SIST EN ISO 3170:2025

Hydrocarbon Liquids - Manual Sampling (ISO 3170:2025)

This document specifies the manual methods used for obtaining samples of liquid or semi-liquid hydrocarbons, tank residues and deposits from fixed tanks, railcars, road vehicles, ships and barges, drums and cans, or from liquids being pumped in pipelines.
It applies to the sampling of liquid products, including crude oils, intermediate products, synthetic hydrocarbons and bio fuels, which are stored at or near atmospheric pressure, or transferred by pipelines as liquids at elevated pressures and temperatures.
The sampling procedures specified are not intended for the sampling of special petroleum products which are the subject of other International Standards, such as electrical insulating oils (covered in IEC 60475), liquefied petroleum gases (covered in ISO 4257), liquefied natural gases (covered in ISO 8943) and gaseous natural gases (covered in ISO 10715).
This document refers to methods of sampling and sampling equipment in use at the time of writing. It does not exclude the use of new equipment, provided that such equipment enables samples to be obtained according to the requirements and procedures of this document.

Flüssige Mineralölerzeugnisse - Manuelle Probenahme (ISO 3170:2025)

Dieses Dokument legt die manuellen Verfahren zur Gewinnung von Proben von flüssigen oder halb-flüssigen Kohlenwasserstoffen, Tankrückständen und Ablagerungen aus feststehenden Tanks, Eisenbahnkesselwagen, Straßenfahrzeugen, Schiffen und Lastkähnen, Fässern und Kanistern oder aus Flüssigkeiten, die durch Rohrleitungen gepumpt werden, fest.
Es ist anwendbar für die Probenahme von flüssigen Produkten, einschließlich Rohölen, Zwischenprodukten, synthetischen Kohlenwasserstoffen und Biokraftstoffen, die bei oder nahe dem Atmosphärendruck gelagert oder als Flüssigkeiten bei erhöhtem Druck und erhöhter Temperatur durch Rohrleitungen gefördert werden.
Die festgelegten Verfahren zur Probenahme sind nicht für die Probenahme von speziellen Mineralölerzeugnissen bestimmt, die Gegenstand anderer Internationaler Normen sind, wie beispielsweise Isolieröle (abgedeckt durch IEC 60475), Flüssiggase (abgedeckt durch ISO 4257), verflüssigtes Erdgas (abgedeckt durch ISO 8943) und gasförmige Erdgase (abgedeckt durch ISO 10715).
Dieses Dokument bezieht sich auf Probenahmeverfahren und Probenahmegeräte, die zum Zeitpunkt der Erstellung gebräuchlich waren. Es schließt den Gebrauch neuer Ausrüstung nicht aus, vorausgesetzt, dass diese Ausrüstung eine Probenahme in Übereinstimmung mit den Anforderungen und Verfahren dieses Dokuments ermöglicht.

Hydrocarbures liquides - Échantillonnage manuel (ISO 3170:2025)

Le présent document spécifie les méthodes manuelles à employer en vue d'obtenir des échantillons d'hydrocarbures liquides ou semi-liquides, de résidus et de dépôts contenus dans des réservoirs fixes, des wagons-citernes, des camions-citernes, des bateaux-citernes, des chalands, des fûts et des bidons, ou de liquides en cours de pompage dans des oléoducs.
Il s'applique à l'échantillonnage de produits liquides, y compris de pétroles bruts et de produits intermédiaires, d'hydrocarbures synthétiques et de biocarburants, qui sont stockés dans des réservoirs à la pression atmosphérique ou approchante, ou acheminés par oléoducs à l'état liquide à des températures et des pressions élevées.
Les méthodes d'échantillonnage spécifiées ne concernent pas certains produits pétroliers qui font l'objet d'autres Normes internationales, tels que les huiles diélectriques (couvertes dans l'IEC 60475), les gaz de pétrole liquéfiés (couverts dans l'ISO 4257), les gaz naturels liquéfiés (couverts dans l'ISO 8943) et à l'état gazeux (couverts dans l'ISO 10715).
Le présent document se réfère aux méthodes d'échantillonnage et à l'équipement d'échantillonnage utilisés au moment de sa rédaction. Il n'exclut pas l'utilisation de nouveaux équipements, dans la mesure où ils permettent d'obtenir des échantillons selon les exigences et les modes opératoires du présent document.

