UGANDA STANDARD  
  US 803
First Edition
2008-09-08
 
 
Reference numbe r
US 803: 2008
 © UNBS 2008 
  
Kerosene for domestic heating and illuminating (BIK) 
 US 803: 2008 
ii © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations 
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 2008  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, in cluding photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from UNBS. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to 
The Executive Director 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
P.O. Box 6329 
Kampala  
Uganda 
Tel: 256 414 505 995 
Fax: 256 414 286 123 
E-mail: unbs@infocom.co.ug
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  US 803: 2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  iii
 Contents Page 
Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................iv  
1 Scope.......................................................................................................................... ............................1  
2 Normative re feren ces........................................................................................................... .................1  
3 Definitions and abbrevia tions .................................................................................................. ............1  
4 Symbols (and abbreviated terms)................................................................................................ ........2  
5 Requirements................................................................................................................... ......................2  
5.1 General ........................................................................................................................ ...........................2  
5.2 Smoke point .................................................................................................................... .......................2  
5.3 Burning quality ................................................................................................................ ......................2  
5.4 Storage stability.............................................................................................................. .......................3  
6 Inspection and me thods of test ................................................................................................. ..........3  
6.1 Inspection..................................................................................................................... ..........................3  
6.2 Methods of  test................................................................................................................ ......................3  
7 Packing and labelling.......................................................................................................... ..................3  
7.1 Packing........................................................................................................................ ...........................3  
7.2 Labelling...................................................................................................................... ...........................4  
Annex A (normative)  Note to pur chasers ........................................................................................ ...............5  
Annex B (normative)  Sampling and compliance with th is standard............................................................6  
B.1 Sampling ....................................................................................................................... .........................6  
B.1.1  General ........................................................................................................................ ...........................6  
B.1.2  Defini tions .................................................................................................................... ..........................6  
B.1.3  Samples for inspec tion and te sting.....................................................................................................6  
B.2 Compliance with this standard .................................................................................................. ..........6  
Annex C (informative)  Quality verifica tion of kerosene for domestic use ..................................................7  
 
 US 803: 2008 
iv © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 Foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry  of Tourism, Trade and 
Industry established under Cap 327, of the Laws of Uganda.  UNBS is mandated to co-ordinate the 
elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex A limentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT/SPS Agr eements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a gi ven field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academician s, manufacturers, governme nt and other stakeholders. 
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committ ee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
Committee membership 
The following organisations were represented on th e Technical Committee for Chemicals and environment 
standards, UNBS/TC 5 in the dev elopment of this standard: 
• Government Chemist 
• Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources 
• Libra Energy Ltd 
• Total (U) Ltd. 
• Shell (U) Ltd 
• Kobil (U) Ltd. 
• Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
 UGANDA STANDARD US 803: 2008
 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  1
 Kerosene for domestic heating and illuminating 
1 Scope 
This Uganda Standard specifies the requir ements for a hydrocarbon fuel suitable for use in wick-fed, pressure 
vaporizing and other kerosene burning appliances for space heating, cooking and illumination. 
2 Normative references 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies. 
ASTM D 56, Standard test method for flash point by tag closed cup tester  
ASTM D 86, Standard test method for distillation of petr oleum products at atmospheric pressure  
ASTM D 93, Petroleum products — Determination of flash — Abel closed cup method  
ASTM D 130, Standard test method for corrosiveness to copper from petroleum products by copper strip test  
ASTM D 156, Standard test method for Saybolt color of petroleum products (Saybolt chromometer method)  
ASTM D 187, Standard test method for burning quality of kerosene 
ASTM D 1266, Standard test method for sulfur in petroleum products (Lamp method)  
ASTM D 1322, Standard test method for smoke point of kerosene and aviation turbine fuel  
ASTM D 4057, Standard practice for manual sampling of petroleum and petroleum products  
ASTM D 4177, Standard practice for automatic sampling of petroleum and petroleum products  
IP 17, Determination of colour — Lovibond tintometer method  
US ISO 3405,  Petroleum products — Determination of distilla tion characteristics at atmospheric pressure  
ISO 4260, Petroleum products and hydrocarbons — Determination of sulfur content — Wickbold combustion 
method 
US ISO 9001, Quality management systems — Requirements 
3 Definitions and abbreviations 
acceptable 
acceptable to the authority administering this standard, or to the parties concluding the purchase contract, as 
relevant US 803: 2008 
2 © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 4 Symbols (and abbreviated terms) 
• ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials 
• BIK - Bulk Illuminating Kerosene 
• IP - Institute of Petroleum 
5 Requirements 
5.1 General 
Kerosene shall be a homogeneous mixture consisting of highly refined hydrocarbon dist illates. It shall be clear 
and free from water, suspended matter, sediment and othe r impurities and it shall possess a characteristic 
odour. It shall also comply with the requirements listed in Table 1. 
5.2 Smoke point 
The smoke point of the kerosene shall not be less than 25 mm.  
5.3 Burning quality 
When the kerosene is tested in accordance with the me thod described in ASTM D 187, using the IP burner, at 
a fuel consumption rate not exceeding 23 g/ h, at the end of the 24 h test period, 
a) any difference between the width of the flame and its initial width shall not be more than 2 mm. 
b) any decrease in the height of the flame, as compar ed with its initial height, shall not be more than 3 
mm. 
c) the chimney shall not show more than a slight bloom. 
d) there shall be no appreciable quantit y of hard incrustation on the wick. 
e) the char value shall be less than 10 mg/kg of fuel burnt. US 803: 2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  3
 Table 1 — Requirements for kerosene 
 
