IEC 61406-1:2022

Identification Link - Part 1: General requirements

IEC 61406-1:2022 specifies minimum requirements for a globally unique identification of physical objects which also constitutes a link to its related digital information. This identification is designated hereinafter as "Identification Link" (IL), with the encoded data designated as IL string. The IL string has the data-format of a link (URL). The IL is machine-readable and is attached to the physical object in a 2D symbol or NFC tag. The requirements in this standard apply to physical objects:
- that are provided by the manufacturer as an individual unit,
- and that have already been given a unique identity by the manufacturer.
This document does not specify any requirements on the content and the layout of nameplates/typeplates (e.g. spatial arrangement, content of the plain texts, approval symbols etc.).

Lien d’identification - Partie 1: Exigences générales

L'IEC 61406-1:2022 spécifie les exigences minimales pour permettre une identification unique et globale des objets physiques, qui constitue également un renvoi vers ses informations numériques connexes. Cette identification est par la suite appelée "lien d’identification" (IL), les données codées étant désignées "chaîne IL". La chaîne IL a le format de données d’un lien (URL). L’IL est lisible par machine et associé à l’objet physique sous la forme d’un symbole 2D ou d’une balise NFC. Les exigences de la présente norme s’appliquent aux objets physiques:
- qui sont fournis par le fabricant sous forme d’unité individuelle;
- et auxquels le fabricant a déjà attribué une identité unique.
Le présent document ne spécifie aucune exigence relative au contenu et à la disposition des plaques signalétiques (par exemple organisation spatiale, contenu des textes bruts, symboles d’homologation, etc.).

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Sep-2022
• ICS: 35.240.15 - Identification cards. Chip cards. Biometrics
• Technical Committee: SC 65E - Devices and integration in enterprise systems
• Drafting Committee: WG 2 - TC 65/SC 65E/WG 2
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 27-Sep-2022
• Completion Date: 28-Sep-2022

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 61406-1
®

Edition 1.0 2022-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside


Identification link –
Part 1 : General requirements

Lien d’identification –
Partie 1 : Exigences générales

IEC 61406-1:2022-09(en-fr)

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
THIS PUBLICATION IS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED
Copyright © 2022 IEC, Geneva, Switzerland

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.


Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite ni
utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie et
les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de l'IEC ou du Comité national de l'IEC du pays du demandeur. Si vous avez des
questions sur le copyright de l'IEC ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette publication, utilisez
les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de l'IEC de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Secretariat Tel.: [phone]
3, rue de Varembé [e-mail]
CH-1211 Geneva 20 www.iec.ch
Switzerland

About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.

IEC publications search - webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform IEC Products & Services Portal - products.iec.ch
The advanced search enables to find IEC publications by a Discover our powerful search engine and read freely all the
variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical publications previews. With a subscription you will always have
committee, …). It also gives information on projects, replaced access to up to date content tailored to your needs.
and withdrawn publications.

Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
The world's leading online dictionary on electrotechnology,
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published
containing more than 22 300 terminological entries in English
details all new publications released. Available online and once
and French, with equivalent terms in 19 additional languages.
a month by email.
Also known as the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary

(IEV) online.
IEC Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need
further assistance, please contact the Customer Service
Centre: [e-mail].


A propos de l'IEC
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (IEC) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
Normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

A propos des publications IEC
Le contenu technique des publications IEC est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez l’édition la
plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.

Recherche de publications IEC - Découvrez notre puissant moteur de recherche et consultez
webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform gratuitement tous les aperçus des publications. Avec un
La recherche avancée permet de trouver des publications IEC abonnement, vous aurez toujours accès à un contenu à jour
en utilisant différents critères (numéro de référence, texte, adapté à vos besoins.
comité d’études, …). Elle donne aussi des informations sur les
projets et les publications remplacées ou retirées. Electropedia - www.electropedia.org

Le premier dictionnaire d'électrotechnologie en ligne au monde,
IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
avec plus de 22 300 articles terminologiques en anglais et en
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications IEC. Just
français, ainsi que les termes équivalents dans 19 langues
Published détaille les nouvelles publications parues.
additionnelles. Egalement appelé Vocabulaire
Disponible en ligne et une fois par mois par email.
Electrotechnique International (IEV) en ligne.


