4/29/2020 Standard conditions for temperature and pressure - Wikipedia

Standard conditions for temperature and

pressure
Standard conditions for temperature and pressure are standard sets of conditions for
experimental measurements to be established to allow comparisons to be made between different
sets of data. The most used standards are those of the International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry (IUPAC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), although these
are not universally accepted standards. Other organizations have established a variety of alternative
definitions for their standard reference conditions.

In chemistry, IUPAC changed the definition of standard temperature and pressure (STP) in
1982:[1]

Until 1982, STP was defined as a temperature of 273.15 K (0 °C, 32 °F) and an absolute
pressure of exactly 1 atm (101.325 kPa).
Since 1982, STP is defined as a temperature of 273.15 K (0 °C, 32 °F) and an absolute pressure
of exactly 105 Pa (100 kPa, 1 bar).

STP should not be confused with the standard state commonly used in thermodynamic evaluations of
the Gibbs energy of a reaction.

NIST uses a temperature of 20 °C (293.15 K, 68 °F) and an absolute pressure of 1 atm (14.696 psi,
101.325 kPa). This standard is also called normal temperature and pressure (abbreviated as
NTP).

The International Standard Metric Conditions for natural gas and similar fluids are 288.15 K
(15.00 °C; 59.00 °F) and 101.325 kPa.[2]

In industry and commerce, standard conditions for temperature and pressure are often necessary to
define the standard reference conditions to express the volumes of gases and liquids and related
quantities such as the rate of volumetric flow (the volumes of gases vary significantly with
temperature and pressure): standard cubic meters per second (sm3/s), and normal cubic meters per
second (nm3/s).

However, many technical publications (books, journals, advertisements for equipment and
machinery) simply state "standard conditions" without specifying them; often substituting the term
with older "normal conditions", or "NC". In special cases this can lead to confusion and errors. Good
practice always incorporates the reference conditions of temperature and pressure. If not stated,
some room environment conditions are supposed, close to 1 atm pressure, 293 К (20 °C), and 0%
humidity.

Contents
Definitions
Past uses
Current use
International Standard Atmosphere
Standard laboratory conditions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_conditions_for_temperature_and_pressure 1/8
4/29/2020 Standard conditions for temperature and pressure - Wikipedia

Molar volume of a gas

See also
Notes
References
External links

Definitions

Past uses

Before 1918, many professionals and scientists using the metric system of units defined the standard
reference conditions of temperature and pressure for expressing gas volumes as being 15 °C
(288.15 K; 59.00 °F) and 101.325 kPa (1.00 atm; 760 Torr). During those same years, the most
commonly used standard reference conditions for people using the imperial or U.S. customary
systems was 60 °F (15.56 °C; 288.71 K) and 14.696 psi (1 atm) because it was almost universally used
by the oil and gas industries worldwide. The above definitions are no longer the most commonly used
in either system of units.[3]

Current use

Many different definitions of standard reference conditions are currently being used by organizations
all over the world. The table below lists a few of them, but there are more. Some of these
organizations used other standards in the past. For example, IUPAC has, since 1982, defined
standard reference conditions as being 0 °C and 100 kPa (1 bar), in contrast to its old standard of 0 °C
and 101.325 kPa (1 atm).[4] The new value is the mean atmospheric pressure at an altitude of about
112 metres, which closer to the worldwide median altitude of human habitation (194 m).

Natural gas companies in Europe, Australia, and South America have adopted 15 °C (59 °F) and
101.325 kPa (14.696 psi) as their standard gas volume reference conditions, used as the base values
for defining the standard cubic meter.[5][6][7] Also, the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) each have more than one definition of standard reference conditions in their
various standards and regulations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_conditions_for_temperature_and_pressure 2/8
4/29/2020 Standard conditions for temperature and pressure - Wikipedia

Standard reference conditions in current use

Temperature Pressure Relative

Humidity Publishing or establishing entity
°C °F kPa mmHg psi inHg (%)

0 32 100.000 750.06 14.5038 29.530 IUPAC (STP) since 1982[1]

NIST,[8] ISO 10780,[9] formerly IUPAC

0 32 101.325 760.00 14.6959 29.921
(STP) until 1982[1]

ICAO's ISA,[10] ISO 13443,[2] EEA,[11]

15 59 101.325 760.00 14.6959 29.921 0[2][10]
EGIA (SI Definition)[12]

EPA,[13] NIST.[14] This is also called NTP,

20 68 101.325 760.00 14.6959 29.921
Normal Temperature and Pressure.[15]
American Association of Physicists in
22 72 101.325 760.00 14.6959 29.921 20–80
Medicine[16]
25 77 100.000 750.06 14.5038 29.530 IUPAC (SATP)

