Consumer insights as well as information from the market, show clearly that the most important factors for the consumer when using briquettes is burning time. The aim is to establish a test that specifically addresses this important perspective to the consumer (and by so giving the retailers etc. a means to evaluate performance rather than specific content) and gives a uniform approach to comparing products originating from various regions and from various raw materials. Many new substances are used already and more will be used in the future. A burning time test acc. to DIN SPEC 91523 will enable everybody in the industry to compare – and most importantly, give the consumer a direct and measurable factor to evaluate products on value vs performance. Existing standards (e.g. DIN EN 1860-2) measure for example carbon fix, ash and volatile matter etc. The aim of this test is to add value by standardized measuring of the burning time.

DIN SPEC 91523 refers to the testing of barbecue briquettes. However, it is also possible to test barbecue charcoal using this standardised procedure.