This document describes the criteria and operation procedure for carrying out spark optical emission spectrometry (S-OES) on metal samples. The scope of this standard covers the following: sample preparation; operational guidelines for an optical emission spectrometer (including self-maintenance); traceability of the analytical results to the international base units mass (kg); assessing the uncertainty associated with each analytical result. This document refers to simultaneous spark emission spectrometers for the analysis of solid samples. It applies to the determination of silicon, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, chromium, nickel, zinc, titanium, boron, gallium, vanadium, beryllium, bismuth, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, lithium, sodium, phosphorus, lead, antimony, tin, strontium and zirconium in aluminium and aluminium alloys. The test result obtained from a spark optical emission spectrometer generally uses a sampling mass of less than one milligram per spark spot. The result can be used to refer to the laboratory test sample, to the aluminium or aluminium alloy melt or to the cast product.