REAL Compost Certification Scheme
© Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd. / Issued: 19/11/2012
Issue 2
Approved by: KZ, EN

COMPOST SAMPLING AND LABORATORY TESTS REQUEST RECORD FOR EXTRA TESTS ON ANY GRADE

N.B.: This sampling record and laboratory tests request is for use in the event of one or more compost sample test result failures, on the Principal or any Additional grade. Extra tests may be done on the fail parameter(s) only. This record sheet is appropriate whatever the compost end use.

Sender
Organisation name
Composting site
Contact name / Telephone
Batch(es) sampled
Batch code(s) / Cert assessment code
Grade (Principal) / to mm / Quantity of the sample2
Age(s) when sampled 1 / weeks / Date sampled
Sample / Product type (tick one below)
Name of person sampling batch(es) / q Turf / top dressing / q Mulch
q Soil improver / conditioner
Sample code (to lab) / q Other product ingredient / constituent 3
......
Sample code (archived)

1. If more than one batch, state age of each. 2. Approximate, and state whether unit is tonnes or cubic metres. 3. Please state product type on dotted line in box, e.g. manufactured topsoil or growing medium.

Tests required
Pathogens / q Salmonella spp (ISO method) / q E. coli method BS ISO 16649-2, PAS 100:2011)
Potentially toxic elements / q Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Hg, Zn
Physical contaminants (incl ‘sharps’) / q Glass, metal, plastic and ‘other’ (not stones)
q Stones
Stability / maturity / q Evolved carbon dioxide
Plant response, weeds herbicide residue effects / q Germination and growth of tomato and weed plants and any abnormalities
Grade / q Particle size distribution
Physico-chemical / q Bulk density / q pH / q Organic matter
q Moisture content / q Electrical conductivity
Total nutrients / q1 Nitrogen (Kjeldahl OR Dumas method)
q Aqua regia-soluble P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Na.
Available nutrients
-  single growing season (approx timescale)
-  immediate
(approx timescale) / q Calcium chloride / DTPA soluble (CAT) Ammonium-N, nitrate-N, P, K, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Na. (‘CAT-extractable’)
q Water-soluble chloride, nitrate-N and ammonium-N
q Water-soluble P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Na.
Others (parameter, method / description) / q Total organic carbon
q2 C:N / q Calcium oxide equivalent
(liming value)

1.  Laboratory to report which method used; Kjeldahl if known or suspected to contain > 500 mg/l ammonium.

2.  Calculated from total nitrogen and total organic carbon results.

Approved laboratory
Laboratory name
Records
Producer / Send a copy to your chosen approved laboratory and file the original
Laboratory / Send report to the client

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