Bsi bs en 01237 1995 (2010)

BRITISH STANDARD

BS EN
1237:1995

Fertilizers —
Determination of bulk
density (tapped)

The European Standard EN 1237:1995 has the status of a
British Standard

Confirmed
August 2010
ICS 65.080


BS EN 1237:1995

Committees responsible for this
British Standard
The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted to Technical
Committee CII/37, Fertilizers and related chemicals, upon which the following
bodies were represented:
Association of Public Analysts
British Aggregate Construction Materials Industries
British Coal Corporation
Chemical Industries’ Association
Consumers’ Association
Department of Trade and Industry (Laboratory of the Government Chemist)
Fertiliser Manufacturers Association Ltd.

Horticultural Trades Association
Institute of Trading Standards Administration
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Water Services Association of England and Wales

This British Standard, having
been prepared under the
direction of the Sector Board
for Materials and Chemicals,
was published under the
authority of the Standards
Board and comes
into effect on
15 December 1995
© BSI 11-1999
The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference CII/37
Draft for comment 94/503972 DC
ISBN 0 580 24906 9

Amendments issued since publication
Amd. No.

Date

Comments

BS EN 1237:1995

Contents
Committees responsible
National foreword
Foreword
Introduction
1
Scope
2
Normative references
3
Definition
4
Preparation of test sample
5
Method — Machine-tapping method
6
Expression of results
7
Test report
Annex ZA (informative) Bibliography
Figure 1 — Apparatus for the determination of bulk density
(tapped) by machine tapping
List of references

© BSI 11-1999

Page
Inside front cover

ii
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
6
5
Inside back cover

i


BS EN 1237:1995

National foreword
This British Standard has been prepared by Technical Committee CII/37 and is
the English language version of EN 1237:1995 Fertilizers — Determination of
bulk density (tapped) published by the European Committee for Standardization
(CEN). It supersedes BS 5551-3.2:1993, which is now withdrawn.
It was derived by CEN from ISO 5311:1992 published by the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Cross reference
Publication referred to

Corresponding British Standard

ISO 3944:1992

BS EN 1236:1995 Fertilizers — Determination of bulk
density (loose)

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
the EN title page, pages 2 to 6, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.
ii

© BSI 11-1999


EUROPEAN STANDARD

EN 1237

NORME EUROPÉENNE
June 1995

EUROPÄISCHE NORM

ICS 65.080

Descriptors: Fertilizers, tests, determination, bulk density, density measurement

English version

Fertilizers — Determination of bulk density (tapped)
(ISO 5311:1992 modified)

Engrais — Détermination de la masse
volumique après tassement
(ISO 5311:1992 modifiée)

Düngemittel — Bestimmung der Rütteldichte
(ISO 5311:1992 modifiziert)

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1994-12-04. 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 Central Secretariat 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
Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and

United Kingdom.

CEN
European Committee for Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation
Europäisches Komitee für Normung
Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels
© 1995 All rights of reproduction and communication in any form and by any means reserved in all
countries to CEN and its members
Ref. No. EN 1237:1995 E


EN 1237:1995

Foreword
The text of the International Standard from
ISO/TC 134 Fertilizers and soil conditioners, of the
International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) has been taken over as a European Standard
by Technical Committee CEN/TC 260, Fertilizers
and liming materials.
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
December 1995, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by December 1995.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations, the following countries are bound to
implement this European Standard: Austria,
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,

Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard
ISO 5311:1992 was approved by CEN as a European
Standard with agreed common modifications as
given below.
This European Standard is based on ISO 5311:1992.
Whereas the scope of ISO 5311 covers two methods:
— the machine-tapping method (method 1)
— the hand-tapping method (method 2).
The scope of this European Standard comprises the
text of ISO 5311:1992 amended by the deletion of
the hand-tapping method (method 2, clause 6) and
the following minor amendments:
— in clause 1 Scope of ISO 5311, the applicability
is limited to dry fertilizers only. This requirement
has been amended to free-flowing fertilizers.
Furthermore, a limit for particles
exceeding 5 mm in diameter has been set
at 20 %;
— the bulk density (tapped) is expressed in grams
per cubic centimetre (g/cm3) in ISO 5311; in this
European Standard it is expressed in kilograms
per cubic metre (kg/m3);
— the normative references to International
Standards ISO 7742:1988 and ISO 8358:1991
concerning methods of sampling and sample

preparation have been deleted and the method
used has to be indicated in the test report;
— an informative Annex ZA Bibliography has
been added.
The common modifications have been inserted in
the text of the reference document and are indicated
by a sideline in the margin.

2

© BSI 11-1999


EN 1237:1995

Introduction

4 Preparation of test sample

The bulk densities (loose and tapped) of a fertilizer
provide information relative to the required size of
packaging materials, store-houses,
stock-rooms, etc. Generally, the bulk density
(tapped) is up to 10 % greater than the bulk density
(loose), and sometimes it may exceed this value.
Both bulk densities depend on the actual density,
surface form and particle size of the fertilizers.
The bulk density (loose) can be used to calculate the
maximum volume of a given weight of fertilizer
which may be expected in practice. The actual

volume occupied by a given weight of fertilizer will
normally be within the range calculated from the
bulk density (loose) and the bulk density (tapped).

