Product Specifications

Aviation Kerosene JET A-1

TEST METHODS (1)

PROPERTY UNITS LIMITS
ASTM
STANDARDS IP STANDARDS

Appearance Clear, bright and visually free from

solid matter and undissolved water at Visual
ambient temperature.

Saybolt color (2) report D 156

D 6045

Particulate contamination (3) or mg/l maximum 1,0 D 5452 IP 423

Particles per channel (4) Channel counts ISO Code
IP 565
≥ 4 µm(c) report maximum 19
IP 577
≥ 6 µm(c) report maximum 17
Particles per
≥ 14 µm(c) channel & report maximum 14
≥ 21 µm(c) ISO code report report
≥ 25 µm(c) report report
≥ 30 µm(c) report maximum 13

Total acidity mg KOH/g maximum 0,015 D 3242 IP 354

Aromatic hydrocarbon types: (5 y 6)

Aromatics or % V/V maximum 25,0 D 1319 IP 156
Total Aromatics % V/V maximum 26,5 D 6379 IP 436

Sulfur, Total % m/m maximum 0,30 IP 336

Sulfur, Mercaptan (7) or % m/m maximum 0,0030 D 3227 IP 342
Doctor Test Doctor Negative IP 30

Refining components, at point of manufacture (8):

Non-hydroprocessed components % V/V report
Mildly hydroprocessed components % V/V report
Severely hydroprocessed components º% V/V report
Synthetic components (9) % V/V report

Distillation (10): D 86 IP 123

Initial Boiling point ºC report
10 % V/V recovery ºC maximum 205.0
50 % V/V recovery ºC report
90 % V/V recovery ºC report
End Point ºC maximum 300.0
Residue % V/V maximum 1,5
Loss % V/V maximum 1,5

Flash point ºC minimum 38.0 IP 170

Density at 15 ºC kg/m³ 775,0 a 840,0 D 4052 IP 365

Freezing point (11) ºC maximum -47.0 D 2386 IP 16

Viscosity at -20 ºC mm²/s maximum 8,000 D 445 IP 71

Smoke point (12) or mm minimum 25,0 D 1322 IP 598

Smoke point (12) and mm minimum 18,0 D 1322 IP 598
Naphthalenes % V/V maximum 3,00 D 1840
Specific energy MJ/kg minimum 42,80 (13)

Copper corrosion (14) Class maximum 1b D 130 IP 154

DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12, 14 September 2020. Page 1of 9

 TEST METHODS (1)
PROPERTY UNITS LIMITS
ASTM
STANDARDS IP STANDARDS

Thermal stability (JFTOT) (15): D 3241 IP 323

Test temperature tube rating ºC minimum 260
Tube evaluation, one of the following requirements
shall be met (16) (17):
maximum <3. No peacock (P) or
1) VTR or
abnormal deposits (A)

2) ITR or ETR, average over area of 2.5

mm2 nm maximum 85

Pressure differential mm Hg maximum 25

Existent Gum mg/100 ml maximum 7 IP 540

Water separation characteristics at point of D 3948

manufacture (refinery): (18)
Microseparometer (MSEP) without SDA or minimum 85
Microseparometer (MSEP) with SDA minimum 70

Water separation characteristics downstream of the

point of manufacture (refinery): (18)
Microseparometer (MSEP) minimum 85 D 7224
Microseparometer (MSEP) minimum 88 D 8073 IP 624

Electrical conductivity (19) (20) pS/m 50 a 600 D 2624 IP 274

Lubricity (21) mm maximum 0,85 D 5001

IP 585
FAME content (22) (23) mg/kg Less than 5.0
IP 590
IP 599

DRA content (23) (24) µg/l nil D 7872

Additives (25) (25)

EDITION: 12 DATE: 14/12/2020

SEE NOTES ON THE NEXT PAGE

DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12, 14 September 2020. Page 2of 9