25 77 101.325 760.00 14.6959 29.921 EPA[17]

20 68 100.000 750.06 14.5038 29.530 0 CAGI[18]

15 59 100.000 750.06 14.5038 29.530 SPE[19]

20 68 101.3 760 14.69 29.9 50 ISO 5011[20]

20 68 101.33 760.0 14.696 29.92 0 GOST 2939-63

16 60 101.33 760.0 14.696 29.92 SPE,[19] U.S. OSHA,[21] SCAQMD[22]

16 60 101.6 762 14.73 30.0 EGIA (Imperial System Definition)[12]

16 60 101 760 14.7 30 U.S. DOT (SCF)[23]

15 59 99.99 750.0 14.503 29.53 78 U.S. Army Standard Metro[24][a]

15 59 101.33 760.0 14.696 29.92 60 ISO 2314,[25] ISO 3977-2[26]

AMCA,[27][b] air density = 0.075 lbm/ft3.

This AMCA standard applies only to air;
21 70 101.3 760 14.70 29.92 0
Compressed Gas Association [CGA]
applies to industrial gas use in USA[28]

15 59 101.3 760 14.70 29.92 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)[29]

20 68 101.325 760.00 14.6959 29.921 0 EN 14511-1:2013[30]

ISO 2533:1975[31] ISO 13443:2005[32],

15 59 101.325 760.00 14.6959 29.921 0
ISO 7504:2015[33]

0 32 101.325 760.00 14.6959 29.921 0 DIN 1343:1990[34]

Note: This table needs careful checking. For example the American Association of Physicists in
Medicine paper quotes a temperature of 22°C. It does not quote a Fahrenheit equivalent. The correct
Fahrenheit equivalent is 71.6°F, not 72°F as stated in the table.

Abbreviations:

EGIA: Electricity and Gas Inspection Act (of Canada)

SATP: Standard Ambient Temperature and Pressure
SCF: Standard Cubic Foot

International Standard Atmosphere

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_conditions_for_temperature_and_pressure 3/8
4/29/2020 Standard conditions for temperature and pressure - Wikipedia

In aeronautics and fluid dynamics the "International Standard Atmosphere" (ISA) is a specification of
pressure, temperature, density, and speed of sound at each altitude. The International Standard
Atmosphere is representative of atmospheric conditions at mid latitudes. In the USA this information
is specified the U.S. Standard Atmosphere which is identical to the "International Standard
Atmosphere" at all altitudes up to 65,000 feet above sea level.

Standard laboratory conditions

Because many definitions of standard temperature and pressure differ in temperature significantly
from standard laboratory temperatures (e.g. 0 °C vs. ~25 °C), reference is often made to "standard
laboratory conditions" (a term deliberately chosen to be different from the term "standard conditions
for temperature and pressure", despite its semantic near identity when interpreted literally).
However, what is a "standard" laboratory temperature and pressure is inevitably geography-bound,
given that different parts of the world differ in climate, altitude and the degree of use of heat/cooling
in the workplace. For example, schools in New South Wales, Australia use 25 °C at 100 kPa for
standard laboratory conditions.[35] ASTM International has published Standard ASTM E41-
Terminology Relating to Conditioning and hundreds of special conditions for particular materials and
test methods. Other standards organizations also have specialized standard test conditions.

Molar volume of a gas

It is equally as important to indicate the applicable reference conditions of temperature and pressure
when stating the molar volume of a gas[36] as it is when expressing a gas volume or volumetric flow
rate. Stating the molar volume of a gas without indicating the reference conditions of temperature
and pressure has very little meaning and can cause confusion.

The molar volume of gases around STP and at atmospheric pressure can be calculated with an
accuracy that is usually sufficient by using the ideal gas law. The molar volume of any ideal gas may
be calculated at various standard reference conditions as shown below:

Vm = 8.3145 × 273.15 / 101.325 = 22.414 dm3/mol at 0 °C and 101.325 kPa

Vm = 8.3145 × 273.15 / 100.000 = 22.711 dm3/mol at 0 °C and 100 kPa
Vm = 8.3145 × 298.15 / 101.325 = 24.466 dm3/mol at 25 °C and 101.325 kPa
Vm = 8.3145 × 298.15 / 100.000 = 24.790 dm3/mol at 25 °C and 100 kPa
Vm = 10.7316 × 519.67 / 14.696 = 379.48 ft3/lbmol at 60 °F and 14.696 psi (or about
0.8366 ft3/gram mole)
Vm = 10.7316 × 519.67 / 14.730 = 378.61 ft3/lbmol at 60 °F and 14.73 psi

Technical literature can be confusing because many authors fail to explain whether they are using the
ideal gas constant R, or the specific gas constant Rs. The relationship between the two constants is Rs
= R / m, where m is the molecular mass of the gas.

