(affiliée"a I'Organlsation Internalionale de Normalisalion ISO)
RECDMMANDATlDN DE LA C E I
No part 01 lhis publicalion may he
form or any means, electronic or in~luding
de I'édileur. ano without permissiQ~ in writing from Ihe
Bureau Central de la Commission Eleclrolechnique Inlernationale
1, rue de Varembé
CIause
1. &:ope
2. Objecl.
3. Definitions .
4. General rules .
5. Application of the systems of maín markings
6. Supplemenlary marks .
7. Arrangemenl of marks
8. Relative positions of marks
9. Characters lo be used . . .
10. Inscription on diagrams of marks carried by conducto16 (or groups of conductors)
1) The formal decisions or agreements of the I E e 00 tcehnical matters, prepared by Technica1Cornmittces 00 which a11the
National Cornmittees llavina a special ÍDlerest therein are represented, express, as nearly as possible, an intemational
consensus of opinion on the subjects dealt with.
2) They have the forro of recommendations for international use and they are accepted by the National Committees in tbat
seose.
e
3) In order to promote this intemational unification, the I E expresses the wish that aU National Committees having as
yet no national roles, when preparing such rules, should use the I E e reconunendations as the fundamental basis for these
roles in so far as oational conditions will permit.
4) The desirability is recognized of extendina international agreemenf'on these rnatterstbrough an ehdeavour lo harmonize
nationa1 standardization rules with these recommendations in so far as national conditioos witl permito The National
Cornmittees pledge their influence towards that end.
This Recommendation has been prepared by Technical Committee No. 16, Terminal markings and olher
identifications. •.
Drafts were discussed al the meetings held in Naples in 1956 and in Venice in 1963. As a resull of this
Iatter meeting, a new draft was submitted to the National Committees for approval under the Síx Months'
Rule in JuIy 1967 and some amendments under the Two Months' Procedure in December 1968.
Australia Israel
Austria Japan
Belgium Netherlands
Czechoslovakia Norway
Canada Poland
Denmark South Africa
FinIand Sweden
France Switzerland
Germany Turkey
lran Yugoslavia
This Recommendation applies to the marking of insulated conductors used in industrial instal .•
lations and lbe equipment which forms par! of lbem, except insulated conductors constituting lbe
terminals of electrical apparatus (for example, rotating machines or transformers).
It applies only te other installations and equipment (for example, telecommunication circuits or
circuits including telecommunication equipment) when reference is made te them.
1t distinguishes two types of markings:
- main markings;
- supplementary markings.
The purpose of marking insulated conduclors is to provide, if necessary, a means whereby con-
ductors can be identified in the circuit, and also after they have been detached from thc terminals lo
which they were connected.
3.1 Terminal
A conducting clement of a piece of apparatus, designed for connecting it to external circuits.
3.3 Identificationmark
A mark which idcntifies a conductor or a group of conduetors at each end and., when necessary.
at visible points throughout its length.
3.4.1 Mam marking
A system of marking characteriLing each conductor or group of conductors irrespective of their
elec!rica! function.
a) Dependent marking
A system of marking conducto':', or groups of conductors, base<!on lhe markings of lhe terminals
at which the conductors termínate or of the equipment to which the groups of conductors are
connected.
1) Dependent local-end marking
O/ a conductor:
A system of marking in which the marking of a conductor end is the same as that of the
terminal to which it is connected.
01 a group 01conductors:
A system of marking in which the markíng of a group of conductor ends indicates the part
of equipment to which it is connected.
2) Dependen! remote-end marking
01 a conductor:
Ola group 01 conductors: 13
A syslem of marking in which lhe marking of a group of conduclor ends indicates lhe part'a(.I0~
",
~.
of equipment to which ¡lS remote end is connected.
3) Dependent both-end marking
01 a conductor:
A system of marking in which each end of a conductor is marked both with the marking of
the terminal to which it is connected and also with that of the terminal to which its remote
end is connected.
