ISO/IEC 7811-2:2014

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 7811-2
Fourth edition
2014-08-15
Identification cards — Recording
technique —
Part 2:
Magnetic stripe — Low coercivity
Cartes d’identification — Technique d’enregistrement —
Partie 2: Bandeau magnétique — Faible coercivité
Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2014
© ISO/IEC 2014
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
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ii © ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope .1
2 Conformance .1
3 Normative references .1
4 Terms and definitions .2
5 Physical characteristics of the identification card .3
5.1 Magnetic stripe area warpage. 3
5.2 Surface distortions . 3
6 Physical characteristics of the magnetic stripe . 4
6.1 Height and surface profile of the magnetic stripe area . 4
6.2 Surface roughness . 7
6.3 Adhesion of stripe to card . 7
6.4 Wear of magnetic stripe from read/write head . 7
6.5 Resistance to chemicals . 7
7 Performance characteristics for the magnetic material .7
7.1 General . 7
7.2 Testing and operating environment . 7
7.3 Signal amplitude requirements for magnetic media . 7
8 Encoding technique .8
9 Encoding specification, general .9
9.1 Angle of recording . 9
9.2 Nominal bit density .10
9.3 Signal amplitude requirements for tracks 1, 2 and 3 .10
9.4 Bit configuration .11
9.5 Direction of recording .11
9.6 Leading and trailing zeroes .11
10 Encoding specifications .11
10.1 Alphanumeric track, track 1 .11
10.2 Numeric track, Track 2 .14
10.3 Numeric track, Track 3 .16
11 Error detection .16
11.1 Parity .17
11.2 Longitudinal redundancy check (LRC) .17
12 Location of encoded tracks .17
Annex A (informative) Read compatibility of magnetic stripes — ISO/IEC 7811-2 and ISO/
IEC 7811-6 .19
Annex B (informative) Magnetic stripe abrasivity .20
© ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved iii

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical
activity. ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the
work. In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee,
ISO/IEC JTC 1.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for
the different types of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject
of patent rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction
and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, SC 17, Cards and
personal identification.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO/IEC 7811-2:2001), which has been
technically revised. It incorporates content from any published amendments or technical corrigendum
since the previous edition was published. Major changes from the previous edition are as follows:
— Wherever possible, the same definitions, criteria and test methods are used in ISO/IEC 7811-2 and
ISO/IEC 7811-6.
— The primary standard cards held by Q-Card are used to calibrate the manufacture of secondary
reference cards. Other primary standard cards held by PTB and Card testing International (CTI) are
used as backup to replace cards held by Q-Card as they wear out.
— The supplier of secondary reference cards has changed from PTB to Q-Card
— During revision, some figure and table numbers may have changed and might not be the same
between the two standards.
Notes in this part of ISO/IEC 7811 are only used for giving additional information intended to assist in
the understanding or use of the document. They do not contain provisions or requirements to which it
is necessary to conform in order to claim compliance with this part of ISO/IEC 7811.
ISO/IEC 7811 consists of the following parts, under the general title Identification cards — Recording
technique:
— Part 1: Embossing
— Part 2: Magnetic stripe — Low coercivity
— Part 6: Magnetic stripe — High coercivity
— Part 7: Magnetic stripe — High coercivity, high density
iv © ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved

— Part 8: Magnetic stripe — Coercivity of 51,7 kA/m (650 Oe)
— Part 9: Tactile identifier mark
© ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved v