The US Standard Atmosphere (USSA) uses 8.31432 m3·Pa/(mol·K) as the value of R. However, the
USSA,1976 does recognize that this value is not consistent with the values of the Avogadro constant
and the Boltzmann constant.[37]

See also
Environmental chamber
ISO 1 – standard reference temperature for geometric product specifications
Standard state
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_conditions_for_temperature_and_pressure 4/8
4/29/2020 Standard conditions for temperature and pressure - Wikipedia

Standard sea level

Reference atmospheric model
Room temperature

Notes
a. The pressure is specified as 750 mmHg. However, the mmHg is temperature-dependent, since
mercury expands as temperature goes up. Here the values for the 0–20 °C range are given.
b. The standard is given as 29.92 inHg at an unspecified temperature. This most likely corresponds
to a standard pressure of 101.325 kPa, converted into ~29.921 inHg at 32 °F (0 °C).

References
1. A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson (1997). IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology (http://g
oldbook.iupac.org/S06036.html) (2nd ed.). Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications.
doi:10.1351/goldbook.S06036 (https://doi.org/10.1351%2Fgoldbook.S06036). ISBN 978-0-
9678550-9-7. "Standard conditions for gases: ... and pressure of 105 pascals. The previous
standard absolute pressure of 1 atm (equivalent to 101.325 kPa) was changed to 100 kPa in
1982. IUPAC recommends that the former pressure should be discontinued."
2. Natural gas – Standard reference conditions (ISO 13443) (http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/ca
talogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=20461). Geneva, Switzerland: International
Organization for Standardization. 1996.
3. Doiron, Ted (Jan–Feb 2007). "20 °C – A Short History of the Standard Reference Temperature for
Industrial Dimensional Measurements" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4654601).
Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 112 (1): 1–23.
doi:10.6028/jres.112.001 (https://doi.org/10.6028%2Fjres.112.001). PMC 4654601 (https://www.n
cbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4654601). PMID 27110451 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27
110451).
4. A. D. McNaught, A. Wilkinson (1997). Compendium of Chemical Terminology, The Gold Book (htt
p://goldbook.iupac.org/goldbook/S05921.html) (2nd ed.). Blackwell Science.
doi:10.1351/goldbook.S05921 (https://doi.org/10.1351%2Fgoldbook.S05921). ISBN 978-0-86542-
684-9. "Standard pressure: Chosen value of pressure denoted by po or p°. In 1982 IUPAC
recommended the value 105 Pa, but prior to 1982 the value 101 325 Pa (= 1 atm) was usually
used."
5. Gassco. "Concepts – Standard cubic meter (scm)" (https://web.archive.org/web/2007101821200
2/http://www.gassco.no/sw3138.asp). Archived from the original (http://www.gassco.no/sw3138.a
sp) on October 18, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-25. "Scm: The usual abbreviation for standard cubic
metre – a cubic metre of gas under a standard condition, defined as an atmospheric pressure of
1.01325 bar and a temperature of 15°C. This unit provides a measure for gas volume."
6. Nord Stream (October 2007). "Status of the Nord Stream pipeline route in the Baltic Sea" (https://
web.archive.org/web/20080216043432/http://www.nord-stream.com/uploads/media/Nord_Stream
_Route_Status_ENGLISH.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original (http://www.nord-stream.com/upl
oads/media/Nord_Stream_Route_Status_ENGLISH.pdf) (PDF) on 2008-02-16. Retrieved
2008-07-25. "bcm: Billion Cubic Meter (standard cubic metre – a cubic metre of gas under a
standard condition, defined as an atmospheric pressure of 1 atm and a temperature of 15 °C.)"
7. Metrogas (June 2004). "Natural gas purchase and sale agreement" (http://www.secinfo.com/dsD7
y.1a.7.htm). Retrieved 2008-07-25. "Natural gas at standard condition shall mean the quantity of
natural gas, which at a temperature of fifteen (15) Celsius degrees and a pressure of 101.325
kilopascals occupies the volume of one (1) cubic meter."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_conditions_for_temperature_and_pressure 5/8
4/29/2020 Standard conditions for temperature and pressure - Wikipedia