Ogljikovodikove tekočine - Ročno vzorčenje (ISO 3170:2025)

Ta dokument določa ročne metode, ki se uporabljajo za pridobivanje vzorcev tekočih ali poltekočih ogljikovodikov, ostankov in usedlin iz pritrjenih cistern, vagonov, cestnih vozil, ladij in barž ter sodov in pločevink ali iz tekočin, ki se črpajo v cevovodih. Uporablja se za vzorčenje tekočih proizvodov, vključno s surovo nafto, vmesnimi proizvodi, sintetičnimi ogljikovodiki in biogorivi, ki so shranjeni pri atmosferskem tlaku ali tlaku, ki temu približno ustreza, oziroma se prenašajo po cevovodih kot tekočine pri povišanem tlaku in temperaturi. Določeni postopki vzorčenja niso namenjeni vzorčenju posebnih naftnih proizvodov, ki so predmet drugih mednarodnih standardov, kot so električna izolacijska olja (zajeta v standardu IEC 60475), utekočinjeni naftni plini (zajeti v standardu ISO 4257), utekočinjeni zemeljski plini (zajeti v standardu ISO 8943) in plinasti zemeljski plini (zajeti v standardu ISO 10715). Ta dokument se navezuje na metode vzorčenja in opremo za vzorčenje, ki se je uporabljala v času pisanja. Ne izključuje uporabe nove opreme, če takšna oprema omogoča pridobivanje vzorcev v skladu z zahtevami in postopki tega dokumenta.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 29-Apr-2024
• Publication Date: 15-Jul-2025
• ICS: 75.080 - Petroleum products in general
• Technical Committee: NAD - Petroleum products, lubricants and related products
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 19-May-2025
• Due Date: 24-Jul-2025
• Completion Date: 16-Jul-2025
• Ref Project: EN ISO 3170:2025 - Hydrocarbon Liquids - Manual Sampling (ISO 3170:2025)

Relations

• Replaces: SIST EN ISO 3170:2004 - Petroleum liquids - Manual sampling (ISO 3170:2004)
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2025

Overview

EN ISO 3170:2025 - Hydrocarbon Liquids - Manual Sampling (ISO 3170:2025) is the updated CEN/ISO standard that specifies manual methods for obtaining samples of liquid and semi-liquid hydrocarbons, tank residues and deposits from fixed tanks, railcars, road vehicles, ships and barges, drums and cans, and from liquids in pipelines. It applies to products such as crude oils, intermediate products, synthetic hydrocarbons and biofuels stored at or near atmospheric pressure or conveyed as liquids at elevated pressures and temperatures. This fourth edition (2025) supersedes EN ISO 3170:2004.

Key Topics

The standard focuses on practical and safety-critical aspects of manual sampling rather than laboratory test methods. Major technical topics include:

• Scope and applicability - types of hydrocarbon liquids covered and explicit exclusions (special products covered by IEC 60475, ISO 4257, ISO 8943, ISO 10715).
• Safety requirements - general site safety, confined space entry, electrical safety, and static electricity control for sampling operations.
• Sampling principles - requirements to obtain representative samples and to assess product homogeneity before sampling.
• Sampling locations and methods - procedures for tank sampling, line (pipeline) sampling, and sampling from mobile containers (railcars, road tankers, ships, drums).
• Restricted-opening and vapour-trap sampling - techniques for sampling through small access points while controlling vapour and contamination.
• Sampling equipment - overview of acceptable equipment types (spot samplers, zone/flow‑through samplers, running samplers) and performance expectations.
• Safety of sampling points and equipment - positioning and installation considerations to minimise risk and ensure sample integrity.

Applications

EN ISO 3170:2025 is a practical guidance and compliance document used to ensure reliable, reproducible manual sampling of hydrocarbon liquids for quality control, custody transfer, regulatory compliance and forensic investigation. Typical uses:

• Routine and custody-transfer sampling at terminals, depots and refineries
• Pipeline sampling during transfers and batch monitoring
• Spot checks and investigatory sampling of tank residues or deposits
• Sampling for laboratory analysis of composition, contaminants, water content and quality

Who uses this standard:

• Refinery and terminal operators
• Oil & gas transporters and logistics providers (road, rail, marine)
• Third‑party sampling and inspection companies
• Quality assurance laboratories and testing facilities
• Regulators, auditors and compliance teams

Related Standards

Relevant standards referenced or explicitly excluded include:

• IEC 60475 (electrical insulating oils)
• ISO 4257 (liquefied petroleum gases)
• ISO 8943 (liquefied natural gas)
• ISO 10715 (gaseous natural gas)