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 7811-2:2014(E)
Identification cards — Recording technique —
Part 2:
Magnetic stripe — Low coercivity
1 Scope
ISO/IEC 7811 defines the characteristics for identification cards as defined in Clause 4 of this part of
ISO/IEC 7811 and the use of such cards for international interchange.
This part of ISO/IEC 7811 specifies requirements for a low coercivity magnetic stripe (including any
protective overlay) on an identification card, the encoding technique and coded character sets. It takes
into consideration both human and machine aspects and states minimum requirements.
Coercivity influences many of the quantities specified in this part of ISO/IEC 7811 but is not itself
specified.
ISO/IEC 7811 provides criteria to which cards are to perform. No consideration is given within
ISO/IEC 7811 to the amount of use, if any, experienced by the card prior to test. Failure to conform to
specified criteria is negotiated between the involved parties.
ISO/IEC 10373-2 specifies the test procedures used to check cards against the parameters specified in
this part of ISO/IEC 7811.
NOTE Numeric values in the SI and/or Imperial measurement system in this part of ISO/IEC 7811 may have
been rounded off and therefore are consistent with, but not exactly equal to, each other. Either system may be
used, but the two are not to be intermixed or reconverted. The original design was made using the Imperial
measurement system.
2 Conformance
A prerequisite for conformance with this part of ISO/IEC 7811 is conformance with ISO/IEC 7810.
An identification card is in conformance with this part of ISO/IEC 7811 if it meets all mandatory
requirements specified herein. Default values apply if no others are specified.
3 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 4287, Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) — Surface texture: Profile method — Terms, definitions
and surface texture parameters
ISO/IEC 7810, Identification cards — Physical characteristics
ISO/IEC 10373-1, Identification cards — Test methods — Part 1: General characteristics
ISO/IEC 10373-2, Identification cards — Test methods — Part 2: Cards with magnetic stripes
© ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved 1

4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 7810 and the following
apply.
4.1
primary standard
set of reference cards established by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and maintained by
and I designated RM7811-x26
PTB, Q-Card, and WG1 secretariat that represent the values of U
R R
4.2
secondary standard
reference card designated RM7811-2 that is related to the primary standard as stated in the calibration
certificate supplied with each card
Note 1 to entry: Secondary standards can be ordered from Q-Card, 301 Reagan Street, Sunbury, PA 17801, USA.
The source of secondary standards will be maintained at least until 2018.
4.3
unused un-encoded card
card possessing all the components required for its intended purpose, which has not been subjected
to any personalization or testing operation, and which has been stored in a clean environment with no
more than 48 h exposure to daylight and at temperatures between 5 °C and 30 °C and humidity between
10 % and 90 % without experiencing thermal shock
4.4
unused encoded card
card according to 4.3 that has only been encoded with all the data required for its intended purpose (e.g.
magnetic encoding, embossing, electronic encoding)
4.5
returned card
card according to 4.4 after it has been issued to the card holder and returned for the purpose of testing
4.6
flux transition
location of the greatest rate of change with distance of the magnetisation
4.7
reference current
I
R
minimum recorded current amplitude under the given test conditions that causes, on the reference card,
a readback signal amplitude equal to 80 % of the reference signal amplitude U at a density of 8 flux
R,
transitions per millimetre (200 flux transitions per inch) as shown in Figure 6
4.8
reference flux level
F
R
flux level in the test head that corresponds to the reference current I
R
4.9
test recording currents
two recording currents defined as I , a recording current corresponding to 3,5F , and I , a recording
min R max
current corresponding to 5,0F
R
4.10
individual signal amplitude
U
i
base-to-peak amplitude of a single readback voltage signal
2 © ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved

4.11
average signal amplitude
U
A
sum of the absolute value of the amplitude of each signal peak (U ) divided by the number of signal peaks
i
(n) for a given track over the length of the magnetic stripe area
4.12
reference signal amplitude
U
R
maximum value of the average signal amplitude of a reference card corrected to the primary standard
4.13
physical recording density
number of flux transitions per unit length recorded on a track
4.14
bit density
number of data bits stored per unit of length (bits/mm or bpi)
4.15
bit cell
distance between two clocking flux transitions
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 10.
4.16
subinterval
distance that is nominally half of the distance between two clocking flux transitions
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 10.
5 Physical characteristics of the identification card
The identification card shall conform to the specification given in ISO/IEC 7810.
WARNING — The attention of card issuers is drawn to the fact that information held on the
magnetic stripe may be rendered ineffective through contamination by contact with dirt and
certain commonly used chemicals including plasticizers. It should also be noted that any printing
or screening placed on top of the magnetic stripe must not impair the function of the magnetic
stripe.
5.1 Magnetic stripe area warpage
Application of a 2,2 N (0.5 lbf) load evenly distributed on the front face opposite the magnetic stripe
shall bring the entire stripe within 0,08 mm (0.003 in) of the rigid plate.
5.2 Surface distortions
There shall be no surface distortions, irregularities or raised areas on both the front and the back of the
card in the area shown in Figure 1. that might interfere with the contact between the magnetic head and
magnetic stripe.
© ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved 3

