Overview
ISO 1995:1981 - Aromatic hydrocarbons - Sampling defines accepted procedures and safety guidance for obtaining liquid samples of aromatic hydrocarbons from bulk storage and transport. The standard covers sampling from fixed tanks, railcars, road vehicles, barges, drums and from liquids being pumped in pipelines. Samples taken under ISO 1995 are intended for assessing quality, detecting contaminants, and determining the homogeneity of a batch. The document also includes general and substance‑specific recommendations for hazardous, flammable and toxic aromatic liquids and for handling mobile liquids at low ambient temperatures.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope of sampling locations: fixed tanks, tank vehicles (rail/road), barges, drums and pipeline (manual and automatic) sampling.
- Intended uses of samples: quality determination, contaminant detection, batch homogeneity assessment.
- Sampling types and definitions: representative, spot, composite, continuous, bulk and final samples; definitions clarify terminology used in testing and inspection.
- Pipeline sampling guidance: distinguishes manual vs automatic sampling, recommends automatic sampling when flow is non‑homogeneous, and references ISO 3171 for automatic systems.
- Safety and equipment:
- Safe access, ventilation, marking of containers, and compatible sampling tools.
- Use of carriers and containers designed to prevent loss, evaporation, and breakage.
- Grounding/earthing to avoid static discharge; prohibition of naked flames, smoking and sparking devices near sampling points.
- Protective clothing, eye protection, and having a second person present as safety observer.
- Procedures for purging/rinsing, containment of spillages, and disposal of purge liquids.
- Operational controls: isolating sampling points via valves set safely away from the operator; instructions for emergency and mishap response.
Applications
- Routine quality control testing in petrochemical and chemical plants.
- Incoming/outgoing inspection for transport and storage operations (tanks, railcars, road tankers, barges, drums).
- Pipeline monitoring and in‑line blending verification to confirm batch properties.
- Laboratory sampling plans for analytical testing and regulatory compliance.
- Safety planning and risk reduction for handling flammable or toxic aromatic solvents (e.g., benzene and homologues).
Who uses this standard
- Sampling technicians and plant operators
- Quality assurance and laboratory personnel
- Health, safety and environmental (HSE) officers
- Transport and logistics teams handling bulk liquids
- Regulators and auditors assessing sampling practices
Related standards
- ISO 3170 - Petroleum products - Manual sampling of liquid hydrocarbons
- ISO 3171 - Petroleum products - Automatic pipeline sampling
- ISO 3165 - Sampling of chemical products - Industrial safety aspects
- ISO 2859 - Sampling procedures and inspection tables
Keywords: ISO 1995:1981, aromatic hydrocarbons sampling, pipeline sampling, tank sampling, sampling safety, representative sample, flammable and toxic liquids.
