TC 104 / SC 4 Identification and communication

Web Site TC 104 "Freight containers"
Committee information for TC 104/SC 4/WG 2 can be found at: http://www.autoid.org/tc104_sc4_wg2.htm

Secretariat: DIN

Number of ISO standards and DIS under the direct responsibility of the SC Secretariat: 3

WG 1 Coding, identification and marking (Revision of ISO 6346)
The convener can be reached through: BSI

WG 2 AEI for containers and container related equipment
The convener can be reached through: ANSI

WG 3 Communication and terminology
The convener can be reached through: ANSI

ISO 6346:1995 Freight containers -- Coding, identification and marking
ISO 9897:1997 Freight containers -- Container equipment data exchange (CEDEX) -- General communication codes
ISO 10374:1991 Freight containers -- Automatic identification

ISO 6346:1995 Freight containers - Coding, identification and marking

Published

Scope:

1.1 This International Standard provides a system for the identification and presentation of information about freight containers. The identification system is intended for general application, for example in documentation, control and communications (including automatic data processing systems), as well as for display on the containers themselves.

The methods of displaying identification and certain other data (including operational data) on containers by means of permanent marks are included.

1.2 This International Standard specifies:

a) a container identification system, with an associated system for verifying the accuracy of use, having:

- mandatory marks for the presentation of the identification system for visual interpretation, and
- features to be used in optional Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) and electronic data interchange (EDI);

b) a coding system for data on container size and type, with corresponding marks for their display;

c) operational marks, both mandatory and optional;

d) physical presentation of marks on the container.

1.3 The terms "mandatory" and "optional" in this International Standard are used to differentiate those ISO marking provisions which shall necessarily be fulfilled by all containers from those which are not required of all containers. The optional markings are included to further comprehension and promote uniform application of the optional mark. If a choice has been made to display an optional mark, the provisions laid down in this International Standard relating to the mark shall be applied. The terms "mandatory" and "optional" do not refer to requirements of any regulatory body.

1.4 This International Standard applies to all freight containers covered by International Standards ISO 668, parts 1 to 5 of ISO 1496, ISO 8323 and should, wherever appropriate and practicable, be applied:

- to containers other than those covered by the International Standards mentioned in clause 2;
- to container-related and/or detachable equipment.

Note 1 Containers marked according to previous editions of ISO 6346 need not be re-marked.

1.5 This International Standard does not cover temporary optional marks of any kind, permanent marks, data plates, etc., which may be required by intergovernmental agreements, national legislation or non-governmental organizations other than ISO.

Note 2 Some of the major international conventions whose container-marking requirements are not covered in this International Standard are as follows:

- International Convention for Safe Containers (UN/IMO 1992);
- Customs Convention on Containers 1956 and 1972;
- Customs Convention on International Movement of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention) 1959 and 1975.

It should not be assumed that this list is exhaustive.

This International Standard does not cover the display of technical data on tank containers (see ISO 1496-3), nor does it in any way, include identification marks or safety signs for items of cargo which may be carried in freight containers

ISO 10374:1991 Freight containers - Automatic identification

Published

Amendment 1:1995 to ISO 10374:1991

(Note: Covers 888-928 MHz, and 2.4 - 2.5 GHz)

Introduction: This International Standard specifies a system of automatic identification of freight containers and the electronic transfer of the identity of the container and permanent related information to third parties in a standard format. It is intended that the Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) system will facilitate documentation, resource control, and communications (including electronic data processing systems). The visual container identification markings specified by ISO 6346 are not affected. Future additions to this international Standard will specify modulation, encoding and an open protocol.

Annex B, which is an informative annex only, describes the technical specification of a system that complies with the requirements of this International Standard. Parts of Annex B are covered by patents held by

Amtech Corporation, 17304 Preston Road E 100, Dallas, Texas 75252 USA

The patent-holder has stated that licenses will be granted under reasonable terms and conditions.

Scope: This International Standard establishes

a) a container identification system which allows the transfer of information from a freight container to an automatic processing system by electronic means,

b) a data encoding system for container identification and permanent related information which resides within an electronic device called a tag installed on a freight container,

c) a data coding system for the electronic transfer of both container identification and permanent related information from an electronic device installed on a freight container to automatic data processing systems,

d) the description of the data to be included in the tag for transmission to the sensing equipment,

e) performance criteria necessary to ensure consistent and reliable operation of the automatic equipment identification (AEI) system within the international transportation community,

f) requirements for the physical location of the electronic device on freight containers, and

g) security features to inhibit malicious or unintentional alteration of the information content of the electronic device when installed on a freight container.

It specifies all necessary user requirements in order to permit international use of the tag without modification or adjustment.

This International Standard applies to freight containers as defined in ISO 668.

The use of AEI systems and the equipping of containers for automatic identification is not mandatory. The purpose of this International Standard is to optimize the efficiency of equipment control systems. For this reason, any AEI system used for identifying containers shall conform to and be compatible with this International Standard.