01 a group 01conductors:
A system of marking in which each end of a group of conductors is marked to indicate both
the part of equipment to which it is connected and a1so the part of equipment to which its
remote end is connected.
b) 1ndependent marking
A system of marking of eonduetors or groups of conduetors, independent of the marking of
the termina1s at which the conductors terminate or of the equipment to which the groups of
conductors are connected:.-
e) Composite marking
A system of marking in which dependen! marking and independenl marking are used logelher.
3.4.2 Supplementary marking
A system of marking generally used as a supplement to the main marking and based on the
electrical function of each conductor or group of conductors.
a) Functional ma;k
A supplementary mark indicating:
- either the function of each conductor considered individually (examples: switching on or
off, signalling a position, measurement of a current or a voltage);
b) Phase mark
A supplementary mark showing to which phase of an a.c. system a conductor is connected.
e) Po/arily mark
A supplementary mark showing to which poJe of a d.c. circuit a conductor is conn~ted.
4.1 The identification marks shall be pJaced at the ends of conQuctors and, where necessary, at visÍble
points along their length.
5.1 Dependent marking
In dependen! marking (Sub-cl.use 3.4.1.0) conductor marks m.y include (Figures 2 .nd 4) or m.y
not include (Figures J and 3) equipment marks; however, conductor marks sháll always include
equipment marks when the use of terminal marks alone would be confusing (Figure 2).
This system illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 permits the conductor to be connected to its local-end
terminal without having to refer to a diagram oe a connection table and indicates also its remote-
end terminal, thus facilitating fault location and maintenance work.
1-8 1-8
O
2 3-"
• H
0'0
4
0 0'1
A1-01 A1-0'
2 A3-02
0
• A3-D2
O'
4 4
0 0
A O
HG. 2. - Example of dependent both-end marking for two conductors and for a group of conductors
(c.ble).
~
,-."J'l.
-"'),1 !:J-r¿~
5.1.2 Dependent local-end marking (Sub-e1.use 3.4.1. a.l)
This system, illustrated in Figure 3, is simpler than the system in Clause 5.1.1, but a diagram or a
connection table may be necessary when faults have to be located or maintainance work done, ir the
actual run of the conductor is not immediately apparent.
5.1.3 Dependent remote-end morkJng (Sub-clause 3.4.1.0.2)
This system, of which Figure 4 gives aD example, is also simpler than both-end marking and is
convenient fOI fault location and maintenance work, bul it usually necessitates a diagram OI a connec-
tion table, to enable any connection which may have been removed lo be replaced correctly.
33
0
35 04 A36
36 01 A35
37 07 A37
49
O
A O
FIG. 4. - Example of dependent remote-end marking ror three conductoIs and fOI a group of conductoIs
(cable).
5.2 Independentmarking
In independent marking (Sub-clause 3.4.1. b), the same marking, usually of a simple form, is used
all along the conductor, ir it has junctions in its ron. Except in certain simple cases, a connec-
even
tion~diagram OI table should be used to make it clear to which terminal each conductor end should
be connected.
The connection table. if made use of, should indicate:
Conductor 5 connects Alto DI;
Conductor 6 conneels A3 lo D2.
When a functional mark is a complete means of identification, it may be used as an independent
marking without adding othér markings (Clause 4.3, figure 6).
5.3 Compositemarking
Composite marking (Sub-clause 3.4.I.c) offers the advantages of dependent marking and permits
a simplification of any intermediate marking that may be required along the conductor.
If dependent marking is not complete, and does not make use of both ends, a dJagram or connec-
tion table may be necessary.
A1-5-D1 A1-5-D1
2 A3-6-D2
0
3 A3-6-D2 3
0
O' O'
A O
FIG. 8. - Example of composite marking: independent for the conductors; dependent both-end for the
conductor group (cable).
TIIe connecllan lable, if mode Uifeal. shauld indlcale:
Conductor 5 -connects Al to ri l ;
Conductor 6 connects A3 to D2.
Al-0l Al-01
2 A3-02
0
• A3-02
o·
4
4
0 0
A O
FIG. 9. - Example of composite marking: dependent both-end marking ror th~ conductan; ¡ndependent
for the conductor group (cable).
The connection table, if made use 01, shou/d indicate:,
Conductor group (cable) 15 connects terminal boards A and D.
