Frequently Asked Questions On Asset Tags & Asset Labels
What are Asset Tags?
What Types of Asset Tags to I Need?
Which Assets Require Tagging?
When Do I use Color Coding of Asset Tags?
When are Barcodes Necessary on Asset Tags?
When should I use Sequential Serial Numbering?
What Are Asset Tags?
Physical items of property are typically defined as either: 1) Movable assets, such as furniture and equipment that are not part of a building. This also includes commonly moved business items such as laptop computers. or 2) Fixed Assets, also known as Infrastructure Assets, which can include road signs, bridges, tunnels, water and sewer systems, dams and lighting systems, land, buildings, equipment and machinery that is attached to a building. Numbers and/or barcodes are assigned to this property, creating asset tags. Asset tags are applied to both movable and fixed assets for useful life identification, inventory control, "work-in-process" (WIP) and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) tagging.
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What Types of Asset Tags Do I Need?
The many types of labels are outlined below with brief descriptions and typical uses:
Asset Tags & Labels - Foil, Polyester, and Vinyl tags identify, control and track assets.
Aluminum Metalphoto® Labels - For use in harsh environments, these labels are durable, and heat, light, chemical, and abrasion resistant.
CMMS - Equipment tags used to track the maintenance equipment in environments such as power generation stations, and wastewater or utility facilities.
Foil Labels - Made of thin, flexible anodized aluminum used for durability and longevity.
Fugitive Emission Tags - Leak Detection And Repair (LDAR) program tags monitoring reactive compounds (HRVOCs)
Fused Teflon® Labels - Made with Teflon fused to the label, they resist high temperatures, pickling, painting, e-coat, and powder coating.
GASB 34 & 35 Labels - Government Accounting Standards Board or GASB labeling tags.
GIS Labels - Geographic Information Systems mapping in jurisdiction tracking.
High Temperature - Tags for work-in-process (WIP) applications for temperatures to 1200° F.
Meter Labels - Utility meter asset tags to track history, tractability, and reduce ERT calibration time.
On-Site Marking - Blank, pre-cut ATA SPEC2000, DoD UID, and commercial asset tags.
Pole Tags - Asset tracking of utility pole marking, as well as GIS mapping and maintenance tags.
Polyester Labels - Made of polyester, these tags have a permanent protective overlaminate that resists chemicals and abrasion.
Security Labels - Asset tags with tamper-evident or destructible break-up for security.
SPEC 2000 - Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation for airline and aerospace use.
Substation Labels - Component asset tags for utilities withstanding temperatures to 650° F.
Transformer Labels - Tags used to track transformer repairs, and include accident prevention symbols.
Unique ID (UID) Labels - Labels that meet military standard 130 (MIL-STD-130) requirements set by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
Utility Labels - For utility poles, lights, transformers, meters and systems.
Warehouse Labels - Identification in Warehouse facilities to fulfill a Warehouse Management System (WMS). Includes Labels for Floors, Racks, Containers, Totes, Pallets, as well as Custom Signs.
Work-In-Process - Asset tags that must withstand harsh chemicals and temperatures up to 1200° F.
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Which Assets Require Tagging?
Items which require any type of monitoring, reporting, labeling, maintenance, or ownership verification in commercial enterprises, or government and educational institutions can benefit from asset tags. UID labeling is required by the DoD according to MIL-STD-130. Vendors and suppliers may be required to utilize UID Labels for items sold for use by those organizations.
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When Do I Use Color Coding of Assets Tags?
Color coding of asset tags is sometimes an effective means of quick visual identification of ownership or departmental responsibility. Color codes can speed any required scanning of bar coded items by allowing personnel to quickly identify which items to scan. Date of acquisition and useful life monitoring can also be color coded. Color coding of asset tags can replace bar coding in some instances by reducing variables tracked within an organization on assets of limited numbers.
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When Are Barcodes Necessary for Asset Tags?
Barcodes provide error-free, machine-readable (barcode scanners) recording, which avoids manual transcription errors by humans. Bar codes are often valuable and necessary to businesses or educational institutions which have large inventories of physical property to monitor, track or maintain. Barcode readers or scanners decode the barcodes and compare them against a database for tracking or maintenance purposes. Warehouse applications use barcode stickers extensively on shelving, bins and even individual items using asset tags. Barcodes are strictly required if you are a vendor or supplier of products to certain military or government bodies which use SPEC 2000 or MIL-STD-130.
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When Should I use Sequential Serial Numbering?
Asset tags used for fixed asset accounting, inventory control, quality, calibration or maintenance purposes may benefit from human readable elements such as serial numbers or sequential numbering so asset tags can be deciphered without scanners. Numbering of barcode labels can be non-sequential from any starting number or using any series you provide.
