Asset tagging · NFC
Tap to open an asset record, no camera or reader needed.
Tap a phone against the asset to open its record. Nearly every modern phone reads NFC, so there is no reader and no camera to line up.
NFC tags let an engineer or client tap a phone against the asset to open its record. Because nearly every modern phone reads NFC, there is no dedicated reader and no camera to line up, which makes scanning faster in low light, at awkward angles, or where a printed code would be hard to read.
Tags are more durable than printed labels and can be tamper-evident.
How it works
NFC tags on CertFlow.
An NFC tag is a small passive chip that holds no power of its own. It works at 13.56 MHz, the high-frequency end of RFID, and is read by holding a phone within a few centimetres, a deliberate tap rather than a scan at distance. Nearly every modern phone reads NFC, so there is no reader to buy.
The short, intentional read range is a feature, not a limitation. A tap can only be made right at the asset, so it doubles as proof of presence that the inspection genuinely happened at that item. Tags are more durable than a printed label, can be sealed or embedded, and can be made tamper-evident so a removed or swapped tag is obvious.
Tapping opens the asset in CertFlow to log or review its inspection, with no camera to line up. That makes it faster in low light, at awkward angles, or where a printed code would be scuffed or hard to read.
Where it fits
Use cases.
Faster, deliberate scanning
Tapping the tag rather than aiming a camera is quick and reliable, even in low light or at an awkward angle.
More durable than printed QR
Tags can be sealed, embedded or ruggedised, so they outlast a printed label.
Tamper evidence
A tag can show if it has been removed or swapped, useful where that matters.
No special hardware
Engineers and clients use the phones they already carry, with nothing extra to buy.
Assets handled close up
Where work happens right at the asset, a quick tap beats lining up a camera scan.
Attachment types
How NFC tags are fixed to the asset.
Adhesive tags
Stick-on NFC tags for flat, accessible surfaces.
Ruggedised and on-metal tags
Hardened tags that read reliably when fixed to metal assets.
Sealed or embedded tags
Tamper-evident tags that can be sealed onto or set into the asset.
Across every discipline
NFC tags for the assets you inspect.
An NFC tag turns a tap into the full record. It suits assets handled close up across every discipline, from a distribution board in a plant room to a sling on a rack, where a quick tap is faster than lining up a camera.
Electrical
Distribution boards, consumer units, fixed wiring and portable appliances
Tap an NFC tag on a board or appliance to open its record without lining up a camera, useful in a dim plant room or a crowded riser. The tap is logged as proof the engineer was at the asset, and a sealed tag resists the knocks a printed PAT label would not survive.
Lifting Equipment
Cranes, hoists, chains, slings, shackles and lifting accessories
Tap a sling, chain or hoist to open its examination record and confirm it is in date before a lift. The tag outlasts a stamped or printed mark, and the tap proves the competent person physically examined that specific accessory, which matters where identification and traceability are mandatory.
Work Equipment
Machinery, power tools, ladders, MEWPs and access equipment
Tap machinery or access equipment to open and update its inspection record right at the item, logging proof the check happened there. Durable, sealed tags suit tools and gear handled hard every day.
Pressure Systems
Air receivers, pressure vessels, boilers and pressure pipework
Tap a vessel or receiver in the plant room to open its record and confirm the examination is in line with the written scheme, with the tap logged at the asset. Embedded tags hold up where heat and condensation would lift a label.
Fire Safety
Extinguishers, alarm panels, emergency lighting and fire doors
Tap an NFC tag on a fire door or extinguisher to open its record, logging proof of presence that the six-monthly door check or annual service actually happened at that door. Sealed, tamper-evident tags suit fire doors, where evidence the inspection took place is part of the duty.
Gas Safety
Boilers, gas appliances, pipework and flues
Tap the boiler or appliance to open its record and log the annual safety check at the equipment. A rugged tag in a hot, knocked-about boiler room outlasts a printed label.
HVAC & Refrigeration
Air-conditioning units, refrigeration and heat pumps
Tap a roof-top or plant-room unit to open its record and log the leak check at the equipment, with the tap confirming the engineer reached the unit. Weatherproof tags hold up outdoors where a label would fade.
Water & Legionella
Sentinel outlets, TMVs, tanks and calorifiers
Tap an NFC tag at each sentinel outlet to log the monthly temperature check, with the tap proving the engineer was physically at that outlet, exactly the proof of presence a legionella control scheme relies on. Records build against each outlet for the five years they must be kept.
Waste Management
Skips, hazardous-waste containers and storage points
Tap a container to open its record and confirm the duty-of-care chain at the point of handover. A tag fixed to the container is harder to lose than a paper note.
Hazardous Substances
Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and extraction equipment
Tap an LEV hood or fan to open its record at the unit, logging the thorough examination where it happened. Sealed tags survive dust and grease that would foul a printed code.
RAMS
The plant and equipment your method statements cover
Tap equipment on site to open its record and tie it to the RAMS and inspection behind the job, confirming the item is fit for the task before work begins.
General Health & Safety
The assets your inspections and audits cover
Tap any asset during a workplace inspection to open and update its record at the point of the check, with the tap evidencing that the inspection reached the asset.
Competency & Training
Equipment that requires a competent, qualified operator
Tap the asset to confirm both the equipment and that the person about to use it is qualified and in date, before work starts. The check happens at the machine, not back at a desk.
HR & People Compliance
Issued equipment and PPE assigned to people
Tap issued kit to confirm assignment and condition at handover, with a durable tag that stays with the item rather than a label that peels off.
One record, any tag
Part of CertFlow’s tagging options.
QR, NFC and RFID all open the same CertFlow record, and many firms use more than one across a site. See the full spectrum and how to choose, or read about the other options.