 NOTES:
(0) If no assurance can be given that the product shall be shipped exclusively as Jet A-1 (civil aviation
fuel) the specifications that apply to it shall be the most restrictive of the latest edition of DEF
STAN 91-091 and MIL-DTL-83133K.
Following is a table of the properties and their most restrictive limits for compliance as JP8:

TEST METHODS (1)

PROPERTY UNITS LIMITS
ASTM IP
STANDARDS STANDARDS

Sulfur, Mercaptan or % m/m maximum 0,002 D 3227 (I) IP 342

Doctor Test (I) Doctor Negative D 4952
D 3343
D 3701
Hydrogen content (II) % m/m minimum 13,4
D 5291
D 7171
report D 976
Calculated cetane index
D 4737

Filtration time (III) min maximum 15 (III)

Components and additives (IV) (18)

(I) If the Doctor Test gives a "failure" (positive result) the determination of mercaptan sulfur shall be done by
the reference method ASTM D 3227.
(II) The referee test method is ASTM D 7171.
(III) A minimum sample volume of 3,785 l is filtered. The filtration time is determined according to Appendix A
of the MIL-DTL-83133K2 standard.
(IV) Antioxidants:
Immediately after processing and before the product is exposed to the atmosphere (such as during
rundown into feed/batch tankage), add an approved antioxidant formulation or combination of approved
antioxidant formulations in order to prevent the formation of gums and peroxides after manufacture. The
concentration of antioxidant to be added shall be:
In JP-8 with hydroprocessed or SPK (synthetic paraffinic kerosene) components derived from
hydroprocessing, hydrocracking or hydroisomerization of Fisher-Tropsch or HEFA processes (mandatory)
17.2 to 24.0 mg/l active component
In JP-8 without hydroprocessed components or without SPK (synthetic paraffinic kerosene) components
derived from hydroprocessing, hydrocracking or hydroisomerization of Fisher-Tropsch or HEFA
processes (optional) maximum 24.0 mg/l active component
(1) The test methods to be applied shall be those corresponding to the last published version.
Other acceptable methods are referenced in DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12:
Table 1: Specified limits.
Annex E: Table 5: Alternative test methods.
(2) The determination of Saybolt color in the refinery allows to quantify the evolution of color in the distribution
chain. Atypical or unusual colors should also be noted. For further information, see Annex F.4 of DEF
STAN 91-091 Issue 12.
(3) These limits apply only in refineries. Refer to the information on particulate contamination at Annex F.1 of
DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12.
(4) This requirement is applicable only in the refinery. If Channel Counts / ISO code exceed the limits stated,
Annex B of IP 565 or Annex B of IP 577 may be applied to eliminate trace free water, and cleanliness re-
determined. In such cases, results before and after application of Annex B shall be reported. To meet the
requirements of this standard the limits of either test particulate contamination or particles per channel

DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12, 14 September 2020. Page 3of 9

 shall be met. For JP-8 gravimetric particulate contamination shall be the referee according to MIL-DTL-
83133K.
(5) The ASTM D 1319/IP 156 test methods are the required methods for measuring aromatics content. In
addition, recently delivered supplies of the product gel containing the dye with lot numbers 3000000975,
3000000976, 3000000977, 3000000978, 3000000979 and 3000000980 were produced with a substitute
dye that is unfortunately not suitable and will not provide accurate measurements of aromatic
concentration if utilized.

When the aromatic level is needed to be determined, Jet A-1 fuel will only meet the aviation fuel
operating limitations of aircraft certificated to operate on Jet A-1 fuel and the requirements of
Def Stan 91-091Issue 12 if:

1) the fuel has been tested for aromatics concentration in accordance with ASTM
D1319/IP156 with a dye other than from lot numbers 3000000975 through 3000000982,
the lot number of the gel used shall be reported on the test certificate
or
2) the fuel has been tested for aromatics concentration in accordance with the alternative
test methods ASTM D6379/ IP436.

No other alternative test method, or method of deriving the aromatic content, is

acceptable.

