently large
combined sample.
Table 1 — Minimum number of individual packages (sampling units) from which incremental
samples shall be taken
Batch size Minimum number of sampling units
4 or fewer packages All packages
More than 4 and up to 10 packages 4
The nearest whole number above the square root of the
More than 10 and up to 400 packages
number of packages present.
More than 400 packages 20
4.2.1.3 Product in bulk
In the case of product in bulk, the minimum number of sampling units from which incremental samples
shall be taken depends on the total mass present. The minimum number of sampling units to be sampled
shall be in accordance with Table 2.
Table 2 — Minimum number of sampling units from which incremental samples shall be taken
Batch size Minimum number of sampling units
25 t or less 10
The nearest whole number above the square root of 4 times the
More than 25 t and up to 400 t
number of tonnes present.
More than 400 t 40
4.2.2 Identification of the sampling units to be sampled
4.2.2.1 Solid and liquid product in packages or containers
Identify the packages in the batch or sampled portion consecutively and, by using a source of random
numbers, select the packages from which incremental samples shall be taken and mark them.
4.2.2.2 Solid and liquid product in bulk during movement
Where the movement relates to loading or unloading using grabbing equipment such as a crane or
automatic shovel loader, the sampling unit is the quantity of product corresponding to one grab. If the
movement is a continuous operation such as on a conveyor belt or through a pipe, each sampling unit is
made up of a mass of no more than 5 t.
Calculate the number of sampling units present from the total mass and, by using a source of random
numbers, select the sampling units from which incremental samples shall be taken during the movement.
Number the sampling units in chronological order of their formation.
Estimate the time taken for the product to pass the sampling place. Divide this time into equal time
intervals such that the number of intervals is at least twice the minimum number of sampling units to be
sampled in accordance with Table 2 and each sampling unit is not more than 5 t. The time intervals are
the sampling units. From these sampling units randomly select the number from which incremental
samples shall be taken. Within each of the selected sampling units randomly select a time at which the
incremental sample is to be taken.
As there will be some variation in the speed of the belt or the flow in the pipe and the quantity at any one
point, it is recommended that the number of sampling units selected is at least 10 % more than the
minimum in Table 2.
Automatic mechanical samplers normally work at fixed time intervals. In this case the incremental
samples are collected over the whole timescale and cannot be regarded as having been taken randomly.
For formal sampling purposes the mechanical sampler shall be operated at the selected random times.
4.2.3 Collection of incremental samples
4.2.3.1 General
All incremental samples shall be of approximately the same mass or the same volume.
4.2.3.2 Solid product in packages or containers up to and including 50 kg
Take one incremental sample from each of the selected packages (sampling units 4.2.2.1), by the use of a
divider (5.6 or 5.7) or by the manual method described in 5.8.
4.2.3.3 Product in intermediate bulk containers
Collect the relevant number of incremental samples by using the method described in 5.9 and/or 5.10.
4.2.3.4 Solid product in bulk
Collect the relevant number of incremental samples by using one of the methods described in 5.2 to 5.5.
4.2.3.5 Liquid products
Follow the appropriate procedure described in 5.11.
4.3 Quantitative data
4.3.1 Mass of incremental samples
Incremental samples shall be of at least 250 g each. For blended fertilizers and for liming materials
coarser than 80 % passing 0,315 mm the minimum mass of each incremental sample shall be 500 g. For
packages weighing 4 kg or less, the entire contents are taken as the incremental sample.
4.3.2 Mass of single combined samples
Combine and mix all the collected incremental samples. When necessary, reduce the combined sample as
described in Clause 6, so that the final mass for chemical testing is at least 2 kg and for physical testing at
least 4 times the maximum amount required for the physical test method.
When sampling ammonium nitrate fertilizers of high nitrogen content for testing for detonation
resistance, the minimum quantity shall be 75 kg.
When sampling ammonium nitrate fertilizers of high nitrogen content for oil retention and other tests,
the minimum quantity shall be 4 kg.
4.3.3 Mass of multiple combined samples
Combine and mix all the collected incremental samples for one sample before reduction to final samples.
Each final sample shall have at least a mass equal to 4 times the maximum amount required for testing.
Repeat this procedure for each final sample.
4.3.4 Mass of final sample
The mass of each final sample for chemical analysis shall be at least 500 g. For physical testing the mass
is dependent on the tests to be carried out.
Final samples of ammonium nitrate fertilizers of high nitrogen content for testing shall be as follows:
(a) For chemical analysis to check against declared content: 500 g;
(b) For porosity (oil retention) testing minimum: 1 kg;
(c) For resistance to detonation testing: 25 kg.
