Introduction to Durable Asset Tag Product Evaluation & Benchmark

Our team frequently hears people say, “RFID tags do not work well with metal and liquids" in the context of passive UHF technology, and more specifically with EPCglobal Class 1 Gen 2 or ISO 18000-6C.

This is an unfortunate misconception, and one that has been perpetuated by vendors with competitive offerings in other frequencies, as well as by vendors selling more expensive active RFID tags.

The simple fact is, the passive UHF RFID tag (which lacks a battery and operates at ultra-high frequency) is one the most globally accepted, broadly available, economical, and technically advanced of all RFID technology options. It is the designated standard of retail giants like Walmart, and de facto choice the US Department of Defense for supply chain tracking of just about anything placed inside a shipping container. True, these tags are not as metal or water friendly as tags using lower frequencies, but manufacturers have overcome those obstacles with read-on-metal (ROM) UHF tags and water-friendly tags, which typically use a substrate to separate the tag from the commodity and in some cases, even use the metal to help improve tag readability.

Yes, low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) RFID fill valuable niches, but a company that wishes to do commerce globally must adhere to the universal standard. That said, in certain applications, the RFID tag must be durable enough to withstand the logistical pressures of, for example, a bouncing truck, a rattling conveyor, heavy rain, or harsh desert conditions. 

Advancements in RFID technology have resulted in significant improvements in the performance of passive UHF tags. Today, anyone can read a passive RFID tag on metal from over twenty five (25) meters away if the proper tag, reader, and antenna are used.

This benchmark report not only definitively proves that passive UHF tags can work on, or near, metal, it also gives you the knowledge you need for a successful implementation and should instill greater confidence when making purchasing decisions.

What is a Durable Passive UHF RFID Tag?

Defining Durability

To be considered “durable,” an RFID tag must be designed specifically to withstand challenging environmental operating conditions, both indoors and outdoors, including cold, heat, and wet environments. It must withstand high vibration, hard hits, fungus and gnawing rats—among numerous other threats. The tags tested in the benchmark were not subjected to the same tests performed in our Extremely Durable RFID Tags for Oil, Gas, & Construction video and tests, which included flamethrower, welding, and sledgehammer tests.

More specifically, for an RFID tag to be considered “durable”, it should have an IP (Ingress Protection or International Protection) Rating (defined in international standard IEC [International Electrotechnical Commission] 60529, “Degrees of protection provided by enclosures”), which provides standardized measures for durability.  All of the RFID tags evaluated here have an IP rating, except for one.

Two forms of durable RFID tags are metal-mount tags (sometimes called “read-on-metal” or ROM tags) and submersible tags, which are sufficient for most uses. Some common uses are in tracking metal containers (like oxygen tanks), plastic containers and totes (which sometimes embed metal in the plastic for reinforcement), and for security.

Environmental Tests

Environmental tests and standards ensure that the tag provides, both in storage and in use—

1. Temperature resistance;
2. Water resistance;
3. Dust resistance;
4. Immersibility.

IEC 60529 defines degrees of environmental resistance. Some tags are more durable than others. One may be rated to withstand dripping water, while another can withstand a powerful jet of water—useful if it is on a railcar that gets power washed. One is rated to withstand immersion up to 1 m, while another can go to several meters, which is useful in marine environments. One may allow some ingress of dust (like you’d see in a job shop) without affecting performance, while another is hermetically sealed, so is useful in desert conditions like military logistics in Iraq.

Washing and Sterilization

The Desert in Iraq is a harsh environment—so too is an Autoclave or an industrial washing machine.

Industrial laundry is a case of the most extreme conditions, between caustic chemicals and high temperatures that occur during wash and dry cycles.  Healthcare operations, medpharm companies and semiconductor makers are just three types of organizations that typically issue uniforms, and wash and sterilize those uniforms at temperatures up to 250°F (121°).

Healthcare providers and medpharm companies might also call for sterilization, in an Autoclave, or with infrared or gamma rays. The Autoclave sterilization device reaches temperatures of 250°F (121°) and pressures of 2 atm., through which no average electronic device can endure.  But, an IEC-rated durable RFID tag can.

Shock and Vibration

Consider totes bouncing along a conveyor, pallets rattling around the back of a truck, or pallets hefted around by lift trucks in a warehouse. Or, a piece of rental equipment (like a woodchipper) hauled onto a trailer.  The delicate, wire-thin antenna and connections of a passive RFID smart-label cannot hold up without some kind of protection.

As the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) describes it, “material handling and logistics is the movement, protection, storage and control of materials and products throughout the process of their manufacture and distribution, consumption and disposal.”

A durable RFID tag must be able to withstand rigorous vibration and shock testing, per IEC 60529, and military standard MIL STD 810-F and BS EN 60068-2. The testing method involves a vibrating table which simulates these conditions.

