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BS 604:1982
ISO 4788:1980
BRITISH STANDARD
CONFIRMED
MARCH 1988
Specification for
Graduated glass
measuring cylinders
[ISO title: Laboratory glassware — Graduated measuring
cylinders]
UDC 681.121.1:666.17
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BS 604:1982
Cooperating organizations
The Laboratory Apparatus Standards Committee, under whose direction this
British Standard was prepared, consists of representatives from the following:
Agricultural Research Council
Association for Science Education
British Educational Equipment Association
British Laboratory Ware Association*
British Lampblown Scientific Glassware Manufacturers’ Association Ltd.*
British Pharmacopoeia Commission
Chemical Industries Association
Department of Health and Social Security*
Department of Industry (Laboratory of the Government Chemist)*
Institute of Petroleum
Ministry of Defence*
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
Royal Society of Chemistry
Scientific Instrument Manufacturers’ Association
Society of Chemical Industry*
Society of Glass Technology
Standardization of Tar Products Tests Committee
The organizations marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the
following, were directly represented on the Technical Committee entrusted
with the preparation of this British Standard:
Association of Clinical Biochemists
Glass Manufacturers Federation
Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Individual expert
This British Standard, having
been prepared under the
direction of the Laboratory
Apparatus Standards
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Board of BSI and comes
into effect on
26 February 1982
© BSI 07-1999
First published April 1952
First revision February 1982
The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference LBC/27
Draft for comment 78/57109 DC
ISBN 0 580 12515 7
Amendments issued since publication
Amd. No.
Date of issue
Comments
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BS 604:1982
Contents
Page
Cooperating organizations
Inside front cover
National foreword
ii
1 Scope and field of application
1
2 References
1
3 Basis of adjustment
1
4 Class of accuracy
1
5 Types
1
6 Series of capacities
1
7 Definition of capacity
1
8 Accuracy
1
9 Construction
1
10 Graduation and figuring
2
11 Inscriptions
3
12 Visibility of graduation lines, figures and inscriptions
3
Figure 1 — General appearance of spouted measuring
cylinder shown with integral base of hexagonal form
4
Figure 2 — General appearance of stoppered measuring
cylinder shown with integral base of circular form
4
Figure 3 — Scales of measuring cylinders of capacity 5 to 100 ml
5
Figure 4 — Scales of measuring cylinders of capacity 250 to 2 000 ml
6
Table 1 — Series of capacities, divisions and tolerances
1
Table 2 — Dimensions
2
Publications referred to
Inside back cover
© BSI 07-1999
i
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BS 604:1982
National foreword
This British Standard, which has been prepared under the direction of the
Laboratory Apparatus Standards Committee, is identical with ISO 4788
“Laboratory, glassware — Graduated measuring cylinders”, published in 1980 by
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and supersedes the
first edition published in 1952 which is now withdrawn. The principal differences
between this edition and that of 1952 include the deletion of specified scale
length, the recommendations on overall height being made mandatory, and an
improvement in the stability on an inclined surface.
Terminology and conventions. The text of the international standard has
been approved as suitable for publication as a British Standard without
deviation. Some terminology and certain conventions are not identical with those
in British Standards; attention is especially drawn to the following.
The comma has been used throughout as a decimal marker. In British Standards
it is current practice to use a full point on the baseline as the decimal marker.
Wherever the words “International Standard” appear, referring to this standard,
they should be read as “British Standard”.
Cross-references
International standard
Corresponding British Standard
ISO 383:1976
BS 572:1960 Interchangeable conical ground glass joints
(Technically equivalent)
ISO 384:1978
BS 5898:1980 Specification for principles of design and
construction of volumetric glassware for laboratory use
(Identical)
ISO 4794, referred to in 12.3, is in course of preparation. Since the reference is
non-mandatory it does not affect the validity of this British Standard. A related
standard to ISO 4794 is BS 3996:1978 “Specification for colour coding for
one-mark and graduated pipettes (including requirements for the service
performance of the colour coding enamels)”.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.
Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 6, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.
ii
© BSI 07-1999
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BS 604:1982
1 Scope and field of application
This International Standard specifies requirements
for an internationally acceptable series of cylinders,
with a graduated scale and either a pouring spout or
a stopper, adequate for general laboratory purposes.
The details specified are in conformity with ISO 384.
2 References
Table 1 — Series of capacities, divisions
and tolerances
Nominal
capacity
Smallest
scale
division
Maximum
permitted
error
Maximum
capacity
corresponding to
lowest
graduation line
ml
ml
ml
ml
0,1
0,2
0,5
1
1
2
5
10
20
± 0,1
± 0,2
± 0,5
± 1
± 1
± 2
± 5
± 10
± 20
0,5
1
2,5
5
10
20
50
100
200
ISO 383, Laboratory glassware — Interchangeable
conical ground joints.
