Liquified Petroleum Gas

ASTM’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Proficiency Testing Program provides laboratories with a statistical quality assurance (SQA) tool, enabling them to compare, improve, and maintain, a high level of performance in the use of ASTM methods with other laboratories worldwide. The LPG program will provide a typical mixture of hydrocarbons, principally propane, propene, butanes or a mixture of these materials. The product will be a commercially available LPG that is used as a domestic, commercial or industrial fuel.

Conducted three times annually, this program provides a different commercial sample, electronic report forms, and test instructions for each test cycle. Your laboratory performs the tests that you normally conduct within your own facility using the specified ASTM methods cited in the program. All data and related information generated from the program is coded to maintain lab confidentiality.

Test instructions and data report forms are provided electronically through the portal to each participant on the date samples are distributed. Labs have 8 weeks to submit test data with the final statistical summary report being electronically provided through the portal in approximately 20 business days.

ASTM's Proficiency Test Program provides you with:

• A useful and meaningful statistical quality assurance tool to monitor the strengths and weaknesses of your laboratory's performance in conducting testing.
• The resource you need to satisfy proficiency testing elements of laboratory accreditation.
• A periodic comparison of test results with other participating laboratories.

Should you have an issue with your published results, please write to ptp@astm.org with your lab number and account number.

Each participating lab will receive a one (1) cylinder of LPG for each of the three test cycles conducted during the year. Labs will not be able to enroll in the 2024 LPG Program if they do not purchase an ASTM cylinder when they register.

NOTE: List of tests subject to change.

Test samples are prepared and distributed for ASTM International by SGS North America Deer Park, TX. Program registration fees include the cost of shipping the test samples to U.S. participants or, for international participants, to a third-party shipping agent located in the U.S.

IMPORTANT for International participants: You have the following options for receipt of samples:

• Ship through a third party shipping agent - Provide ASTM International with the complete contact information of a designated Shipping Agent located in the U.S. who will be responsible for shipping samples from the U.S. to your facility. Participants are responsible for making financial and shipping arrangements directly with the shipping agent.
  • Please be advised that when samples are shipped, an e-mail is sent only to the contact of record on your ASTM PTP account. It is the customer’s responsibility to advise their designated shipper that the sample has been shipped.
  • We cannot permit shipping agents to pick up samples at our distributors’ warehouses.
• Ship directly from the sample distributor via UPS or FEDEX - Provide ASTM International with your shipping account number to cover shipping charges. Check that your carrier will deliver the test materials to your location. Materials classified as Hazardous may have restrictions.
  • You are responsible for additional fees charged-back to our distributor for any reason relative to your sample shipment including, but not limited to, fees for fuel surcharges, missing/invalid account numbers, dangerous goods, remote area delivery, and multiple delivery attempts

• All participants are required to purchase a sample cylinder and case as part of program participation. Participants may continue to use the cylinder and case from last year’s participation, provided these were returned to SGS North America.
• Cylinders must be purchased from ASTM International.
• Participant must return empty cylinder with case to distributor to receive sample for the next cycle. Additional return shipping costs are to be paid by participant.
• Cylinders deemed unusable upon return must be replaced at participant’s expense before next cycle shipment (replacement cylinders require 15 weeks for ordering).
• You may purchase additional cylinders/cases if you do not wish to return cylinder for each cycle. (reminder: cylinders require 15 weeks for ordering). Please contact ptp@astm.org to order additional cylinders.

What do you do with the empty cylinder?

Please return empty cylinders to:

ATTN: SAMAN TEAM

SGS North America

1201 West 8th Street

Deer Park, TX 77536

Participation is on an annual fee basis and open to all laboratories. Registration fees must be paid in advance to participate. Testing must be performed within the participant's laboratory facilities. A laboratory does not need to perform all the program tests to participate.(All data and related information generated from the program is coded to maintain lab confidentiality.) All participants are required to purchase a sample cylinder and case from ASTM as part of program participation.

Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants, consisting of approximately 2,500 members and developer of over 814 ASTM International standards, provides the technical direction for the program. Test information generated through the program is utilized by Committee D02 to determine if modifications to ASTM International methods or new methods are warranted and to analytically review program test results.

For Additional Information Please Contact:

John Gallagher jgallagher@astm.org - +1-610-832-9646

David de la Garza ddelagarza@astm.org - +1-610-832-9504