It is intended that this practice be used to provide a sample representative of the coal from which it is collected. Because of the variability of coal and the wide variety of mechanical sampling equipment available, caution should be used in all stages of the sample collection process, the design of sampling system specifications, the equipment procurement and the acceptance testing of installed equipment.

After removal from the sampling system and further preparation (Practice D2013), the sample may be analyzed for a number of different parameters. These parameters may define the lot's value, its ability to meet specifications, its environmental impact, as well as other properties.

1.1 This practice is divided into 4 parts. These 4 parts represent the previous standards D7256/D7256M, D4916, D4702, and D6518. These 4 standards are the 4 that govern the mechanical sampling of coal and have been combined into one document for the ease of reference of the users of these standards.