EN 15761:2009

Pre-shaped growing media - Determination of length, width, height, volume and bulk density

This European Standard describes a method of determination of length, width, height, volume and bulk density of rectangular pre-shaped growing media.
In this standard "pre-shaped growing media":
-   includes solid, regular shaped, stable growing media sold, which are ready for use as a growing media, where the dimensions and corners are stable, and the surfaces and edges are perpendicular to each other – including mineral wool and polyurethane products;
-   does not include solid growing media that has to be hydrated for it to form, varies in dimension with varying water content – for example coir or peat slabs or growing bags.
The minimum linear dimension (length, width or height) for blocks to which this standard applies is 40 mm, and the maximum dimension is 2 000 mm.

Vorgeformte Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung von Länge, Breite, Dicke, Volumen und Schüttdichte

Diese Europäische Norm legt ein Verfahren für die Bestimmung der Länge, der Breite, der Dicke, des
Volumens und der Schüttdichte von rechteckig vorgeformten Kultursubstraten fest.
-Vorgeformte Kultursubstrate“ in dieser Norm
- umfassen Festkörper, regelmäßig geformt, als haltbare Kultursubstrate verkauft, die als Kultursubstrat
gebrauchsfertig sind, bei denen die Maße und Ecken stabil und die Oberflächen und Kanten zueinander
rechtwinklig sind — einschließlich Mineralwolle und Polyurethanerzeugnisse;
- beziehen keine Kultursubstrate mit ein, die nachquellen (hydratisieren), um sich zu formen und die mit
unterschiedlichem Wassergehalt unterschiedliche Maße haben, z. B. Kokos- oder Torfplatten oder Kultursäcke.
Das lineare Mindestmaß (Länge, Breite oder Dicke) für Blöcke, auf die diese Norm angewendet wird, beträgt
40 mm und das Höchstmaß 2 000 mm.

Supports de culture préformés - Détermination de la longueur, de la largeur, de la hauteur, du volume et de la masse volumique apparente

La présente norme décrit une méthode permettant de déterminer la longueur, la largeur, la hauteur, le volume et la masse volumique apparente des supports de culture rectangulaires préformés.
Dans la présente norme, le terme « supports de culture préformés » :
-   comprend les supports de culture vendus sur le marché qui sont solides, de forme régulière, stables et prêts à être utilisés comme supports de culture, dont les dimensions et les angles sont stables et dont les surfaces et les bords sont perpendiculaires les uns aux autres, y compris la laine minérale et les produits polyuréthanne ;
-   ne comprend pas les supports de culture solides qui ont besoin d’être hydratés pour prendre leur forme finale, dont les dimensions varient en fonction de la teneur en eau, par exemple les pains de tourbe ou de fibre de coco ou les sacs de culture.
La présente norme s’applique aux blocs dont les dimensions linéaires (longueur, largeur ou hauteur) sont comprises entre un minimum de 40 mm et un maximum de 2 000 mm.

Rastni substrati - Določanje dolžine, širine, višine, volumna in prostorninske gostote

Ta evropski standard opisuje metodo določanja dolžine, širine, višine, volumna in prostorske gostote pravokotnih rastnih substratov. V tem standardu »rastni substrati«:  - vključujejo trdne, pravilno oblikovane, stabilne rastne substrate, ki se prodajajo in so pripravljeni za uporabo kot rastni substrati, kjer so dimenzije in koti stabilni, površina in robovi pa pravokotni drug na drugega – vključujejo mineralno volno in izdelke iz poliuterana; - ne vključujejo stabilne rastne substrate, ki morajo biti hidrirani, da se izoblikujejo in se razlikujejo glede dimenzije pri različni vsebnosti vode - na primer bloki kokosovih vlaken ali šote ali vrečk za gojenje. Najmanjša linearna dimenzija (dolžina, širina ali višina) blokov, za katere velja ta standard, je 40 mm, največja dimenzija pa je 2000 mm.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Jun-2010
• ICS: 65.080 - Fertilizers
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 223 - Soil improvers and growing media
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 223/WG 3 - Sampling
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 28-Jul-2014
• Completion Date: 14-Apr-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 15761:2010 - Pre-shaped growing media - Determination of length, width, height, volume and bulk density

Relations

• Revised: EN 15761:2026 - Pre-shaped growing media - Determination of the dimensions and bulk density
• Effective Date: 19-Jan-2023

Overview

EN 15761:2009 (CEN) defines a standardized method to determine the length, width, height, volume and bulk density of rectangular pre-shaped growing media. The standard covers solid, regular-shaped, ready-to-use products whose edges and corners are stable (for example mineral wool, stonewool and polyurethane blocks). It excludes media that change dimension with hydration (e.g., coir or peat slabs that require swelling). Applicable test specimen dimensions range from 40 mm to 2 000 mm.