(6) Interlaboratory tests have shown the existence of a correlation between the total aromatic content
measured by IP 156/ASTM D1319 and IP 436/ASTM D6379. Bias between both methods necessitates
different equivalence limits as shown. In case of dispute IP 156 will be the referee method.
(7) The Doctor's test is an alternative to the mercaptan sulfur determination. In the event of conflict between
Sulfur Mercaptan and Doctor Test, the Sulfur Mercaptan shall prevail.
(8) Each refinery component used in the make-up of the batch shall be reported on the Refinery Certificate
of Quality as a percentage by volume of the total fuel in the batch. Mildly hydroprocessed components
are defined as those petroleum derived hydrocarbons that have been subjected to a hydrogen partial
pressure of less than 7000 kPa (70 bar or 1015 psi) during manufacture. Severely hydroprocessed
components are defined as those petroleum derived hydrocarbons that have been subjected to a
hydrogen partial pressure of greater than 7000 kPa (70 bar or 1015 psi) during manufacture. The total of
non-hydroprocessed plus mildly hydroprocessed plus severely hydroprocessed plus synthetic
components shall equal 100%.
(9) The volume percentage of each synthetic blending component type shall be recorded along with its
corresponding release specification and ASTM D7566 Annex number, product originator and originator’s
Certificate of Quality number
For these components the quality specification and mixing percentages are defined in Annex B of DEF
STAN 91-091 Issue 12.
(10) In methods IP 123 and ASTM D86 all fuels certified to this specification shall be classed as group 4 with
a condenser temperature of 0 ºC to 4 ºC.
(11) During downstream distribution if the freezing point of the fuel is very low and cannot be determined within
the IP 16 lowest achievable temperature of minus 65 degrees C, if no crystals appear during cooling of
the fuel and when the thermometer indicates a temperature of minus 65°C, the freezing point shall be
recorded as below minus 65°C. This limit does not apply if the freezing point is measured by IP435/ASTM
D5972, IP 529/ASTM D7153 or IP528/ASTM D7154.
(12) IP 598/ASTM D1322 includes the manual and automatic method. The automatic method is the referee
method.
(13) Specific Energy by one of the calculation methods listed in Annex E is acceptable.
(14) The sample shall be tested in a pressure vessel at 100 ± 1 ºC for 2 hours ± 5 min.

DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12, 14 September 2020. Page 4of 9

(15) Thermal Stability is a critical aviation fuel test and while competition among equipment
manufacturers/suppliers is to be encouraged, aircraft safety must remain paramount. It is known that there
are heater tubes being supplied by sources other than the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Until
the alternative manufacturers' tubes have been demonstrated to be equivalent to the OEM's test pieces,
to the satisfaction of the AFC, they shall not be used. A list of manufacturers whose heater tubes have
been found to be technically suitable is as follows: a) PAC – Alcor b) Falex.
(16) The evaluation of the deposits shall be measured according to the methods indicated in Table 1 (ASTM
D3241 and IP 323) described in the corresponding annexes of these methods. Deposit assessment shall
be measured by the interferometric (ITR) or ellipsometric (ETR) method when available. If the ITR
equipment reports the result as "N/A" the analysis will be failed and reported as >85 nm. If the ITR or ETR
values are reported the VTR value is not required. In case of conflict between the results of the visual
method (VTR) and the metrological methods (ITR/ETR) the metrological method shall be considered the
referee.
(17) Examination of the heater tube to determine the Visual Tube Rating using the Visual Tube Rater or deposit
thickness by ETR or ITR shall be carried out within 120 minutes of completion of the test.
(18) Where SDA is added at point of manufacture the MSEP limit of 70 shall apply. No precision data are
available for fuels containing SDA; if water separation property testing is carried out during downstream
distribution no specification limits apply and the results are not to be used as the sole reason for rejection
of a fuel. A protocol giving guidelines on water separation property testing can be found in the Joint
Inspection Group's Bulletin Number 121. Where SDA is added downstream of point of manufacture, it is
acknowledged that MSEP results using ASTM D3948 may be less than 70.
(19) The conductivity limits are mandatory for product to meet this Standard. However, it is acknowledged that
in some manufacturing and distribution systems it is more practical to inject SDA further downstream. In
such cases the Certificate of Quality for the batch should be annotated thus: “Product meets requirements
of Defence Standard 91-091 Issue 12 except for electrical conductivity”. See Annex F.2 for more
information.
(20) In deliveries to the CLH System, SDA shall not be incorporated into the kerosene and therefore shall not
have to comply with this specification. In these cases, two liters of SDA per thousand cubic meters of
kerosene shall be given by refineries (or plants).
(21) The requirement to determine lubricity applies only to fuels whose composition is made up of a) less than
5% non hydroprocessed components and at least 20% severely hydroprocessed components (see Note
8) or b) includes synthesised fuel components. The limit applies only at the point of manufacture (see
Note 9).
(22) Test method IP 585 shall be the referee method.
(23) A risk assessment shall be done to quantify the potential risk of incidental material carry over. Where
such assessments indicate that there could be a potential risk in jet fuel supplies, additional quality
assurance procedures shall be introduced to increase control in order to mitigate the risk. Where the risk
of incidental material carryover exists and it is not possible to control with additional quality assurance
procedures, testing shall be instigated.

