When a supplier says a test sieve is made to ISO 3310, the claim should refer to the relevant part of the standard for that sieve construction. The standard family is about the sieve itself: its technical requirements and how it is assessed.
The three main parts of ISO 3310
ISO 3310-1:2016 covers test sieves made from metal wire cloth. This is the part most people encounter when buying conventional laboratory sieve stacks.
ISO 3310-2:2013 covers test sieves made from perforated metal plate. These use formed holes rather than woven wire cloth.
ISO 3310-3:1990 covers test sieves made from electroformed sheets.
What ISO 3310 does not replace
ISO 3310 does not tell you which sieve series your test method requires, how much sample to use, how long to sieve, or how to calculate and report a result for every application. Those decisions come from the relevant test method, product specification, internal procedure or industry requirement.
In practice, you first identify the method you must follow, then confirm the sieve construction, aperture range and frame format that method expects.
Why the standard matters when buying test sieves
A test sieve is a measuring tool. Small dimensional differences can affect the material retained or passing through a sieve. Referencing the appropriate ISO 3310 part gives the buyer and supplier a common technical basis for what the sieve should be.
That is especially important when results are used for quality control, supplier acceptance, regulatory testing, production release or comparisons between laboratories.
What to put in a sieve purchasing brief
- The test method or internal specification you are following.
- The required aperture sizes or sieve series.
- The required sieve diameter and frame depth.
- The preferred frame material, if the method does not prescribe it.
- Whether the work is dry sieving or a method-approved wet process.
- Any certification, inspection or traceability requirements your quality system expects.
Primary standard reference
For current standard status and official titles, use the ISO particle-size analysis and sieving catalogue. Le Lien's guides explain practical purchasing concepts but do not reproduce or replace the copyrighted standard text.
A useful way to think about ISO 3310
Think of the standard as part of the measurement chain. The material, sampling method, test procedure, sieve condition, operator and reporting method all still matter. A standards-compliant sieve helps remove one source of uncertainty, but it does not make an unsuitable method suitable.
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