Smart credentials
ISO 15693 / ICODE tags & cards
NXP ICODE SLIX and SLIX2 vicinity tags for the jobs proximity chips cannot do: library media with EAS gate security, industrial laundry and uniform tracking, tool and asset inventory read many-at-a-time from up to about three feet. Book labels, wash-resistant tags, asset labels and ISO cards — blank or pre-encoded.
The inlay and encoding depend on the installed reader, the surface or environment, and your use case.
What are ISO 15693 ICODE tags?
ISO 15693 ICODE tags carry NXP's ICODE SLIX or SLIX2 chip, a 13.56 MHz vicinity transponder built for inventory rather than access: gate readers reach about 3 ft, read many tags at once, and the chip's EAS feature triggers library security gates. It is the standard chip behind library RFID, industrial laundry tracking and asset management. American Key Cards supplies ICODE book labels, laundry tags, asset labels and cards, blank or pre-encoded.
Overview
About ISO 15693 / ICODE
Same 13.56 MHz frequency, completely different job. Proximity chips like MIFARE are built to authenticate one credential at a few centimeters; ISO 15693 vicinity chips are built to inventory many items at arm's length — a shelf of library books, a cart of uniforms, a cabinet of tools, all read in one pass. NXP's ICODE SLIX family is the chip that made that the default in American libraries, and the same silicon runs laundry and asset-tracking programs worldwide.
We supply ICODE SLIX and SLIX2 media in the forms these programs actually consume: paper book labels, wash-rated laundry tags, on-metal and standard asset labels, and ISO cards for staff or patron use. Blank if your vendor software does the encoding, or block-encoded and locked to your data schema before shipping.
Technical details
ISO 15693 / ICODE tags & cards specifications
- Frequency
- 13.56 MHz
- Standard
- ISO/IEC 15693 (vicinity) / ISO 18000-3 Mode 1 — not interchangeable with ISO 14443
- Chip options
- NXP ICODE SLIX (896-bit) and SLIX2 (2528-bit)
- Read range
- Up to ~3 ft / 1 m on gate and inventory readers; contact range from NFC phones
- Inventory features
- Multi-tag anti-collision, EAS security-gate alarm, AFI application filtering
- Durability
- Laundry tags rated for industrial wash, extraction and drying cycles
- Encoding
- Supplied blank, or block-encoded and locked to your data schema
Available configuration
Choose the form factor after the technology
Where it fits
Common ISO 15693 / ICODE applications
Libraries
Book and media labels with EAS security-gate integration, compatible with ISO 15693 self-checkout and return systems.
Industrial laundry
Wash-resistant tags for uniforms, linens and mats that survive industrial wash, extraction and drying cycles.
Tool & IT asset tracking
Labels for tools, devices and returnable containers, inventoried by handheld or portal readers many at a time.
Records management
File and document tracking in legal, medical and evidence rooms where shelves are scanned in place.
Before you order
How to order ISO 15693 / ICODE correctly
- Reader standard is the gate
ISO 15693 readers and ISO 14443 readers are different hardware even at the same frequency. We confirm which standard your gates, pads or handhelds speak before recommending stock.
- SLIX or SLIX2
SLIX (896-bit) covers most library and laundry schemas. SLIX2 (2528-bit) adds memory, password-protected EAS and an originality signature — worth it when the data model or tamper concerns demand it.
- Surface and environment
Metal shelving, liquids and wash chemistry all affect tag choice. Tell us where the tag lives and we match the inlay and face material to it.
Compatibility reference
Find your exact reader format
Choose the matching format before ordering. These pages list the relevant reader families, OEM references and credential requirements.
Questions we actually get
ISO 15693 / ICODE FAQ
Will these work with my library's existing RFID system?
If your system is ISO 15693-based — as nearly all North American library RFID systems are — yes. We confirm your vendor platform and data schema first, and can supply tags blank for your own conversion station or pre-encoded to the schema you use.
How far can ISO 15693 tags be read?
Roughly up to 3 ft / 1 m on gate and portal readers, less on handhelds, and contact distance from NFC phones. The point is not maximum range but multi-tag anti-collision: reading a full shelf or cart in one pass.
Can ICODE tags be used for door access?
They should not be. ICODE has no cryptographic authentication — it is an inventory chip. For door credentials, use a proper access-control format; we are happy to point you to the right one for your readers.
Need help identifying the technology?
Send a photo of the credential and the reader model. We'll identify the format before we quote a compatible product.
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