08 — Tools
Build a reference designation to IEC 81346
Labelling is what plant documentation stands or falls on in the long run. Anyone looking for a component ten years later finds it through the designation – or not at all. This builder shows the structure and the common letter codes.
Result
- Complete reference designation
- —
- Structure
- —
Please fill all fields with valid numbers.
A guide, not a design to standard. The applicable standards and case-by-case verification govern.
Worked example
The default case the calculator starts with, worked through once. Change the values above and it recalculates immediately.
Inputs
- Function (=)
- =A1 – plant section 1
- Location (+)
- +S1 – control cabinet 1
- Component (−)
- −Q – switching energy (contactor, breaker)
- Sequential number
- 12
- Terminal (:)
- 0
Result
- Complete reference designation
- =A1+S1-Q12
- Structure
- = function · + location · − component with letter code and number · : terminal
Formula
- =Function +Location −Component :Terminal
- Example: =A1+S1-Q12:14
- = functional assignment · + mounting location · − product · : terminal
Assumptions and standards
- Letter codes to IEC 81346-2 (formerly EN 61346-2 and before that DIN 40719).
- The prefixes are standardised, the numbering behind them is not – it follows the operator’s system. That is exactly why an agreed system matters so much.
- This builder shows the most common letter codes, not the complete table from the standard.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between = and +?
The equals sign describes function – what a component belongs to. The plus sign describes location – where it is installed. A contactor can belong functionally to the conveyor line (=F1) while sitting in control cabinet 2 (+S2).
Do I have to use every level?
No. In small installations the product level alone (−Q12) is often enough. As soon as there are several cabinets or plant sections, adding location and function quickly becomes indispensable.
We have our own grown system. Should we switch?
Usually not. A consistently applied in-house system beats a half-converted installed base. In projects we continue existing systems rather than replacing them – a break in the documentation costs more than the standard gains.
Calculating is the easy part.
A formula gives you a number. Designing a plant also demands installation method, grouping, discrimination, the standards in force and a look at the installed base. That is what we take on.
Contact
Tell us what it is about.
A phone call or three lines is enough. From the very start you talk to the people who will later work on your project – not to a distribution list.
Direct
- Phone+49 (0) 5247 4070-66
- Emailinfo@fisekon.com
- AvailabilityMon – Fri, 8:00 – 17:00 CET
Locations
33428 Marienfeld (Harsewinkel)Gütersloh officeWagenfeldstr. 2
33332 Gütersloh
Or write to us
We usually reply within one working day.