(24) DRA is not an approved additive for jet fuel at any concentration. Dilution of fuels with known levels of
DRA is not permitted, even to levels below the detection limit. Where the level of DRA is otherwise
unknown a result at or below 72 µg/l would support an assumption of nil addition.
(25) Additives:

Some additives, as qualified, include a hydrocarbon diluent as a solvent and the amount to be added is
calculated based on the additive as received. These include Static Dissipator Additive and Lubricity
Improver Additive.
Other additives are qualified based on the active ingredient content as listed. These include Anti-oxidant,
Metal Deactivator Additive, Fuel System Icing Inhibitor (FSII), and Leak Detection Additive.

The list of permitted additives is contained in Annex A of DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12

DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12, 14 September 2020. Page 5of 9

 Where it is necessary to dilute an additive for handling purposes any solvent used shall be hydrocarbon
derived from the sources detailed in Clause 4 Materials. In this case the vendor/manufacturer shall provide
directions for calculating dosage. This information shall be placed on the certificate of analysis or additive
quality documentation.

DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12, 14 September 2020. Page 6of 9

 Anti-oxidants:
Anti-oxidants can be used to prevent the formation of peroxides and gums during storage.
The use of anti-oxidants or antioxidant blends is optional for fuels manufactured from petroleum sources.
(see 4.1.1 of DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12). Allowable antioxidants are detailed in A.2.4 of DEF STAN 91-
091 Issue 12.
Annex B.2 of DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12 contains requirements for anti-oxidants for fuels produced
according to ASTM D7566.
The concentrations in which the qualified materials shall be used are as follows:
• Synthetic fuel: refer to the appropriate Annex in ASTM D7566.
• Petroleum fuels: the total concentration of active material(s) in the final batch shall not exceed 24.0
mg/l.

The concentration of anti-oxidant added to the fuel shall be reported in the refinery quality certificate in the
two ways indicated below:

a) firstly expressed as a proportion of the total hydro-processed and synthetic material, in order to
ensure the minimum effective amount is used; and
b) secondly as a total proportion of the final blended fuel batch of all components, in order to ensure
that the maximum overall concentration has not been exceeded.

If anti-oxidant is added post manufacture, report the total active material concentration in the final batched
fuel on the Certificate of Analysis and the Release Certificate.

Metal Deactivator Additive (MDA):

The permitted MDAs are detailed in A.3.3 of DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12.

