Issued: 19/11/2012
Issue 2
Approved by: KZ, EN
REAL Compost Certification Scheme
© Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd.
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
Batch(es) sampled
Batch code(s)
Grade (Principal)
Age(s) when sampled 1
Sample
Name of person sampling
batch(es)
Telephone
to
mm
weeks
Sample code (to lab)
Sample code (archived)
Cert assessment code
Quantity of the sample2
Date sampled
Product type (tick one below)
 Turf / top dressing  Mulch
 Soil improver / conditioner
 Other product ingredient / constituent
3
..............................................
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
 Salmonella spp (ISO method)
 E. coli method BS ISO
16649-2, PAS 100:2011)
Potentially toxic elements
Physical contaminants (incl
‘sharps’)
Stability / maturity
Plant response, weeds &
herbicide residue effects
Grade
Physico-chemical
Total nutrients
Available nutrients
- single growing season
(approx timescale)
- immediate
(approx timescale)
Others (parameter, method /
description)





Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Hg, Zn
Glass, metal, plastic and ‘other’ (not stones)
Stones
Evolved carbon dioxide
Germination and growth of tomato and weed plants and any
abnormalities
 Particle size distribution
 Bulk density
 pH
 Organic matter
 Moisture content
 Electrical conductivity
1 Nitrogen (Kjeldahl OR Dumas method)
 Aqua regia-soluble P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Na.
 Calcium chloride / DTPA soluble (CAT) Ammonium-N, nitrate-N,
P, K, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Na. (‘CAT-extractable’)
 Water-soluble chloride, nitrate-N and ammonium-N
 Water-soluble P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Na.
 Total organic carbon
 Calcium oxide equivalent
2 C:N
(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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