Poor tag fixing is the most common cause of underperforming RFID systems. Poor RFID tag fixing is rarely a hardware or software problem. In most cases, the system works exactly as designed.
These ten rules cover the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Left: an on-metal RFID tag with screw-fixing points. Right: a standard RFID label tag. The difference in construction reflects the difference in how each performs on different surfaces.1. Match the tag to the surface
On-metal tags are engineered to work on metallic surfaces. Standard tags are not. Fitting the wrong tag type to a surface will reduce performance significantly or prevent the tag from being read at all. The reverse applies too: an on-metal tag on a non-metal surface won’t perform as intended.
If your deployment covers mixed asset types, you may need more than one tag type. Map your surfaces before you order, and run trials. Datasheet performance figures are measured in controlled conditions and don’t always reflect real-world results on a specific surface.
Sensor tags have additional handling requirements around chip and antenna placement. Check the manufacturer’s guidance before fixing.
2. Handle tags carefully
The connection between a tag’s chip and antenna is more fragile than the outer casing suggests. Bending, folding, or twisting a tag can break that connection. Label-format tags are particularly vulnerable. Some tags are sensitive even to direct pressure on the chip.
Staples, pins, and paperclips can do the same damage. Label-format tags look like printed stickers, and staff who don’t know there are circuits inside may treat them as such. Make sure anyone handling tags knows what’s inside them.
3. RFID tag fixing: use the right method
Every tag is designed with a fixing method in mind. Poor RFID tag fixing affects both read performance and how long the tag stays on the asset.
Adhesive fixing: the surface must be clean, flat, and dry. Use the correct adhesive for the tag type and substrate, apply within the manufacturer’s temperature specification, and allow full curing time before the asset returns to service.
Screw and rivet fixing: tighten sufficiently to prevent movement but not so tightly that the tag body distorts. Distortion affects antenna geometry and read performance.
Cable and zip ties: standard zip ties can degrade in UV light. Use UV-stabilised fixings for outdoor applications.
Label-format tags: more vulnerable to heat, abrasion, and chemicals than hard-cased tags. Check the tag is rated for wash-down cycles or high-temperature storage if relevant. Lamination can extend lifespan but must be compatible with read performance.
Choose the fixing method for the environment the tag will operate in throughout its lifecycle, not just the conditions at the point of installation.
4. Check the tag is working before permanent fixing
For any fixing method that can’t easily be undone, verify the tag is readable and assign the tag ID to the correct asset record in your system before fixing it permanently. A tag that can’t be read after fixing, or one linked to the wrong asset record, is a data integrity problem that’s difficult to correct.
For large deployments involving multiple tag types or temporary staff, brief the team thoroughly before work starts. Fix a sample batch first and inspect the results before proceeding. Errors found early are straightforward to fix. The same errors found after thousands of assets have been tagged are not.
For stitched garment tags, ensure stitching is confined to the area specified by the manufacturer. Stitching through the antenna or chip area will break the circuit.
For tags fixed with plastic clips or ties in very cold conditions, some fixing methods become brittle at low temperatures even if the tag itself is rated for that operating range.
5. Use the right location and orientation
Tag placement on this crane jib section keeps it clear of lifting gear and fixing points, and visible for reading. Location and orientation are as important as the tag itself.Tag placement and orientation affect read reliability. Many tags have a different detection field horizontally to vertically. Mounting at the wrong angle relative to the reader can reduce effective read range by more than half. This is particularly important for fixed reader installations.
When choosing a location, consider:
Whether the tag will be obscured, damaged, or fouled by normal asset handling, lifting gear, stacking, or transit fixings.
Whether the tag needs to be visible for manual identification or colour-coded reference.
Whether the tag will be accessible for reading when the asset is in its normal operating position. This is particularly relevant for short-range LF and HF tags.
For deployments covering large numbers of similar assets, document the fixing location and orientation precisely. A fixing jig can help ensure consistency. An example specification for a vehicle tag might read: “Mount on the inside of the windscreen, 1cm from the left pillar and 10cm from the top, with the long axis parallel to the pillar.”
Consistency in tag placement makes a measurable difference to read reliability across a large fleet.
6. Stay within temperature and humidity limits
Tags have separate operating and storage specifications for temperature and humidity. The one that matters for your application is the worst case across the tag’s full lifecycle. Assets that go through manufacturing processes, harsh cleaning cycles, or outdoor storage often encounter more extreme conditions than they do in normal service.
IP rating and chemical resistance are separate specifications. IP67 indicates the tag will survive temporary immersion. It says nothing about resistance to cleaning chemicals, hydraulic fluid, or high-pressure jets. Check both.
If your application changes and the environmental conditions change with it, revisit your tag specification. Your supplier should be able to provide full environmental specs on request.
7. Watch out for metals, fluids, and motors
Strong electromagnetic fields from powerful motors, dynamos, or relays are more likely to interfere with tag reading than to damage tags permanently. It’s still worth factoring this into reader and antenna placement, particularly in workshops or plant rooms with heavy electrical equipment.
Metal objects between a tag and a reader will block the signal. Liquids can also interfere with reads. Tags should not be stored near strong electromagnetic sources.
8. Make sure everyone knows what tags are for
A label-format tag removed from an asset by a staff member who thinks it’s a blank sticker makes that asset untraceable. A tag attached incorrectly because the person fixing it wasn’t properly briefed will underperform or fail. Neither is a technology problem.
Brief everyone who works with tagged assets on what the tags are, why they matter, and what not to do. Clear communication before a system goes live is significantly easier than correcting problems after it.
Knowing what tags you have in stock, where they are, and who can access them is part of good RFID tag fixing practice. Different tag types are not interchangeable.9. Keep control of your tags
Knowing what tags you have in stock, where they’re stored, and who has access to them matters for several reasons.
Tags stored in uncontrolled locations may be exposed to conditions outside their environmental specification.
Without access controls, there’s a risk of tags being attached by unauthorised staff or attached incorrectly.
Running out of stock mid-deployment causes delays. Most tags are manufactured in APAC and supplier lead times, combined with global shipping disruption, can make restocking slower than expected.
In systems where the tag ID is the authoritative link to an asset record, an uncontrolled tag is a potential fraud risk.
Tag specifications change over time. Knowing which batch of tags is deployed on which assets makes it possible to manage quality or compatibility issues if they arise.
Good RFID tag fixing practice extends to how you manage your stock. A tag inventory doesn’t need to be complicated. It needs to tell you what you have, where it is, and who can access it.
10. Don’t re-use tags
There are two reasons not to re-use tags.
The first is physical. Tags removed from assets are at risk of internal damage even if they look intact. Some are specifically designed as anti-tamper, with circuits that break on removal. Even standard tags can suffer damage to the antenna-chip connection when removed from a surface.
The second is a data integrity issue. Re-using a tag means one tag ID becomes linked to more than one asset in your system, or one asset accumulates records under more than one tag ID. In systems used for compliance, inspection records, or asset lifecycle tracking, that compromises the reliability of your data.
Unless your system has been specifically designed to handle tag re-use, use each tag once.
Need help with tag selection or deployment?
Getting tag fixing right starts with choosing the right tag for the application. If your deployment is more complex than a standard off-the-shelf solution will cover, our consultancy team can help you specify the right tag, fixing method, and deployment approach for your environment. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.
If you know what you need and are ready to order, you can browse and buy RFID tags directly at rfidshop.com.