scope:

This International Standard specifies a laboratory method for the determination of the distillation characteristics of light and middle distillates derived from petroleum with initial boiling points above 0 ºC and end-points below approximately 400 ºC, utilizing either manual or automated equipment, with the manual procedure being the referee method in cases of dispute, unless otherwise agreed.

NOTE The method is applicable to petroleum products incorporating a minor constitution of components from nonpetroleum origin, but the precision data may not apply in all cases.

The distillation (volatility) characteristics of hydrocarbons have an important effect on their safety and performance, especially in the case of fuels and solvents. The boiling range gives important information on composition and behaviour during storage and use, and the rate of evaporation is an important factor in the application of many solvents. Limiting values to specified distillation characteristics are applied to most distillate petroleum product specifications in order to control end-use performance and to regulate the formation of vapours which may form explosive mixtures with air, or otherwise escape into the atmosphere as emissions (VOC).