Prepare the test sample by appropriate methods,
ensuring that the sample is sufficient to carry out
two separate determinations.

1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method for
the determination of the bulk density (tapped) of
solid fertilizers, except powder fertilizers. The
method is applicable to free-flowing fertilizers.
The method is not suitable for materials which
contain more than 20 % by mass of particles
exceeding 5 mm in diameter.
Annex ZA lists the bibliography.

2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which,
through reference in this text, constitute provisions
of this International Standard. At the time of
publication, the editions indicated were valid. All
standards are subject to revision, and parties to
agreements based on this International Standard
are encouraged to investigate the possibility of
applying the most recent editions of the standards
indicated below. Members of IEC and ISO maintain
registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISO 3944:1992, Fertilizers — Determination of bulk

density (loose)1).

3 Definition
For the purposes of this International Standard, the
following definition applies.
3.1
bulk density (tapped) of a fertilizer
the mass per volume of a material tipped into a
container and then compacted under clearly
specified conditions
the bulk density (tapped) is expressed in kilograms
per cubic metre (kg/m3)

1) Technically

5 Method — Machine-tapping method
5.1 Principle
Pouring of the fertilizer from a specified funnel into
a specified measuring cylinder of known volume,
tapping by means of a tapping machine, and
weighing of the contents of the cylinder.
5.2 Apparatus
5.2.1 Balance, capable of weighing to the
nearest 1 g.
5.2.2 Apparatus for determination of bulk density
(loose), according to ISO 3944, with a collar of
transparent plastic and a measuring-cylinder
holder with guide clamp (see Figure 1).
5.2.3 Tapping machine, having a camshaft the cams
of which lift the guide clamp, measuring-cylinder

holder and measuring cylinder once per revolution.
The rotational frequency of the camshaft shall
be (250 ± 15) revolutions min–1 (See Figure 1.)
5.2.4 Spatula, approximately 120 mm × 20 mm, or
other suitable scraper.
5.3 Procedure
Pour into the closed funnel of the apparatus (5.2.2)
a quantity of the fertilizer greater than that needed
to fill the measuring cylinder.
Fully open the slide of the funnel so that the
contents discharge into the measuring cylinder
in 6 s to 12 s.
If the fertilizer does not flow freely, keep the outlet
clear by inserting a rod of 3 mm to 4 mm diameter
into the opening.
Remove the measuring cylinder from its holder, slip
on the plastic collar and add by hand a quantity of
fertilizer such that, after tapping, the fertilizer still
remains several centimetres above the top of the
measuring cylinder.
Place the measuring cylinder firmly in its holder in
the tapping machine, and tap 2 500 times.
Remove the measuring cylinder from the tapping
machine, remove the collar, and scrape away the
surplus fertilizer heaped on the measuring cylinder
by means of the spatula (5.2.4).
Weigh the contents of the measuring cylinder to the
nearest 1 g of the total mass.

identical with EN 1236.

© BSI 11-1999

3


EN 1237:1995

Carry out two determinations, in rapid succession,
on separate test portions taken from the same test
sample.

6 Expression of results
6.1 Method of calculation and formula
The bulk density (tapped), Ôt, of the fertilizer is
given, in kilograms per cubic metre, by the equation
Ôt = m
----V
where
m is the mass, in kilograms, of the test portion;
V is the volume up to the brim, in cubic
metres, of the measuring cylinder.

4

6.2 Repeatability
The difference between the results of two
determinations, carried out in rapid succession by
the same operator using the same apparatus, shall
not exceed 10 kg/m3.

7 Test report
The test report shall include the following
particulars:
a) identification of the sample;
b) reference to the method used;
c) the result and the method of expression;
d) any unusual features noted during the
determination;
e) any operation not included in this
International Standard or regarded as optional;
f) methods of sampling and sample preparation.

© BSI 11-1999


EN 1237:1995

Figure 1 — Apparatus for the determination of bulk density (tapped)
by machine tapping

© BSI 11-1999

5


EN 1237:1995

Annex ZA (informative)
Bibliography

ISO 3944:1992, Fertilizers — Determination of bulk density (loose).
ISO 3963:1977, Fertilizers — Sampling from a conveyor by stopping the belt.
ISO 7410:1983, Fertilizers and soil conditioners — Final samples — Practical arrangements.
ISO 7742:1988, Solid fertilizers — Reduction of samples.
ISO 8358:1991, Solid fertilizers — Preparation of samples for chemical and physical analysis.
EN 1236, Fertilizers — Determination of bulk density (loose).
Pr EN 1482, Sampling of solid fertilizers.

6

© BSI 11-1999


BS EN 1237:1995

List of references
See national foreword.

© BSI 11-1999


BS EN
1237:1995

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