Supplementary marks (Clause 3.4.2) may be letters ar figures, like the main marks. Caloue marks
oe appropriate symbols may also be used. In sorne cases, to avoid confusioo, it is preferable to
separate the supplementary marks from the maio marks by punctuation signs (e.g. an oblique
stroke:/).
If functional marks (Clause 3.4.2. a) are used, they should be in agreement either with National
Rules in force, ar with a table which gives their meaning.
6.2 Phase marks
Wherephase marks(Clause 3.4.2. b)are used, the hour (c1ockface) number system should be applied,
if possible, as described in lEC Publication 152: Recommendation for the identification by hour
numbers of the phase conductoIs of thrce-phase electric systems. Where tbat system is nol appli-
cable, capitalletters oe figtlres, or both. should be used in phase sequence order.
6.3 Polaritymarks
Where symbols are used to indicate the polarity of a conductor or a direct current circuit (Clause
3.4.2. e),lhe following marks should be used:
+ ror the positive pole,
- roe the negative pole,
M fOI the mid-wire foe d.c. system.
- by an interval, or an appropriate sign, e. g. a hyphen,
- by the use of different typographic characters,
- by arrangement in columns, see Sub-clause 7.2.
7.2 The different elements constituting a mark should be inscribed either:
- along the axis of the conductor (longitudinal marking),
- across the axis of the conductor (transverse marking).
8.1 Dependent marking
8.1.1 In the case of dependent marking (local-end or remote-end). the order in which the marks should
be written illas follows:
- the corresponding terminal D;ark,
- if necessary, the supplementary marks (seo Clause 6).
Figure 11 gives examples:
a) Remete-end marking
Al/S
b) Local-end ~g
A O
FIG. 11. - Examples of dependent marking with supplementary mark S.
- the mark of one of the two terminals,
- if necessary, !he supplementary marks (see Clause 6),
- the mark of the other terminal.
A1-D1 DI-Al
2 2 2
0 0 O
3 A3-o2 3 A3-D2 3
O • O' •
:¡ O
A A
o A
~
Al-DI Al-O!
A3-o2 o2-A3 2
3 3 3
0 O 0
O· O' O'
O O O
Example A: Identical marks en both Example B: Different marks en each Example C: lntennediate mark enly.
ends. end.
8.2 ImIependent marking
In the case of independeni marking, the otdet is as follows:
- the identification mark of the conductor,
- if necess!'ry, the supplementary matks (seo Clause 6).
Figure \3 gives an example:
16 = Identificationmarkoftheconduetor.
S = Supplementary mark.
FIG. \3. - Independent marking.
8.3 Composite marking
In the case ofcomposite marking ora conductor, the order is as follows:
- the mark of one terminal,
- the independent mark of the conductor,
- if necessary, the supplementary marks (see Clause 6),
- finally, the mark of the other terminal (in the case of dependent both-end marking).
Figure 14 gives four examples:
03-16/5
0'
2 2
0 0
Al-16/5 3
3
0
A O ~
a) Remote-end marking SISL/OTf.cA
Al-16/5 1
O
2 2
O O
3 03-16/5 3
0
A O
b) Loca1..end marking
Al-16/5/03 1
O
2 2
0 0
3 Al-16/5/03 3
O
A O
e) Both-end marking
(identical marks on botb ends)
d) Both-end marking
(different marks 00 each end)
16 = Identificatioo mark of the conductor.
S = Supplementary mark.
Note. - In some cases it may be appropriate to add additional significance to the order of the symbols. For example,
in the dependent both-end marking it may be agreed that the marking of the local end terminal is placed
next to the conductor end (see Figure 12, example B).
Marks should be written as far as possible in Roman capitals and in Arabic numerals or in stan-
dardized graphical symbols.
In the case of dependent marking, however, the marks should be written as far as possible in the
same characters as are used for the terminal marking&>
10.2 Where dependent both-end marking is used, the sequence of the terminal markings of which the
conductor marking is made up shaH be the same on the diagram as on the conductor, at both ends.
10.3 Supplementary marks, according to their function, may be written:
- on the diagram only,
- on certain conductors only OI on all of thero,
- on both the diagram and the conductors.
