This Standard sets out three methods for the determination of the total moisture content of lower rank coal. The first method is a two-stage procedure applicable to large (500 g) samples. The second method involves drying under a stream of flowing nitrogen, and is applicable only to laboratory samples with mass of about 10 g. The third method comprises an azeotropic distillation with toluene, and is applicable to a sample mass of 200 g to 500 g.

This Standard is applicable to bed-moist coals or analysis samples, where the moisture is expected to exceed 15 percent.