Property  Requirements  Test method  
Flash point, °C, min.  38 ASTM D 56 or ASTM D 93  
Distillation: 
a) Initial boiling point, °C, min. 
b) Final boiling point, °C, max. 
c) Residue, % (by volume), max.   
170 
300 
2,0  
ASTM D 86 or  
US ISO 3405  
Sulfur content, % (by mass), max.  0,05 ASTM D 1266 or ISO 4260  
Smoke point, mm, min.  + 25 ASTM D 1322  
Colour: 
a) IP glass standard, max. 
b) Saybolt, min.   
1.5 
+25  
IP 17 
ASTM D 156  
Copper corrosion (3 h at 50 °C), ASTM 
scale classification, max.  1B ASTM D 130  
Density at 20 °C 0.76 - 0.82 ASTM D 1298 or ISO 3675 
10 % v/v recovery temperature, °C, max. 205 ASTM D 86 or US ISO 3405 
 
5.4 Storage stability 
After storage in the original containers under normal storage conditions for a period of at least 12 months after 
the date of receipt, the kerosene in full, unopened cont ainers shall comply with all requirements of this 
standard. 
6 Inspection and methods of test 
6.1 Inspection 
Inspect the containers taken in accordance with B.1.3 fo r compliance with all the relevant requirements of this 
standard for which tests to assess compliance are not given in 5.2 to 5.4. 
6.2 Methods of test 
For all properties, use the applicable method or, when rele vant, one of the applicable methods listed in Table 
1 and those given in 5.3. 
7 Packing and labelling 
7.1 Packing 
The condition of containers at the point of sale to consumers, drums, interm ediate bulk containers and road 
tank vehicles shall be such as not to be detrimental to the quality of the kerosene during normal transport and 
storage.  US 803: 2008 
4 © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 7.2 Labelling 
For the labelling, placarding and preparation of ship ping documents for fuel that complies with the 
requirements of this standard, the following shall apply: 
a) the hazard-class diamond, as for Class 3 dangerous goods; 
b) the proper shipping name: "KEROSENE FO R DOMESTIC HEATING AND ILLUMINATING"; 
c) the Substance Identificatio n Number (SIN), 1223; and 
d) other information including the supplier's brand name or trademark, the description, "KEROSENE 
FOR DOMESTIC USE" and the quantity. US 803: 2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  5
 Annex A 
(normative) 
 
Note to purchasers 
The following requirement shall be agre ed upon between the supplier and the purchaser: 
when the kerosene is to be stored for a period exce eding 12 months, any additional requirements for storage 
stability (see 4.4). US 803: 2008 
6 © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 Annex B  
(normative) 
 
Sampling and compliance with this standard 
B.1 Sampling 
B.1.1 General 
The sampling procedure given in B.1.3 shall be applied in  determining whether a lot complies with the relevant 
requirements of this standard. The samples so drawn shall be deemed to represent the lot. 
B.1.2 Definitions  
B.1.2.1 
defective 
test sample of the kerosene that fails in one or more re spects to comply with the relevant requirements of this 
standard 
B.1.2.2 
lot 
quantity of kerosene in containers bearing the same br and name or trademark, grade designation and batch 
identification, from one manufacturer, and submi tted at any one time for inspection and testing 
B.1.3 Samples for inspection and testing 
After inspecting the lot for compliance  with the relevant requirements of 71 and 7.2, use the relevant sampling 
procedure given in ASTM D 4057 or ASTM D 4177, as appropriate, to determine whether a lot complies with 
this standard, and deem the samples so taken to represent the lot for the respective properties. 
B.2 Compliance with this standard 
The lot shall be deemed to comply with the relevant requirements of this standard if, on inspection of the containers or tankers in the lot, and on testing of the samples taken in accordance with B.1.3, no defective is found. US 803: 2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  7
 Annex C 
(informative) 
 
Quality verification of kerosene for domestic use 
When a purchaser requires ongoing verification of the qu ality of kerosene, it is suggested that, instead of 
concentrating solely on evaluation of the final product, he also direct his attention to the manufacturer's quality 
system. In this connection it should be noted that US ISO 9001 covers the provision of an integrated quality 
system. 
 US 803: 2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  8
 Certification marking 
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be  marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is gove rned by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licens ed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in co njunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and  testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National  Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of  licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 US 803: 2008 
 
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