Service Clients - webstore.iec.ch/csc
Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur cette
publication ou si vous avez des questions contactez-nous:
[e-mail].
IEC Products & Services Portal - products.iec.ch

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
IEC 61406-1

®


Edition 1.0 2022-09




INTERNATIONAL



STANDARD




NORME


INTERNATIONALE
colour

inside










Identification link –

Part 1 : General requirements



Lien d’identification –

Partie 1 : Exigences générales
















INTERNATIONAL

ELECTROTECHNICAL

COMMISSION


COMMISSION

ELECTROTECHNIQUE


INTERNATIONALE




ICS 35.240.15 ISBN 978-2-8322-5605-3




Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.

Attention! Veuillez vous assurer que vous avez obtenu cette publication via un distributeur agréé.

® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
Marque déposée de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
– 2 – IEC 61406-1:2022 © IEC 2022
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 6
INTRODUCTION . 8
1 Scope . 10
2 Normative references . 10
3 Terms, abbreviated terms and definitions . 11
4 Identification Link string . 12
4.1 ILS-1: Global uniqueness . 12
4.1.1 Requirement . 12
4.1.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 12
4.2 ILS-2: Link to additional information . 13
4.2.1 Requirement . 13
4.2.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 13
4.3 ILS-3: No reuse. 13
4.3.1 Requirement . 13
4.3.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 14
4.4 ILS-4: No altering . 14
4.4.1 Requirement . 14
4.4.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 14
4.5 ILS-5: String length . 14
4.5.1 Requirement . 14
4.5.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 14
4.6 ILS-6: URL syntax . 14
4.6.1 Requirement . 14
4.6.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 14
4.7 ILS-7: Allowed characters . 15
4.7.1 Requirement . 15
4.7.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 15
4.8 ILS-8: Uppercase and lowercase characters . 15
4.8.1 Requirement . 15
4.8.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 15
4.9 ILS-9: No character-combinations with special functions . 16
4.9.1 Requirement . 16
4.9.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 16
5 Identification Link with 2D symbol . 16
5.1 2D-1: When marking with 2D symbol . 16
5.1.1 Requirement . 16
5.1.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 16
5.2 2D-2: 2D symbol content . 17
5.2.1 Requirement . 17
5.2.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 17
5.3 2D-3: Symbology . 17
5.3.1 Requirement . 17
5.3.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 17
5.4 2D-4: Module size . 17
5.4.1 Requirement . 17
5.4.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 17

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
IEC 61406-1:2022 © IEC 2022 – 3 –
5.5 2D-5: Quiet zone . 17
5.5.1 Requirement . 17
5.5.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 18
5.6 2D-6: Error correction . 18
5.6.1 Requirement . 18
5.6.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 18
5.7 2D-7: Label print quality . 18
5.7.1 Requirement . 18
5.7.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 18
5.8 2D-8: Direct part marking print quality . 18
5.8.1 Requirement . 18
5.8.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 19
5.9 2D-9: Durability of the 2D marking . 19
5.9.1 Requirement . 19
5.9.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 19
5.10 2D-10: Frame . 19
5.10.1 Requirement . 19
5.10.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 19
5.11 2D-11: Positive image . 20
5.11.1 Requirement . 20
5.11.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 20
5.12 2D-12: Location of the 2D symbol . 21
5.12.1 Requirement . 21
5.12.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 21
6 Near Field Communication for the Identification Link . 22
6.1 NFC-1: When marking with NFC . 22
6.1.1 Requirement . 22
6.1.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 22
6.2 NFC-2: Air interface standards . 22
6.2.1 Requirement . 22
6.2.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 22
6.3 NFC-3: Data format and content . 23
6.3.1 Requirement . 23
6.3.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 23
6.4 NFC-4: Data consistency . 23
6.4.1 Requirement . 23
6.4.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 23
6.5 NFC-5: Protection classes and approvals . 23
6.5.1 Requirement . 23
6.5.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 23
6.6 NFC-6: Durability . 24
6.6.1 Requirement . 24
6.6.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 24
6.7 NFC-7: Write protection . 24
6.7.1 Requirement . 24
6.7.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 24
6.8 NFC-8: Tag location for use in installed state . 24
6.8.1 Requirement . 24
6.8.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 24