EN ISO 3170:2025 is essential for anyone involved in manual sampling of hydrocarbon liquids who needs consistent, safe and representative sampling procedures. Keywords: EN ISO 3170:2025, manual sampling, hydrocarbon liquids, tank sampling, pipeline sampling, sampling equipment, representative samples, crude oil sampling.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2025
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 3170:2004
Ogljikovodikove tekočine - Ročno vzorčenje (ISO 3170:2025)
Hydrocarbon Liquids - Manual Sampling (ISO 3170:2025)
Flüssige Mineralölerzeugnisse - Manuelle Probenahme (ISO 3170:2025)
Hydrocarbures liquides - Échantillonnage manuel (ISO 3170:2025)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 3170:2025
ICS:
75.080 Naftni proizvodi na splošno Petroleum products in
general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 3170
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
June 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 75.080 Supersedes EN ISO 3170:2004
English Version
Hydrocarbon Liquids - Manual Sampling (ISO 3170:2025)
Hydrocarbures liquides - Échantillonnage manuel (ISO Flüssige Mineralölerzeugnisse - Manuelle Probenahme
3170:2025) (ISO 3170:2025)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 20 March 2025.

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-CENELEC 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-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 3170:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 3170:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 28 "Petroleum
and related products, fuels and lubricants from natural or synthetic sources" in collaboration with
Technical Committee CEN/TC 19 “Gaseous and liquid fuels, lubricants and related products of
petroleum, synthetic and biological origin” the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by December 2025, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by December 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 3170:2004.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 3170:2025 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 3170:2025 without any modification.

International
Standard
ISO 3170
Fourth edition
Hydrocarbon Liquids — Manual
2025-06
sampling
Hydrocarbures liquides — Échantillonnage manuel
Reference number
ISO 3170:2025(en) © ISO 2025
ISO 3170:2025(en)
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ISO 3170:2025(en)
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ii(bis)
ISO 3170:2025(en)
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ISO 3170:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .vi
Introduction .vii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Safety . 5
4.1 General .5
4.2 Safety aspects of equipment . .6
4.3 Safety at sampling points .6
4.4 Entry into enclosed (confined) spaces .7
4.5 Electrical safety .8
4.5.1 Static electricity .8
4.5.2 Electronic and electrical equipment .8
5 Sampling . 8
5.1 General .8
5.2 Typical locations from where samples are drawn .9
5.2.1 Tank sampling .9
5.2.2 Line sampling .10
5.3 Restricted opening/vapour trap sampling .10
5.4 Representative samples .10
5.5 Homogeneity . .10
6 Equipment .11
6.1 General .11
6.2 Types of tank samplers .11
6.2.1 General .11
6.2.2 Spot samplers .11
6.2.3 Zone samplers/flow-through samplers .11
6.2.4 Running samplers .11
6.2.5 All-level samplers . 12
6.2.6 Bottom samplers . 13
6.2.7 Dead bottom samplers . 13
6.2.8 Residue samplers (sediment samplers) . 13
6.3 Samplers used for open sampling methods in tanks . 13
6.3.1 General . 13
6.3.2 Sampling can/thief .14
6.3.3 Sampling cage and bottle .14
6.3.4 Dead bottom sampler .16
6.3.5 Zone or core sampler .18
6.4 Samplers used for restricted and closed sampling methods in tanks .21
6.4.1 General .21
6.4.2 Sampler for vapour pressure analysis . 23
6.4.3 Vapour control valves . 23
6.5 Other sampling devices . . . 23
6.5.1 Tank side samplers . 23
6.5.2 Pipeline samplers . . 23
6.5.3 Drum samplers .24
6.5.4 Sludge/sediment samplers . 25
7 Sample container .28
7.1 General container design . 28
7.2 Sample container material and type . 28
7.2.1 General . 28
7.2.2 Glass bottle . 28

