Coal spec is a Coal Proficiency Testing scheme founded in 1998 and has since been growing in the number of participants and improving in the quality and integrity of its services.
This program is operating under the ISO 17043 quality management requirement system.The Coal Spec Proficiency Testing scheme aims to assess the ability of the laboratories to competently perform the tests examined on the scheme from an independent point of view and offer technical assistance if required by clients.
Each Laboratory is allocated a random unique code for the programme to enable total confidentiality of the results. In the report reference to specific laboratory and/or its results will only be made through the relevant code, assigned to that specific laboratory.
Sufficient material will be prepared for each round, to enable laboratories to acquire, for purposes of reference. These can be used as secondary reference materials and/or control samples, using the R-mean value as assigned values for respective tests.
Programme Design
The programme covers the following products: General Analysis (GA) Sample : Gross Calorific Value (DB) (Sulphur corrected); Ash Content (DB) %; ISO Volatile Matter (DB) %; ASTM Volatile Matter (DB) %; Total Sulphur (DB) %; Fluorine Content (DB) ppm; Chlorine Content (DB) ppm; Phosphorous in Coal (DB) %; Total Carbon in Coal (DB) %; Hydrogen in Coal (DB) %; Nitrogen in Coal (DB) %; AFT (Deformation) Reducing °C; AFT (Softening) Reducing °C; AFT (Hemisphere) Reducing °C; AFT (Flow) Reducing °C; AFT (Deformation) Oxidizing °C; AFT (Softening) Oxidizing °C; AFT (Hemisphere) Oxidizing °C; AFT (Flow) Oxidizing °C; Free Swelling Index. Hard Groove Grindability Index (HGI) sample: This test involves testing the ease of grindability of coal.
The programme structure therefore allows a laboratory to choose participation in one or two or all products. All participants are coded for confidentiality purposes. Products are and prepared for each study according to quality management system (ISO/IEC 17043). All participants are coded for confidentiality purposes. Samples are dispatched quarterly as per schedule. A report covering the results of the round is then sent by e-mail to the participants.
Study Report
The report on each round consists of a robust statistical analysis of results, with the inclusion of outliers, against the median. The Z-score for each result is tabulated and then summarized for each laboratory. Correlation of analysis where applicable is performed with the evaluation of each laboratory’s performance. Laboratories are not rated against each other but a graphical display of average absolute Z-scores is provided for self-evaluation.
Quarter 1 (Apr – June)