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
– 4 – IEC 61406-1:2022 © IEC 2022
6.9 NFC-9: Tag position relative to existing marking for identification . 25
6.9.1 Requirement . 25
6.9.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 25
6.10 NFC-10: Tag position relative to neighbouring tags . 25
6.10.1 Requirement . 25
6.10.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 25
6.11 NFC-11: Generic RFID Emblem in frame . 25
6.11.1 Requirement . 25
6.11.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 26
6.12 NFC-12: RFID Emblem visibility . 26
6.12.1 Requirement . 26
6.12.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 26
6.13 NFC-13: RFID Emblem position relative to tag . 26
6.13.1 Requirement . 26
6.13.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 27
Annex A (normative) Overview of characters permitted for the IL string . 28
Annex B (informative) Examples of Identification Link strings . 31
B.1 Examples: URL syntax according to IETF RFC 3986 with restrictions
according to this document . 31
B.2 Examples: Parameters with data identifiers according to ISO/IEC 15418 . 33
Annex C (informative) 2D symbol examples and layout considerations . 35
C.1 Choice of symbology . 35
C.2 Square and rectangular symbols . 35
C.3 Selection of corner for triangle when using QR Code . 36
C.4 Symbols not centered in the frame . 36
C.5 Layout example when space is not sufficient . 37
Annex D (informative) 2D symbols on curved surfaces . 38
Annex E (informative) Duplicates of the Identification Link . 39
Annex F (informative) Search Engine friendliness . 40
Annex G (informative) Cybersecurity aspects . 41
Annex H (informative) IL string as IRDI . 42
Bibliography . 43


Figure 1 – Example of an IL linking a physical object to information associated with it . 13
Figure 2 – Frame around the 2D symbol . 20
Figure 3 – Comparison of a 2D symbol as negative and normal positive image . 20
Figure 4 – Representation of an IL on a dark background . 21
Figure 5 – marking of an NFC tag as an IL . 26
Figure C.1 – IL size may vary depending on the used symbology . 35
Figure C.2 – IL with square and rectangular Data Matrix . 36
Figure C.3 – IL with 2D symbols not centered in the frame . 36
Figure C.4 – IL with 2D symbols quiet zone below 4 modules on 2 sides . 37


Table A.1 – List of ASCII Code Characters permitted as this standard to create an IL . 29
Table B.1 – Structure of example a) . 31
Table B.2 – Structure of example b) . 31

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
IEC 61406-1:2022 © IEC 2022 – 5 –
Table B.3 – Structure of example c) . 31
Table B.4 – Structure of example d) . 32
Table B.5 – Structure of example e) . 32
Table B.6 – Structure of example f) . 32
Table B.7 – Structure of example g) . 33
Table B.8 – Structure of example h) . 33
Table B.9 – Structure of example a) . 34
Table B.10 – Structure of example b) . 34
Table D.1 – Recommended maximum radii when using QR Codes . 38

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
– 6 – IEC 61406-1:2022 © IEC 2022
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________

IDENTIFICATION LINK

Part 1: General requirements

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as "IEC Publication(s)"). Their
preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence between
any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 61406-1 has been prepared by subcommittee 65E: Devices and integration in enterprise
systems, of IEC technical committee 65: Industrial-process measurement, control and
automation. It is an International Standard.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
65E/845/CDV 65E/905/RVC

Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
IEC 61406-1:2022 © IEC 2022 – 7 –
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
A list of all parts in the IEC 61406 series, published under the general title Identification link,
can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.

IMPORTANT – The "colour inside" logo on the cover page of this document indicates that it
contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding of its
contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
– 8 – IEC 61406-1:2022 © IEC 2022
INTRODUCTION
Every year, industry purchases hundreds of millions of items of technical equipment – referred
to here as physical objects – for setting up new production facilities and maintaining existing
ones. When applying this standard, these physical objects can be simply and unambiguously
identified by using a standardized Identification Link (IL), attached for example on the
nameplate. This means that all information relating to the physical object can be identified in
various IT systems and then called up, edited and stored as necessary across all processes
from storage and retrieval to assembly, maintenance, inspection, repair and disassembly. This
is an invaluable advantage in all these processes. The manufacturer in turn can link all
information such as drawings, operating instructions and spare part lists to this IL in its systems.
Users, e.g. owners or operators, can do the same with their information in their systems. In
communication between the manufacturer and user, this IL alone then suffices for both parties
to find and exchange all the information they need about a physical object throughout its
lifecycle. This IL is therefore a prerequisite for easy accessing and maintaining information in
the physical object’s digital twin.
Previous standards for machine-readable identification of physical objects essentially describe
how the traditional identification feat
...