MDA may be added to aviation fuel under the following conditions:

• At Point of Manufacture
a) No more than 5 % of the jet fuel batches produced in a 12 month period may be treated with
MDA to meet Table 1 thermal oxidative stability requirements (260 °C test temperature).
b) The batch of fuel shall pass Table 1 thermal oxidative stability requirements at a test
temperature of 245 °C prior to any MDA addition.
c) The fuel batch after MDA addition (2.0 mg/L maximum MDA) shall pass Table 1 thermal
oxidative stability requirements at a test temperature of 275 °C.
d) The thermal oxidative stability test result at 245 °C prior to MDA addition, the original test result
at 260 °C and the test result at 275 °C (post MDA addition) and the concentration of MDA
added shall be reported on the Refinery Certificate of Quality.
• During Distribution
a) MDA may be added to jet fuel in the distribution system to recover thermal oxidative stability
performance lost during distribution (after refinery release). The Certificate of Analysis shall
show the initial thermal oxidative stability test result, the result after the addition of the MDA
and the concentration of MDA added.

The concentrations of MDA are as follows:

• First Addition of MDA maximum 2.0 mg/l
• MDA readjustment, cumulative concentration maximum 5.7 mg/l

DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12, 14 September 2020. Page 7of 9

 Initial addition of more than 2 mg/l MDA, to aviation fuels that meet the requirements for thermal stability at
oxidation (test temperature 260ºC) prior to MDA addition, is permitted when the fuel will be transported in
supply chains where copper contamination can occur. The requirement for total accumulation of MDA
applies also in these cases.

Static Dissipator Additive (SDA):

The permitted SDAs are detailed in A.4.2 of DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12.
The concentrations of SDA are as follows:
• First SDA Addition maximum 3.0 mg/l
• SDA readjustment, cumulative concentration (including initial) maximum 5.0 mg/l
A suitable method for determining SDA content at the point of manufacture is IP 568/ASTM D7524.
In deliveries to the CLH System this additive shall not be incorporated.

Lubricity Improver Additive (LIA):

The permitted LIAs and their concentration are detailed in A.5.4 of DEF STAN 91-0911 Issue 12.
The permitted additives and their concentrations are as follows:
• Hitec 580 minimum 15 mg/l maximum 23 mg/l
• Octel DCI-4A minimum 9 mg/l maximum 23 mg/l
• Octel DCI-6A minimum 9 mg/l maximum 15 mg/l
• Nalco 5403 minimum 12 mg/l maximum 23 mg/l
• Tolad 4410 minimum 9 mg/l maximum 23 mg/l
• Tolad 351 minimum 9 mg/l maximum 23 mg/l
• Unicor J minimum 9 mg/l maximum 23 mg/l
• Nalco 5405 minimum 9 mg/l maximum 23 mg/l
• Spec Aid 8Q22 minimum 9 mg/l maximum 23 mg/l

Fuel System Icing Inhibitor (FSII):

FSII is not allowed if no agreement is reached between purchaser and supplier. Concentrations of less
than 0.02% V/V are considered negligible and do not require agreement or notification.
For more information see Annex A.6 of DEF STAN 91-0911 Issue 12.

Leak Detection Additive (Tracer A):

Where necessary a leak detection additive may be added to the fuel to assist in detecting and locating
leaks in ground based fuel storage, delivery and dispensing systems. It should be recognized that other
leak detection techniques may have less environmental impact than Tracer A. The additive should only
be used when other options have been considered.
Permitted leak detection additives are detailed in A.8.2 of DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12
The concentrations are as follows:
Tracer A (LDTA-A) maximum 1.0 mg/kg

DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12, 14 September 2020. Page 8of 9

 The Refinery Certificate of Quality (RCQ) shall contain all information concerning additives incorporated
into kerosene, both the type and concentration of each. In the refinery batch test certificate, shall also
note the names and codes of the additives listed in Annex A of DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12.

IF THERE IS A MODIFICATION OF THE OFFICIAL SPECIFICATIONS IN FORCE IN SPAIN, THIS TABLE

WILL BE REVISED IN ORDER TO ADAPT IT TO THE NEW SITUATION.

DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 12, 14 September 2020. Page 9of 9