The masses of final samples of ammonium nitrate fertilizers of high nitrogen content shall be kept at a
temperature between 0 °C and 25 °C.
5 Incremental sampling methods
5.1 General
Packages of up to and including 50 kg in mass may be sampled by a process of reduction (see 5.6), starting
with the total contents of the package, or by spear sampling from the selected packages but the latter only
when the product is uniform or a single chemical (such as urea, ammonium nitrate or ammonium
sulphate) and the sampling is only for chemical analysis. Intermediate bulk containers should be sampled
by the method described in 5.9. All packages and IBCs may be sampled by emptying the contents as in the
method described in 5.8.
Mechanical sampling devices, if installed in a transfer system, can be used to collect incremental samples,
provided they have been tested for the absence of bias (see Annex A) and the timing of the incremental
samples can be controlled manually.
The sampling apparatus shall be clean, dry and inert (i.e. fabricated of materials which will not affect the
characteristics of the products to be sampled).
All sampling operations shall be carried out in such a way as to minimize changes to sample properties,
e.g. moisture content.
5.2 Solid product in bulk being moved by conveyor belt – Stopping the belt method
5.2.1 General
The sample is taken from a conveyor by stopping the belt.
Taking a representative sample from a consignment of product by sampling from a conveyor, by stopping
the belt, is time-consuming and interrupts the loading or unloading process considerably. The method
shall, therefore, only be used if no other more convenient method is available.
NOTE This sampling technique is also used as a reference method to assess the accuracy of other techniques
or apparatus.
WARNING — This sampling method involves contact with machinery which is normally in motion. It is
essential that precautions be taken so that there is no possibility of the conveyor starting up while the
incremental samples are being taken. An override start/stop button shall be provided at the point of
sampling.
The sampler shall be able to reach the whole cross-section of the belt without undue physical strain. The
position for sampling shall be made as safe and convenient as possible, for example by using a suitable
platform.
5.2.2 Principle
The belt conveying the product is stopped. Two parallel rigid sheets are inserted into and at right angles
to the stream of product and to the axis of the conveyor belt. The product between the sheets as an
incremental sample is removed.
5.2.3 Apparatus
The apparatus consists of two parallel rigid sheets, shaped to the characteristics of the trough of the belt,
sufficiently long to project beyond the sides of the belt by about 500 mm and sufficiently wide for the
upper edge to be at least 50 mm above the top of the product on the belt. It is recommended that a metal
frame is made to carry the rigid sheets. This frame can then be placed across the belt in a single operation.
If it is not possible to make or use a metal frame, two marks shall be made on the supporting structure on
each side of the belt so that the sheets can be inserted in the same places each time.
5.2.4 Procedure
Stop the belt at the times selected as described in 4.2.2.2. Once the belt has stopped, insert the two parallel
rigid sheets at a sufficient distance apart to give an incremental sample of at least 1 kg as follows:
a) if the conveyor belt is horizontal, insert the sheets vertically downwards into the stream of product;
b) if the conveyor belt is inclined, insert the sheets quickly, at right angles to the stream, so as to avoid
any backflow.
Push any product obstructing the insertion of the sheets as follows:
c) in the case of the downstream sheet, into the sample;
d) in the case of the upstream sheet, out of the sample.
As quickly as possible, completely remove the product between the two parallel rigid sheets into a
suitable closable container.
Remove the sheets and make sure that nothing has been left on the belt which could cause damage further
down. Restart the belt.
Repeat the process for each incremental sample.
5.3 Solid product in bulk – Mechanical sampling whilst in motion
5.3.1 General
Mechanical sampling devices installed in a product handling system are a convenient means of collecting
incremental samples providing the timing of the taking of the incremental samples can be controlled
manually to allow randomness in sampling times. A number of different types are available and this
document does not recommend any particular type over another. All might be suitable provided they
have been shown to be capable of operating without bias. Before any incremental samples are taken by
the device for control purposes, it shall be checked for bias using the procedure described in Annex A.
The Annex A bias check test is applicable to any form of mechanical sampling device installed at some
point in a bulk handling system, providing that either the product passes along a conveyor belt, before or
after the device, or it is subsequently packed in bags in order that a reference collection can be made.
The mechanical sampling device can be used for the collection of samples for chemical analysis as well as
for physical testing.
5.3.2 Procedure
Obtain incremental samples by operating the mechanical sampling device at the times selected as
described in 4.2.2.2.
5.4 Solid product in bulk – Manual sampling from falling
...