Initiated by manufacturers of flameproof equipment and operators of electrical systems in explosion-prone environments, the “Digital Nameplate” project was started. On the one hand, this was motivated by the desire to be able to accommodate increasing numbers of identifiers on equipment, as a lot of information is required, especially for explosion protection. On the other hand, this was to be able to electronically manage information about the equipment.
The aim of the standardization is to showcase digital solutions as alternatives to current plaintext labeling on nameplates or product packaging. A machine-legible identifier can be used by the device manufacturer during production to automatically control the flow of material, which today is often done using a barcode. The product can be electronically reviewed during export by customs authorities, for example. The operator can clearly identify the product as soon as the goods arrive. During operation, the service technician or a responsible organization is also able to electronically review the product for the approved application. The data from the machine-legible nameplate can be transferred directly into an ERP system for error-free inventory. Therefore, all device data is available to the operator digitally.
In the long term, the traditional nameplate should be replaced with a digital nameplate. In this case, the legally required marking should be. For a higher level of acceptance, a minimum amount of markings in plaintext must be applied to the device.
Explosion protection must meet the most stringent statutory documentation. For this reason, the standardization for an electronic nameplate has been driven forward as a pilot project on the part of DKE in the expert panel DKE/K 241. But even if the standardization is driven forward by this area, the concepts that have been developed are universally applicable and can therefore be transferred to practically all sectors of the industry and expanded.
The prestandard DIN VDE V 0170-100 was created as a result of the standardization in the expert panel DKE/K241. The publication of the standard is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2020. The standard is also planned to be submitted internationally to the IEC.