ISO 15394:2017

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 15394
Third edition
2017-11
Packaging — Bar code and two-
dimensional symbols for shipping,
transport and receiving labels
Emballage — Codes à barres et symboles bidimensionnels pour
l'expédition, le transport et les étiquettes de réception
Reference number
©
ISO 2017
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
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ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Concepts . 2
4.1 Principles . 2
4.2 Transport package, unit load and transport unit . 3
4.2.1 Transport package . 3
4.2.2 Unit load . 3
4.2.3 Transport unit . 3
4.3 Unique transport unit identifier . 3
4.4 Label formats . 3
4.4.1 Base shipping/transport/receiving label . 3
4.4.2 Extended shipping/transport/receiving label . 3
5 Data content . 4
5.1 Data representation . 4
5.1.1 Data in linear bar code symbols . 4
5.1.2 Data in two-dimensional (2D) symbols . 4
5.1.3 Data in human-readable form . 4
5.2 Data elements . 4
5.2.1 Unique transport unit identifier . 4
5.2.2 Ship to. 5
5.2.3 Ship from . 5
5.2.4 Key to carrier's database . 5
5.2.5 Key to customer's database . 5
5.2.6 Other data elements . 6
5.3 Concatenating data fields in linear bar code symbols . 6
5.3.1 Using GS1 Application Identifiers (AI) . 6
5.3.2 Using ANSI MH10.8.2 Data Identifiers (DI) . 6
5.4 Structured data files . 6
5.4.1 General. 6
5.4.2 Shipping and receiving data . 6
5.4.3 Supporting documentation application . 6
5.4.4 Carrier sorting and tracking applications . 7
5.5 Data area identification . 7
6 Data carriers . 7
6.1 Linear bar code symbols . 7
6.2 Two-dimensional symbols . 7
6.3 Human-readable information . 8
6.3.1 Human-readable interpretation . 8
6.3.2 Human translation . 8
6.3.3 Data area titles . 8
6.3.4 Free text and data . 8
6.3.5 Choice of language . 8
7 Label design . 8
7.1 General considerations . 8
7.2 Layout . 9
7.2.1 Base label layout . 9
7.2.2 Extended label layout . 9
7.2.3 Other data .10
7.3 Label dimensions .10
7.3.1 General considerations .10
7.3.2 Label height .10
7.3.3 Label width .10
7.3.4 Data limits .10
7.4 Text size .11
7.4.1 General considerations .11
7.4.2 Specific text dimensions .12
7.5 Material .12
8 Label placement .13
8.1 General considerations .13
8.2 Unit loads (pallets) .13
8.3 Transport packages .13
8.4 Other transport units.14
Annex A (normative) Guidelines for using linear bar code symbols .15
Annex B (normative) Guidelines for using 2D symbols .18
Annex C (informative) Designing compliant labels using a building block approach .37
Annex D (informative) Issues to consider in the drafting of application guidelines or
standards conforming to this document .41
Annex E (informative) Label examples .44
Annex F (informative) Recommended label locations on various containers .61
Annex G (informative) The impact of systems confronted with multiple symbologies
and formats .64
Bibliography .
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