8. NIST (1989). "NIST Standard Reference Database 124 – Stopping-Power and Range Tables for
Electrons, Protons, and Helium Ions" (https://web.archive.org/web/20101006154629/https://www.
nist.gov/pml/data/star/index.cfm). Archived from the original (https://www.nist.gov/pml/data/star/in
dex.cfm) on October 6, 2010. Retrieved 2008-07-25. "If you want the program to treat the material
as an ideal gas, the density will be assumed given by M/V, where M is the gram molecular weight
of the gas and V is the mol volume of 22414 cm3 at standard conditions (0 deg C and 1 atm)."
9. ISO (1994). "ISO 10780:1994 : Stationary source emissions – Measurement of velocity and
volume flowrate of gas streams in ducts" (http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catal
ogue_detail.htm?csnumber=18855).
10. Robert C. Weast (Editor) (1975). Handbook of Physics and Chemistry (56th ed.). CRC Press.
pp. F201–F206. ISBN 978-0-87819-455-1.
11. Extraction, First Treatment and Loading of Liquid & Gaseous Fossil Fuels (Emission Inventory
Guidebook B521, Activities 050201 – 050303) (http://reports.eea.eu.int/EMEPCORINAIR3/en/B5
21vs3.1.html) (PDF). Copenhagen, Denmark: European Environmental Agency. September 1999.
12. "Electricity and Gas Inspection Act", SOR/86-131 (defines a set of standard conditions for
Imperial units and a different set for metric units) Canadian Laws (https://web.archive.org/web/20
050103235031/http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/E-4/SOR-86-131/95708.html).
13. "Standards of Performance for New Sources", 40 CFR—Protection of the Environment, Chapter I,
Part 60, Section 60.2, 1990 New Source Performance Standards (http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/
7/257/2422/08aug20051500/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2005/julqtr/pdf/40cfr60.2.html).
14. Wright, J. D.; Johnson, A. N.; Moldover, M. R. (2003). "Design and Uncertainty for a PVTt Gas
Flow Standard" (https://web.archive.org/web/20040721040809/http://www.cstl.nist.gov/div836/83
6.01/PDFs/2003/j80wri.pdf) (PDF). Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology. 108 (1): 21–47. doi:10.6028/jres.108.004 (https://doi.org/10.6028%2Fjres.108.004).
PMC 4844527 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4844527). PMID 27413592 (http
s://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27413592). Archived from the original (http://www.cstl.nist.gov/div83
6/836.01/PDFs/2003/j80wri.pdf) (PDF) on 2004-07-21.
15. "What is the difference between STP and NTP?" (https://web.archive.org/web/20151127035351/h
ttp://socratic.org/questions/what-is-the-difference-between-stp-and-ntp). Socratic. Archived from
the original (http://socratic.org/questions/what-is-the-difference-between-stp-and-ntp) on 2015-11-
27. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
16. Almond, Peter R.; Biggs, Peter J.; Coursey, B. M.; Hanson, W. F.; Huq, M. Saiful; Nath, Ravinder;
Rogers, D. W. O. (1999). "AAPM's TG-51 protocol for clinical reference dosimetry of high-energy
photon and electron beams" (https://semanticscholar.org/paper/aa84780661d3a47cf12baec9175
1ef38c26e1bfe). Medical Physics. 26 (9): 1847–1870. Bibcode:1999MedPh..26.1847A (https://ui.
adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1999MedPh..26.1847A). doi:10.1118/1.598691 (https://doi.org/10.1118%
2F1.598691). PMID 10505874 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10505874).
17. "National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards", 40 CFR—Protection of the
Environment, Chapter I, Part 50, Section 50.3, 1998 National Ambient Air Standards (http://a257.
g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/08aug20051500/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2005/julqtr/pdf/40cfr5
0.3.html).
18. "Glossary" (https://web.archive.org/web/20070902020158/http://www.cagi.org/toolbox/glossary.ht
m). Cleveland, OH, USA: Compressed Air and Gas Institute. 2002. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.cagi.org/toolbox/glossary.htm) on 2007-09-02.
19. "The SI Metric System of Units and SPE Metric Standard (1982)" (https://www.spe.org/authors/do
cs/metric_standard.pdf) (PDF). Society of Petroleum Engineers. Standard Temperature (Page
24), and Notes for Table 2.3, (on PDF page 25 of 42 PDF pages), define two different sets of
reference conditions, one for the standard cubic foot and one for the standard cubic meter.
20. Air Intake Filters (ISO 5011:2002) (http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/ISOstore/store.html).
Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization. 2002.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_conditions_for_temperature_and_pressure 6/8
4/29/2020 Standard conditions for temperature and pressure - Wikipedia