dimensions in millimetres (inches)
2,54 (0.100)
maximum
Top reference edge
Distortion-free
area
19,05 (0.750)
minimum
Figure 1 — Distortion-free area on card with magnetic stripe
If a raised signature panel area is located on the front or back of the card, then it shall be no closer to the
top edge of the card than 19,05 mm (0.750 in).
NOTE Raised areas and distortions on other areas of the card may cause card transport problems with
magnetic stripe processing equipment resulting in reading or writing errors.
6 Physical characteristics of the magnetic stripe
6.1 Height and surface profile of the magnetic stripe area
The magnetic stripe area is located on the back of the card as shown in Figure 2.
4 © ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved

Dimensions in millimetres (inches)
dimensions in millimetres (inches)
5,54 (0.218)
max
Top reference edge
Minimum magnetic Magnetic stripe area a
stripe width (W)
2,92 (0.115) max
82,55 (3.250) min
For use of tracks 1 and 2: a = 11,89 (0.468) min
For use of tracks 1, 2, and 3: a = 15,95 (0.628) min
NOTE   In the case of the magnetic stripe area used for track 1 and 2, the dimension a as shown in
Figure 2 of the magnetic media could be less than the maximum dimension b as shown in Figure 11 for
the location of track 2 data on the card. It is desirable that the magnetic stripe area extend beyond the
limits of the encoded track.
Figure 2 — Location of magnetic material for ID-1 type card
6.1.1 Surface profile of the magnetic stripe area
The maximum vertical deviation (a) of the transverse surface profile of the magnetic stripe area is
shown below. See Figure 3, Figure 4, and Figure 5. The slope of the surface profile curve shall be limited
to: −4a/W < slope < 4a/W.
When the bending stiffness value (see ISO/IEC 7810) for the card is 20 mm or more then the surface
profile limits are:
Minimum stripe width As shown in Figure 3 A As shown in Figure 3 B
W = 6,35 mm (0.25 in) a ≤ 9,5 μm (375 μin) a ≤ 5,8 μm (225 μin)
W = 10,41 mm (0.41 in) a ≤ 15,4 μm (607 μin) a ≤ 9,3 μm (365 μin)
When the bending stiffness value (see ISO/IEC 7810) for the card is less than 20 mm then the surface
profile limits are:
© ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved 5

W
W
a
a
A B
Minimum stripe width As shown in Figure 3 A As shown in Figure 3 B
W = 6,35 mm (0.25 in) a ≤ 7,3 μm (288 μin) a ≤ 4,5 μm (175 μin)
W = 10,41 mm (0.41 in) a ≤ 11,7 μm (466 μin) a ≤ 7,3 μm (284 μin)
Figure 3 — Surface profile
Abrupt drop
Permitted
Not permitted
Permitted Not permitted
Figure 4 — Surface profile examples
NOTE Irregular profiles as shown may result in poor quality encoding.
Figure 5 — Irregular surface profile examples
6.1.2 Height of the magnetic stripe area
The vertical deviation (h) of the magnetic stripe area relative to the adjacent surface of the card shall be
−0,005 mm (−200 µin) ≤ h ≤ 0,038 mm (1500 µin)
Spiking in the profile caused by the material “squirt out” in hot stamping is not part of the stripe. It shall
not extend above the magnetic stripe area height (h) as defined above.
6 © ISO/IEC 2014 – All rights reserved

6.2 Surface roughness
The average surface roughness (R ) of the magnetic stripe area shall not exceed 0,40 µm (15.9 µin) in
a
both the longitudinal and transverse directions when measured according to ISO 4287.
6.3 Adhesion of stripe to card
The stripe shall not separate from the card under normal use.
6.4 Wear of magnetic stripe from read/write head
Average signal amplitude (U ) and individual signal amplitude (U ) are measured before and after 2000
A i
wear cycles and shall result in:
U ≥ 0,60 U and U ≥ 0,80 U
A after A before i after A after
6.5 Resistance to chemicals
Average signal amplitude (U ) and individual signal amplitude (U ) are measured before and after short-
A i
term exposure as defined in ISO/IEC 10373-1 and shall r
...