Standards and regulations related to our asset tracking technology
This section addresses standards and regulations for:
- Active RFID Frequencies; and
- Asset tracking device enclosure standards;
Active RFID solutions by definition use ‘Radio Frequency” bands and are subject to government regulation, licensing and standards, not dissimilar to the mobile phone industry. In relation to Standards for Active RFID Frequencies, permitted bands vary widely around the world:
- The International Standards Organisation or ISO, governs international standards;
- The European Telecommunications Standards Institute or ETSI, governs European Standards;
- The Federal Communications Commission or FCC, governs North America
Overview
Today, the frequency bands used for Europe, North America and Asia are respectively 868 MHz, 915 MHz and 902 MHz. The 433MHz band is a channel frequency that is used for RF transmission, it is an ‘open frequency’ and is used widely for consumer goods i.e. car alarms, remote control toys and the like, as well as business use. The 868MHz band is primarily dedicated for business use and does not therefore run the risk of interference from consumer RFID devices.RFTRAQ’s hardware, more specifically tags and readers, have been designed and developed to accommodate today’s and tomorrow’s standards, specifically:
- RFTRAQ’s tri-band devices switch automatically between each of the European, Asian and US Standards automatically i.e. a single devicesconforms to all jurisdictions (See tri-band page)
- RFTRAQ’s tags are remotely programmable at up to 500 plus metres and the firmware can be changed to modify the tag to conform to changes in frequency Standards over time.
RFTRAQ's Active RFID Technology has been ETSI Certified in Europe; achieving the latest changes in the ETSI Standards as at October 2006. RFTRAQ will be applying for FCC approval when we decide to enter the North American market.
Standards for device enclosures - Integrity Protection or ‘IP’
EN 60529 outlines an international classification system for the sealing effectiveness of enclosures of electrical equipment against the intrusion into the equipment of foreign bodies (i.e. tools, dust, fingers) and moisture. This classification system utilizes the letters "IP" ("Ingress Protection") followed by two or three digits.
The top rating is IP68, being dust tight and protection against complete and continuous submersion in water. RFTRAQ’s Active RFID tag enclosures can meet this standard if required.
‘Crush Strength’
There is no recognized standard in place today that rates the crush strength of enclosures, which would then also be applicable to our device enclosures. In terms of practical application, a 40 tonne HGV will exert significantly less pressure through its pneumatic tyres than a 3.5 tonne fork lift truck with solid rubber wheels. 'Crush Strength' is not therefore about weight, but about how that weight is applied, i.e. pressure or 'Newtons per square metre'.
RFTRAQ has its own standards for determining ‘crush strength’ and can provide a device enclosures to meet the toughest of tests in industrial environments