21. "Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases" and "Storage and Handling of Anhydrous
Ammonia", 29 CFR—Labor, Chapter XVII—Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Part
1910, Sect. 1910.110 and 1910.111, 1993 Storage/Handling of LPG (https://web.archive.org/web/
20060719085519/http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=f169acd0f57a17565c99
84fa0f57d285&rgn=div8&view=text&node=29%3A5.1.1.1.8.8.33.10&idno=29).
22. "Rule 102, Definition of Terms (Standard Conditions)", Amended December 2004, South Coast
Air Quality Management District, Los Angeles, California, USA SCAQMD Rule 102 (http://www.a
qmd.gov/rules/reg/reg01/r102.html)
23. "49 C.F.R. § 171" (https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4cb9c4fbd569caade0b61e28dec528f
2&mc=true&node=se49.2.171_18&rgn=div8). Retrieved 22 May 2018.
24. Sierra Bullets. "Chapter 3 – Effects of Altitude and Atmospheric Conditions (Exterior Ballistics
Section)" (http://www.exteriorballistics.com/ebexplained/5th/31.cfm). Rifle and Handgun
Reloading Manual (5 ed.). Sedalia, MO, USA.
25. Gas turbines – Acceptance tests (ISO 2314:1989) (http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/ISOst
ore/store.html) (2 ed.). Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization. 1989.
26. Gas turbines – Procurement – Part 2: Standard reference conditions and ratings (ISO 3977-
2:1997) (http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/ISOstore/store.html). Geneva, Switzerland:
International Organization for Standardization. 1997.
27. ANSI/AMCA Standard 210, "Laboratory Methods Of Testing Fans for Aerodynamic Performance
Rating", as implied by http://www.greenheck.com/pdf/centrifugal/Plug.pdf (http://www.greenheck.c
om/pdf/centrifugal/Plug.pdf) when accessed on October 17, 2007.
28. Association, Compressed Gas (2012-12-06). Compressed Gas Handbook (https://books.google.c
om/?id=5EfhBwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22compressed+gas+association%22+handb
ook+fifth+edition#v=onepage). ISBN 9781461306733. Retrieved 22 Nov 2017.
29. "Chapter 3, Principles of Flight" (http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/pilot_handbook/medi
a/PHAK%20-%20Chapter%2003.html) (PDF). Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
Federal Aviation Administration.
30. Air Conditioners, liquid chilling packages and heat pumps with electrically driven compressors for
space heating and cooling (https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?
pid=000000000030271396). UK: BSI EN. 2013.
31. Standard Atmosphere (https://www.iso.org/standard/7472.html). Geneva, Switzerland:
International Organization for Standardization. 1975.
32. Natural gas - Standard reference conditions (https://www.iso.org/standard/20461.html). Geneva,
Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization. 1996.
33. Gas analysis - Vocabulary (https://www.iso.org/standard/53596.html). Geneva, Switzerland:
International Organization for Standardization. 2015.
34. Referenzzustand, Normzustand, Normvolumen; Begriffe und Werte (https://www.din.de/en/getting
-involved/standards-committees/natg/standards/wdc-beuth:din21:1505240). Germany: Deutsches
Institut für Normung. 1990.
35. Peter Gribbon (2001). Excel HSC Chemistry Pocket Book Years 11–12. Pascal Press. ISBN 978-
1-74020-303-6.
36. "Fundamental Physical Properties: Molar Volumes (CODATA values for ideal gases)" (http://physi
cs.nist.gov/cgi-bin/cuu/Results?search_for=volume+molar). NIST.
37. U.S. Standard Atmosphere (https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19770009539_
1977009539.html), 1976, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1976.

External links
"Standard conditions for gases" (http://goldbook.iupac.org/S05910.html) from the IUPAC Gold
Book.
"Standard pressure" (http://goldbook.iupac.org/S05921.html) from the IUPAC Gold Book.
"STP" (http://goldbook.iupac.org/S06036.html) from the IUPAC Gold Book.
"Standard state" (http://goldbook.iupac.org/S05925.html) from the IUPAC Gold Book.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_conditions_for_temperature_and_pressure 7/8
4/29/2020 Standard conditions for temperature and pressure - Wikipedia

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?

title=Standard_conditions_for_temperature_and_pressure&oldid=953527565"

This page was last edited on 27 April 2020, at 17:26 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this
site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_conditions_for_temperature_and_pressure 8/8