BS ISO 11760:2018

What is ISO 11760 ‒Classification of coals about? 

ISO 11760 is an international standard that focuses on the classification of coals. 

ISO 11760 describes a simple classification system for coals providing: 

• Guidance on the selection of the appropriate ISO standard procedures for the analyses and testing of coals 
• International comparison of coals in terms of some key characteristics 
• Descriptive categorization of coals 

ISO 11760 is applicable to coals of all ranks, but care is required in relation to the classification of some types of coal. 

ISO 11760 provides a broad framework within which coals can be assessed. The selection of coals for a specific use requires detailed information that enables the likely performance of coal in a particular application to be anticipated. The wide-ranging list of ISO analyses and test procedures for coals serve this purpose. The selection of the appropriate procedures to be used in assessing coal depends on the intended use. 

Who is ISO 11760‒Classification of coals for?  

ISO 11760 on the classification of coals is relevant to: 

• Coke manufacturers 
• Producers of coal 
• Chemical engineers 
• Testing authorities 
• Metallurgists 

Why should you use ISO 11760‒Classification of coals? 

Coals are an important source of energy, as well as being essential for the production of metallurgical cokes, and are widely used as feedstock for other industrial processes such as in the production of gaseous fuels and synthesis gas.  

A wide range of procedures has been developed by ISO 11760 for the analysis and testing of coals. These ISO procedures are variously designated as being applicable to “hard coals”, “brown coals” and “lignite”, “bituminous coals” and “anthracite”. There is no simple system for the classification of coals that can provide, on a comparative basis, an indication of coal characteristics on a worldwide basis. ISO 11760 provides a basis for addressing both these issues. 

ISO 11760 is helpful as it assists with the physical and chemical properties of coal which are virtually determined by its geological maturity (rank), petrographic composition, and the amount (as well as the nature and mode of association) of the mineral matter present. 

ISO 11760 can be applied to a wide range of representative coal samples, provided their exact nature is stated. Such samples include bore-core seam sections and composite samples, raw (as-mined) coal, washed coal, blends of coals of similar rank, and selected specified size fractions.  

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS ISO 11760:2018 supersedes BS ISO 11760:2005, which is withdrawn. The main changes compared to the previous edition includes the replacement of AS 2434-1 with ISO 1018 in Table 1.