This method provides repeatable measurement procedures and calculation rules so horticultural manufacturers, laboratories and growers can report product volume and bulk density consistently for quality control, dosing and laboratory normalisation of chemical analyses.

Key Topics

• Scope and definitions: clarifies which pre-shaped products are included and excluded, and defines length (l), width (w), height (h), depth (d) and bulk density.
• Apparatus: required tools include:
  • flat horizontal surface
  • metal rule or tape graduated to 0.5 mm (or better)
  • height gauge (≥ 0.5 mm accuracy)
  • pressure plate (100 × 100 mm; nominal mass 50 ± 1 g)
  • balance with 0.1 g readability
• Measurement accuracy: record linear dimensions to the nearest 0.5 mm and mass to the nearest 0.1 g.
• Number of measurements: depends on nominal dimension:
  • ≤ 150 mm: one measurement (use pressure plate and height gauge)

  • 150 mm and ≤ 600 mm: two measurements (at 1/3 and 2/3 positions)

  • 600 mm: three measurements (at 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 positions)

• Recesses and holes: where blocks include plant holes or grooves, measure and subtract recess volumes. Use rectangular (v = l × w × d) or cylindrical (v = 0.25 × π × D² × d) formulas as appropriate.
• Calculations: compute mean dimensions, derive external volume (l × w × h), subtract recess volume, convert mm³ to litres and calculate bulk density ρ = md / V (g/L).

Applications

• Product specification and labelling for manufacturers of plugs, blocks and slabs
• Quality control and incoming inspection in propagation and greenhouse operations
• Basis for converting mass-based chemical analyses to volume-based reporting
• Ensures consistent dosing and substrate allocation in nursery and commercial horticulture

Related Standards

• CR 13456:1999 - Soil improvers and growing media: labelling, specifications and product schedules (normative reference cited in EN 15761)
• OIML R35-1 and OIML R76-1 (referenced for measuring device and balance classes)

Notes: The standard includes precision guidance and an inter-laboratory trial (Annex A) demonstrating repeatability and reproducibility for typical product types. For test reporting, include reference to EN 15761, specimen identification, measurement results and any deviations from the procedure.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.SURVWRUQLQVNHJRVWRWHVorgeformte Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung von Länge, Breite, Dicke, Volumen und SchüttdichteSupports de culture préformés - Détermination de la longueur, de la largeur, de la hauteur, du volume et de la masse volumique apparentePre-shaped growing media - Determination of length, width, height, volume and bulk density65.080GnojilaFertilizersICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 15761:2009SIST EN 15761:2010en,fr,de01-februar-2010SIST EN 15761:2010SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 15761
December 2009 ICS 65.080 English Version
Pre-shaped growing media - Determination of length, width, height, volume and bulk density
Supports de culture préformés - Détermination de la longueur, de la largeur, de la hauteur, du volume et de la masse volumique apparente
Vorgeformte Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung von Länge, Breite, Dicke, Volumen und Schüttdichte This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1 November 2009.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2009 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 15761:2009: ESIST EN 15761:2010

Results of an inter-laboratory trial . 10A.1Trials . 10A.2Results . 11Bibliography . 12 SIST EN 15761:2010

The volume of growing media is a useful attribute for growers and is critical for ensuring plants have sufficient growing media for their root system. The bulk density is crucial as the reporting of all chemical analyses is expressed in units of weight per volume, and the volume is determined from the weight of the sample used for the chemical analyses. Pre-shaped growing media is generally at present made from Stonewool or Rockwool or mineral wool. They are known by various names, typically:  "plugs" are small blocks used for seedlings, which are generally cylindrical in shape and with a diameter from 20 mm; once the seed has germinated the seedling in the plug may then be placed into "blocks";  "blocks" may have holes to take plugs and can vary in size from 40 mm × 40 mm × 40 mm up to 100 mm × 200 mm × 65 mm; they are generally used for propagation purposes; 
"slabs" are used for growing vegetables and range in size from 370 mm × 240 mm × 100 mm to 2 000 mm × 200 mm × 75 mm.
It is anticipated that this standard will be developed to encompass other new pre-shaped growing media in due course, e.g. coir blocks. SIST EN 15761:2010

In this standard "pre-shaped growing media":  includes solid, regular shaped, stable growing media sold, which are ready for use as a growing media, where the dimensions and corners are stable, and the surfaces and edges are perpendicular to each other – including mineral wool and polyurethane products;  does not include solid growing media that has to be hydrated for it to form, varies in dimension with varying water content – for example coir or peat slabs or growing bags. The minimum linear dimension (length, width or height) for blocks to which this standard applies is 40 mm, and the maximum dimension is 2 000 mm. 2 Normative references The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. CR 13456:1999, Soil improvers and growing media — Labelling, specifications and product schedules 3 Terms and definitions For the purpose
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