Passive and UHF

The durable RFID tags evaluated in this report are all passive RFID tags. Passive tags contain no battery or energy source of their own. They gather their energy from the RFID reader. This makes them more economical, because they do not need a battery.  This also gives them a longer life than a battery-powered tag that will eventually lose its charge.  Battery powered RFID tags use either disposable or rechargeable batteries

They are also ultra-high-frequency, or UHF tags, as opposed to low-frequency (LF), or high-frequency (HF), or other available frequencies. UHF (860 MHz to 960 MHz) is the preferred global frequency spectrum for passive RFID tags in supply-chain operations. The ISO 18000-6C standard is recognized world-wide.

The Durable Passive UHF RFID Tags Evaluated

In this report, we evaluate six commercially-available durable passive UHF RFID tags: Three specifically tuned for optimum operation in regions adhering to US FCC certifications and three tags designed for balanced global operation.

Manufacturer / Product Name	Integrated Circuit / Tag Data Capacity (bits)	Regional Optimized Frequencies (MHz)	IP Durability / Operating temp / Shock / Vibration Ratings	Dimensions (mm) / Attachment Methods
Confidex Ironside FCC	NXP UCODE G2XM 240 (standard) 512 (extended)	865-869 (EU) 902-928 (US) 952-955 (JPN)	IP68 -40°C to +85° JESD22-B103B, RTCA DO-160 Rev E 8.5	51.5 x 47.5 x 10.0 mm Screws (size M4); Pop rivets (size 4 mm); Silicone sealants; 3M 300LSE acrylic adhesive
Confidex Survivor FCC	NXP UCODE G2XM 240 (standard) 512 (extended)	885-869 (EU) 902-928 (US) 952-955 (JPN)	IP67 -35°C to +85°C JESD22-B103B, service condition 2	224 x 24 x 8 mm Cable ties (metal or plastic) Screws (size M5) Pop rivets (size 4.8 mm) Silicone sealants
Intermec IT65 Large Rigid	Impinj Monza 96 (standard)	860–960 (Global)	-40° to +121° C	3.2 cm x 14.27 cm Screws or rivets (size .61 cm); Double-sided adhesive strips
Omni-ID Max ABS US	Alien Higgs 3 512 (standard)	866–868 (EU) 902–928 (US)	IP68 –20 to +55 °C MIL STD 810-F BS EN 60068-2	104 x 33 x 8.4 mm Manual (std.) Fim Adhesive (opt.) Foam Adhesive (opt.)
Omni-ID Max HD ABS	Alien Higgs 3 512 (standard)	860–960 (Global)	ABS: IP68 –40 to +65 °C PC: IP67 –40 to +100 °C Both: MIL STD 810-F BS EN 60068-2	140 x 66 x 14 mm Manual (std.) Foam Adhesive (opt.)
Omni-ID Ultra	Alien Higgs 3 512 (standard)	860–960 (Global)	ABS: IP67 –40 to +65 ºC PC: IP65 –40 to +100 ºC Both: MIL STD 810-F BS EN 60068-2	210 x 110 x 20.8 mm Bolt or Rivet Foam Adhesive (opt.)

Important Notes Regarding the RFID Tags Evaluated In This Report

When obtaining tags to include in our evaluation, some tag manufacturers did not respond to our requests for tags while others responded after our tests were complete.  Our policy is not to evaluate an RFID tag unless we can purchase at least quantity 100 and have the tags delivered within two weeks. There are many other RFID tags marketed as available, but our team was unable to obtain them. One company even told us it would take 16 weeks to deliever tags. The tags we have elected to include are ALL commercially available tags and our team verified at least two (2) production implmentations in which the tags are being used.

Our team tried contacting Intermec to determine if the Intermec IT65 Large Rigid has an IP rating.  However, none of our calls or e-mails were returned.  Once this information is obtained, we will update this report.

If your company offers commercially available RFID tags and would like our team to evaluate them in future benchmark reports or possibly in an episode of our syndicated video series, then please contact us.

Our Passive RFID Durable Asset Tag Performance Benchmark Tests

Four comprehensive sets of tests were performed to determine how well each RFID tag performs in real-world use-cases.

Multiple tags are used in each test in order to account for subtle performance differences between RFID tags. When calculating results, the average performance across multiple tags and multiple tests per tag is recorded.  In some results, this may make the result appear a bit strange simply because you can’t read half a tag. It’s just the average, not a new interrogation technique.

In all tests each RFID tag is programmed with a unique identifier to confirm tag programmability operation and to facilitate easy identification and differentiation.

Durable Asset Tag Benchmark Table of Contents
Introduction, Defining 'Durability' and the RFID Tags Evaluated
Vibration Survival Tests
Supply Chain Logistics Operations Tests: Mixed Pallets with an RFID Enabled Portal & Handheld RFID Reader
Asset Tracking Tests: Maximum Read Range Outdoors with a GPS enabled Handheld RFID Reader
Manufacturing Work-In-Progress Tests: Maximum Read Range Indoors with a Fixed Position RFID Reader
Overall Benchmark Test Analysis
Important Considerations When Selecting RFID Tags