ISO 384, Laboratory glassware — Principles of
design and construction of volumetric glassware.
ISO 4794, Laboratory glassware — Pipettes —
Methods for assessing the chemical resistance of
enamels used for colour coding.
5
10
25
50
100
250
500
1 000
2 000
3 Basis of adjustment
7 Definition of capacity
3.1 Unit of volume
The capacity corresponding to any graduation line
shall be defined as the volume of water at 20 °C,
expressed in millilitres, contained by the cylinder
at 20 °C when filled to that graduation line.
The unit of volume shall be the cubic centimetre
(cm3), for which the name millilitre (ml) may be
used.
NOTE The term millilitre (ml) is commonly used as a special
name for cubic centimetre (cm3), in accordance with the
International System of Units (SI).
3.2 Reference temperature
The standard reference temperature, i.e. the
temperature at which the cylinder is intended to
contain its nominal volume (nominal capacity), shall
be 20 °C.
NOTE If the cylinder is required for use in a country which has
adopted a standard reference temperature of 27 °C (the
alternative recommended in ISO 384 for tropical use), this value
shall be substituted for 20 °C.
4 Class of accuracy
One class of accuracy only is specified, the accuracy
being lower than that associated with items of
volumetric glassware intended for analytical use.
NOTE If, exceptionally, the reference temperature is 27 °C,
this value shall be substituted for 20 °C.
When checking the capacity of a cylinder, the
meniscus shall be set so that the plane of the upper
edge of the graduation line is horizontally
tangential to the lowest point of the meniscus, the
line of sight being in the same plane.
8 Accuracy
Errors in capacity shall not exceed the maximum
permitted errors shown in Table 1.
These errors represent the maximum permissible
error at any point and also the maximum
permissible difference between the errors at any two
points.
9 Construction
5 Types
9.1 Material
Cylinders shall be provided either with a pouring
spout (see Figure 1), or with a ground neck
(see Figure 2) and a suitably fitting stopper.
The cylinders shall be constructed of glass of
suitable chemical and thermal properties, shall be
as free as possible from visible defects and shall be
reasonably free from internal stress.
6 Series of capacities
The series of capacities of graduated measuring
cylinders shall be as shown in Table 1.
NOTE If capacities of cylinders other than those listed in
Table 1 are required, it is recommended that they conform to the
essential requirements of this International Standard.
© BSI 07-1999
9.2 Wall thickness
The cylinders shall be sufficiently robust in
construction to withstand normal usage and the
wall thickness shall show no gross departure from
uniformity.
1
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BS 604:1982
9.3 Stability
10 Graduation and figuring
The cylinders shall stand vertically without rocking
or spinning when placed on a level surface. They
shall not topple when placed empty (without
stopper, if provided) on a surface inclined at an
angle of 15° to the horizontal.
10.1 Graduation lines
9.4 Base
The base shall be of glass, or a suitable plastics
material, and may be either circular or of other
suitable form provided the cylinder satisfies the
requirements of 9.3.
9.5 Rim and spout
9.5.1 The rim of the cylinder shall be fire-polished
and shall lie in a plane at right angles to the axis of
the cylinder.
9.5.2 The spout of a spouted cylinder shall be so
formed as to enable the contents of the cylinder to be
poured out in a narrow stream without spilling or
running down the outside of the cylinder.
9.6 Neck and stopper
On a stoppered cylinder, the neck shall be ground to
a suitable socket size preferably selected from
ISO 383.
A well fitting stopper of glass or suitable inert
plastics material shall be supplied.
9.7 Dimensions
The cylinders shall comply with the dimensional
requirements shown in Table 2.
Table 2 — Dimensions
Capacity
Internal
height to
highest
graduation
line
min.
Overall
heighta
max.
Distance
from
highest
graduation
line to top
of cylinder
or base of
neck
min.
ml
mm
mm
mm
5
10
25
50
100
250
500
1 000
2 000
55
65
85
110
145
200
250
310
380
115
140
170
200
260
335
390
470
570
20
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
50
a In the case of a stoppered cylinder, the “overall height”
shall be considered to be height to the base of the neck
(see Figure 2).
2
10.1.1 Graduation lines shall be clean, permanent
uniform lines of thickness not exceeding:
0,3 mm for cylinders of nominal
capacity 5 and 10 ml;
0,4 mm for cylinders of nominal
capacity 25, 50, 100 and 250 ml;
0,5 mm for cylinders of nominal
capacity 500, 1 000 and 2 000 ml.
10.1.2 All graduation lines shall lie in planes at
right angles to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder.
10.1.3 Graduation lines may be omitted from the
bottom portion of the cylinder, but the ungraduated
capacity shall not exceed the maximum value
specified in Table 1.
