Overview
ISO 4800:1998 specifies an internationally accepted series of laboratory separating funnels and dropping funnels. It defines types, sizes, materials, construction, markings and dimensional requirements for glass funnels used in general laboratory practice. The second edition updated dimensions and tolerances, aligned materials with ISO 3585 (borosilicate glass 3.3), and adjusted funnel types from the earlier edition.
Keywords: ISO 4800, laboratory glassware, separating funnels, dropping funnels, borosilicate glass, ISO standard
Key topics and technical requirements
- Types and capacities
- Type 1 - Conical separating funnels: nominal capacities 50, 100, 250, 500, 1 000, 2 000 ml.
- Type 2 - Pear-shaped separating funnels: nominal capacities 50–2 000 ml.
- Type 3 - Dropping funnels (cylindrical): nominal capacities 50–1 000 ml.
- Type 4 - Graduated dropping funnels: nominal capacities 50–1 000 ml with specified graduations.
- Materials
- Funnels and stopcock keys shall be made from borosilicate glass 3.3 (ISO 3585). Stopcock keys may alternatively be made from chemically resistant plastics such as PTFE.
- Construction
- Robust design to withstand normal laboratory use and minimize thermal/mechanical shock risk.
- Dropping funnels with ground joints must conform to ISO 383; optional pressure‑equalizing tubes and Walter drop tips are permitted for flow control.
- Graduation and capacities (Type 4)
- Specified subdivisions and numbering (e.g., 1–20 ml subdivisions depending on nominal capacity); total capacity allowances above nominal are defined.
- Scales require a longitudinal reference line and may be numbered ascending or both ascending and descending.
- Marking
- All items must be marked with nominal capacity (except graduated dropping funnels), the symbol ml or cm, and manufacturer/vendor identification.
- Stopcocks and tubing
- Stopcocks to comply with ISO 4785; tubing thickness and stem dimensions are specified.
Applications and users
- Practical uses: liquid–liquid extraction, phase separation, controlled addition of reagents, titration feed, and general chemical handling where immiscible liquids or metered addition is required.
- Primary users:
- Laboratory technicians and chemists
- Glassware manufacturers and product designers
- Quality assurance and procurement teams in academia, industry, and regulatory labs
- Standards bodies and conformity assessors
Related standards
- ISO 3585 - Borosilicate glass 3.3 (materials)
- ISO 383 - Interchangeable conical ground joints
- ISO 4785 - Straight‑bore glass stopcocks
- ISO 4803 - Borosilicate glass tubing
- ISO 384 - Design and construction of volumetric glassware
ISO 4800 is essential for ensuring interchangeability, safety and consistent performance of separating and dropping funnels across laboratories and manufacturers.
