Overview
ISO 22368-1:2025 - Crop protection equipment: Test methods for the evaluation of cleaning systems - Part 1: Internal cleaning of complete sprayers defines a standardized test procedure to assess the performance of internal cleaning systems fitted to agricultural sprayers. It applies to mounted, trailed and self-propelled sprayers used for crop protection and liquid fertilizer applications, and explicitly excludes direct-injection sprayers, manually operated knapsack sprayers, aircraft sprayers and uncrewed aerial spraying systems (UASS).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test liquid and test material: Uses a suspension of water and test material (e.g., kaolin clay such as ASP 602 or equivalent) with an expected concentration of 10 ± 0.5 g/L. Test temperature range is 5 °C to 25 °C.
- Measurement equipment: Specifies accuracy and ranges for thermometer, scales for samples and test material, and tank volume gauge.
- Sampling: Defines test liquid samples and rinsate samples, with minimum sample volumes and container requirements (able to sustain 120 °C).
- Principal test procedure: Steps include pre-cleaning, contamination of the sprayer with the test liquid, spraying out test liquid, operation of the sprayer’s rinsing system, collection of rinsate samples, and re-spraying for analysis.
- Calculations:
- Reduction factor F = I / H (I = mean concentration of test liquid samples; H = mean concentration of rinsate samples).
- Cleaning effect P = (1 − H/I) × 100 %.
- Optional procedure: Allows multi-cycle rinsing analysis to track cleaning progress across successive rinse cycles.
- Safety and reporting: Requires general PPE, local disposal compliance and records of environmental/test conditions in the test report. Annexes provide test material specification, analytical methods and example test reports.
Applications and who uses it
- Manufacturers and designers of sprayers and internal cleaning systems use this standard to validate and improve design efficacy.
- Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies apply the procedure for performance verification and certification.
- Agricultural OEMs and dealers use test results to demonstrate product cleaning performance and reduce risks of cross-contamination or crop damage.
- Regulators and farm operators can reference the standard when assessing sprayer safety, environmental protection and residue control.
Related standards
- Related terminology is referenced from ISO 5681 (Equipment for crop protection - Vocabulary). The ISO 22368 series includes other parts addressing external cleaning and complementary test methods.
Keywords: ISO 22368-1:2025, internal cleaning of sprayers, crop protection equipment, sprayer cleaning test methods, rinsate sampling, reduction factor, cleaning effect.
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