Overview
ISO 18283:2022 - "Coal and coke - Manual sampling" is the international standard that defines terms, principles and practical procedures for manual sampling of coal and coke during transfer operations. The document sets out how to design a sampling scheme, select sampling methods and equipment, handle and store samples, prepare test portions and report results. It covers brown coals and lignites, and explicitly excludes sampling from coal seams (see ISO 14180). Mechanical sampling is covered separately in ISO 13909.
Key Topics and Requirements
The standard provides detailed guidance on the technical and quality requirements needed to obtain representative manual samples:
- Establishing a sampling scheme: definitions, parameters, division of lots, precision and bias considerations, requirements for test samples.
- Precision and variance: how to calculate overall precision, primary increment variance, sub-lot variance, and determination of acquired precision through replicate sampling.
- Sampling methods: time-basis (interval) sampling, mass-basis sampling, stratified random sampling, and rules for random selection of increments.
- Scenarios for coal in motion: practical procedures for stopped belts, falling streams, moving belts, stockpiles (building/reclaiming), grabs, front-end loaders, barges, trucks, railcars and wagons.
- Sampling equipment: recommended manual tools (ladles, shovels, scoops, probes, manual cutters), and stopped-belt sampling frames.
- Sample handling and storage: sample size, container selection, labelling/identification, moisture loss control, and reserve samples.
- Sample preparation: constitution, division (mechanical and manual), reduction (reduction mills), mixing, air-drying, and preparation for total moisture, general analysis, size analysis and special tests.
- Reporting and traceability: content and format of the sampling report and packing/marking requirements.
- Annex B: guidance for stationary-lot sampling (informative) - this method does not provide a representative test sample unless stated in the report.
Practical Applications and Users
ISO 18283 is intended for organizations and professionals involved in coal and coke quality control and material transfer:
- Coal and coke producers, traders and port operators
- Power plants, steelworks and coke oven operators
- QA/QC laboratories and testing facilities
- Inspectors, auditors and contractual quality verifiers
- Material handling engineers and sampling technicians
Using ISO 18283 supports more reliable coal quality measurement, reduces sampling bias, ensures sample integrity (moisture and size), and improves contractual clarity for deliveries.
Related Standards
- ISO 13909 - Mechanical sampling of coal and coke
- ISO 14180 - Guidance for sampling from coal seams
Keywords: ISO 18283, coal sampling, manual sampling, coke sampling, sampling scheme, sampling equipment, sample preparation, moisture determination, coal quality, sampling precision.