10.2 Spacing of graduation lines
There shall be no evident irregularity in the spacing
of the graduation lines.
10.3 Length of graduation lines
10.3.1 The length of the short lines shall be not less
than 10 % and not more than 20 % of the
circumference.
10.3.2 The length of the medium lines shall be
approximately 1,5 times the length of the short lines
and they shall extend symmetrically at each end
beyond the ends of the short lines.
10.3.3 The length of the long lines shall be not less
than twice the length of the short lines and they
shall either extend symmetrically at each end
beyond the ends of the short lines or, if they extend
almost completely round the circumference of the
cylinder, they shall be so disposed that the gaps in
them are situated vertically above one another and
at one side of the cylinder when it is viewed from the
front in the position of normal use.
10.4 Sequence of graduation lines
10.4.1 On cylinders of capacities 5 ml, 50 ml, 100 ml
and 1 000 ml:
a) every tenth graduation line shall be a long line,
reading the scale from the top;
b) there shall be a medium line midway between
two consecutive long lines;
c) there should be four short lines between
consecutive medium and long lines.
10.4.2 On cylinders of capacities 10 ml, 250 ml
and 2 000 ml:
a) every fifth graduation line shall be a long line,
reading the scale from the top;
b) there shall be four short lines between two
consecutive long lines.
© BSI 07-1999
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BS 604:1982
10.4.3 On cylinders of capacities 25 ml and 500 ml:
a) every tenth graduation line shall be a long line,
reading the scale from the top;
b) there shall be four medium lines equally
spaced between two consecutive long lines;
c) there shall be one short line between two
consecutive medium lines and between
consecutive medium and long lines.
10.5 Position of graduation lines
The graduation lines shall form a vertical scale on
the cylinder. On a spouted cylinder the spout shall
be to the left when the cylinder is positioned with
the scale facing the viewer, as shown in Figure 1.
10.6 Figuring of graduation lines
Graduation lines shall be figured as illustrated in
Figure 3 and Figure 4 and in accordance with the
following principles.
10.6.1 On a cylinder of 250 ml capacity, alternate
long lines shall be figured from 20 to 240 with an
additional figure 250; alternatively, alternate long
lines shall be figured from 30 to 250 ml. On
cylinders of 10 ml and 2 000 ml capacity, alternate
long lines shall be figured.
10.6.2 On all cylinders except those of 10 ml, 250 ml
and 2 000 ml capacity, every long line shall be
figured.
10.6.3 The scheme of figuring shall be such that the
figure representing the nominal capacity refers to
the highest graduation line.
10.6.4 Figures shall be placed immediately above
the long lines to which they refer and slightly to the
right of the adjacent shorter lines. The figures shall
alternatively be placed slightly to the right of the
end of the line to which they refer in such a way that
an extension of the line would bisect them.
© BSI 07-1999
11 Inscriptions
The following inscription shall be permanently
marked on all cylinders:
a) the symbol “cm3” or the symbol “ml” to indicate
the unit of volume (see note to 3.1);
b) the inscription “20 °C” to indicate the standard
reference temperature;
NOTE If, exceptionally, the reference temperature is 27 °C,
this value shall be substituted for 20 °C.
c) the letters “In” to indicate that the cylinder has
been adjusted to contain its indicated capacity;
d) the maker’s and/or vendor’s name or mark;
e) in the case of a cylinder with a standard
interchangeable stopper, the size number of the
joint, marked on both the cylinder and the
stopper.
It is recommended that, in the case of cylinders with
non-interchangeable stoppers, an identification
number should be marked on both the cylinder and
the stopper.
12 Visibility of graduation lines,
figures and inscriptions
12.1 All figures and inscriptions shall be of such size
and form as to be clearly legible under normal
conditions of use.
12.2 All graduation lines, figures and inscriptions
shall be clearly visible and permanent.
12.3 The durability of graduation lines and
inscriptions should be tested by the methods
described in ISO 4794.
3
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BS 604:1982
Figure 1 — General appearance of spouted
measuring cylinder shown with integral
base of hexagonal form
4
Figure 2 — General appearance of
stoppered measuring cylinder shown with
integral base of circular form
© BSI 07-1999
Licensed Copy: Mr. David Williams, National Weights and Measures, 20/03/2009 09:10, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI
BS 604:1982
Figure 3 — Scales of measuring cylinders of capacity 5 to 100 ml
© BSI 07-1999
5
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BS 604:1982
Figure 4 — Scales of measuring cylinders of capacity 250 to 2 000 ml
6
© BSI 07-1999
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BS 604:1982
Publications referred to
See national foreword.
© BSI 07-1999
Licensed Copy: Mr. David Williams, National Weights and Measures, 20/03/2009 09:10, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI
BS 604:1982
ISO 4788:1980
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