iii
ISO 3170:2025(en)
7.2.3 Plastic container . 29
7.2.4 Metal cans . . . 29
7.3 Container closures. 29
8 Procedures .30
8.1 General sampling practices . 30
8.2 General principles of sampling . 30
8.3 Tank sampling procedures .31
8.3.1 Shore tank sampling .31
8.3.2 Sampling from ships . 35
8.4 Procedure for manual sampling on pipeline . 38
8.4.1 General . 38
8.4.2 Spot sampling of high vapour pressure liquids. 38
8.5 Sampling from railcars . 44
8.6 Sampling from road tankers . 44
8.7 Sampling from drums or intermediate bulk containers .45
8.7.1 General .45
8.7.2 Tube sampling from drums .45
8.7.3 IBC sampling .45
8.7.4 Pump sampling . 46
8.7.5 Batch sampling . 46
8.8 Package sampling . 46
8.8.1 Statistical aspects of sampling packages . 46
8.8.2 Acceptable quality limit .47
8.8.3 Inspection level .47
8.8.4 Sampling plan .47
8.8.5 Procedures for sampling packages . 50
8.9 Sampling from dispensers (retail) . 50
9 Requirements for specific products . 51
9.1 General .51
9.2 Crude oil .51
9.3 Naphtha, gasoline and other volatile liquid .52
9.4 Aviation fuels .52
9.5 Distillate fuels (excluding jet fuel) . 53
9.6 Residual fuel oil (including marine bunker fuels) . 54
9.6.1 Fuel oil. 54
9.6.2 Marine bunker fuel (residual fuel and marine distillates) . 54
9.7 Bitumen . 55
9.8 Requirements for sampling for microbiological assay . 55
9.8.1 General . 55
9.8.2 General recommendations for sampling fuel facilities . 55
9.8.3 Tank water phase sample . 55
9.8.4 Bulk fuel phase sample . 55
9.8.5 Sampling procedure . 56
9.8.6 Monitoring regimes for terminals and distribution systems . 56
10 Sample handling .57
10.1 General .57
10.2 Sample transfer .57
10.3 Labelling .57
10.4 Sample transportation . 58
10.5 External influences . . 58
10.5.1 General . 58
10.5.2 Temperature . 58
10.5.3 Light .59
10.5.4 Time .59
10.5.5 First test requirements. 60
10.6 Homogenizing samples . 60
10.6.1 General . 60

iv
ISO 3170:2025(en)
10.6.2 None (no mixing) . 60
10.6.3 Shaking . 60
10.6.4 Power mixers . 60
10.7 Verification of mixing efficiency .62
10.7.1 General .62
10.7.2 Homogeneous liquids .62
10.7.3 Non-homogeneous liquids .62
10.7.4 Mixing efficiency verification test for non-homogeneous oils (injection/
recovery test) .62
10.8 Selection of sample mixing method . 63
10.9 Compositing samples . 64
10.10 Retained samples . 64
Bibliography .65

v
ISO 3170:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
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The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
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of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 28, Petroleum and related products, fuels
and lubricants from natural or synthetic sources, Subcommittee SC 2, Measurement of petroleum and related
products, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee
CEN/TC 19, Gaseous and liquid fuels, lubricants and related products of petroleum, synthetic and biological origin,
in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 3170:2004), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— document title amended to reflect the expanded scope of the document for non-petroleum liquids;
— inclusion of an equal representation of the closed and restricted sampling devices in addition to the
traditional open sampling devices;
— expanded Clause 3 and the Bibliography;
— added Clause 4.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

vi
ISO 3170:2025(en)
Introduction
This document can be used in conjunction with ISO 3171.
This document specifies standard conditions and methods for obtaining samples of liquid/semi-liquid
hydrocarbons from a tank, drum or pipeline by manual means. If the hydrocarbon to be sampled is non-
homogeneous, showing significant variations in composition or containing sediments and water, samples
taken manually should not be expected to be representative, but can enable the degree of non-homogeneity
to be assessed and estimates of quality and quantity to be made.
The procedures specified in this document are intended to minimize or eliminate losses of light ends from
samples. Such losses can occur during the handling or transfer of samples, thereby making them non-
representative of the bulk.
The procedures specified provide samples for:
a) the determination of the liquid/hydrocarbon quality;
b) the determination of the water content;
c) the determination of other contaminants that are not considered to be part of the liquid hydrocarbon.
If the sampling conditions for purposes a), b) and c) are in conflict, separate samples are required.
The sampling procedures for tank contents that are not homogeneous specified in this document are intended
to enable the degree of non-homogeneity to be assessed and estimates of quality and quantity to be made.
Procedures for the sampling of liquid hydrocarbons from tanks under inert gas pressure are included,
together with techniques for sampling from tanks which are equipped with vapour emission control
systems.
vii
International Standard ISO 3170:2025(en)
Hydrocarbon Liquids — Manual sampling
1 Scope
This document specifies the manual methods used for obtaining samples of liquid or semi-liquid
hydrocarbons, tank residues and deposits from fixed tanks, railcars, road vehicles, ships and barges, drums
and cans, or from liquids being pumped in pipelines.
It applies to the sampling of liquid products, including crude oils, intermediate products, synthetic
hydrocarbons and bio fuels, which are stored at or near atmospheric pressure, or transferred by pipelines as
liquids at elevated pressures and temperatures.
The sampling procedures specified are not intended for the sampling of special petroleum products which
are the subject of other International Standards, such as electrical insulating oils (covered in IEC 60475),
liquefied petroleum gases (covered in ISO 4257), liquefied natural gases (covered in ISO 8943) and gaseous
natural gases (covered in ISO 10715).
This document refers to methods of sampling and sampling equipment in use at the time of writing. It
does not exclude the use of new equipment, provided that such equipment enables samples
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