Labelling Systems
KKS or RDS-PP®?
Since the mid-1970s, the VGB Power Plant Identification System KKS has been successfully used worldwide for the identification of power plants. A VGB Working Panel ensures continuous further development and updating of KKS/RDS-PP®. Currently, the 8th KKS edition dated 2018 is available.
After publication of international basic standards for labelling and their adoption in European directives, it became necessary to further develop the KKS. The Reference Designation System for Power Plants – RDS-PP® for short – is the consistent further development of the worldwide successful Power Plant Identification System KKS.
An important pillar in the development of the RDS-PP® was the KKS, which has been known for almost 40 years. The code letters of the KKS function key can be transferred to the new system key to approx. 90 %. The vgbe Technical Group “Plant Identification and Documentation” is continuously working on the creation and maintenance of vgbe/VGB standards for extending application according to RDS-PP®. Labelling according to the RDS-PP® system is based on international standards and includes both the structural and the labelling system. The RDS-PP® provides the basis for an object-oriented identification of individual plant components with any number of relationships to other objects and can therefore be very well mapped in a plant management system. Uniform and consistent structuring as well as the clear identification of plants and components increases plant and personal safety and avoids confusion.
When developing the RDS-PP®, new power generation technologies such as wind energy and photovoltaics and their additional requirements were also taken into due account. An RDS-PP® application guideline is also already available for power-to-gas.
vgbe develops KKS and RDS-PP® in the German and English language. For working with KKS and RDS-PP®, vgbe offers a comprehensive set of rules and standards as well as further user support. The current status of further development is currently documented in amendments sheets, which can be downloaded free of charge from the vgbe-shop.
Basic Standards (all energy plants)
Guidelines
and
Key part
Amendment
and supplementary sheets
Edition for specific power plants
KKS application notes
for
Hydropower plants
Supplementary vgbe rules and standards
Supply of technical documentation for energy supply plants
vgbe abbreviation catalogue for power plant technology
Rules for setting up designations and their application in power plant engineering
Amendment
and supplementary sheets
Basic Standards (all energy plants)
System code
Code letter
Basic functions
Product classes
Application guideline
Power plants
General
Amendment
and supplementary sheets
Edition for specific power plants
Application guideline
Hydropower plants
Application guideline
Wind power plants
Application guideline
Photovoltaic power plants
Application guideline
Energy supply systems with combustion engines
Application guideline
Power to Gas
Supplementary vgbe rules and standards
Supply of technical documentation for energy supply plants
vgbe abbreviation catalogue for power plant technology
Rules for setting up designations and their application in power plant engineering
Amendment
and supplementary sheets
Decoding
The labelling systems use up to 17-digit combinations of letters and numbers. Letters are used to classify plant systems in energy engineering. Numbers are used to differentiate between systems, components, equipment or signals. For simple decoding, VGB publications or with digital support are available:
KKS Pocketbook
The free KKS Pocketbook explains the system of plant labelling. The most important codes can easily be looked up or searched in the ebook.
KKS App
It is even easier to go digital. The KKS app scans the KKS label and decodes it immediately.
The KKS-APP is currently under revised. New version in spring 2025!
RDS-PP® Pocketbook
RDS-PP® App
The RDS-PP® app decodes scanned RDS-PP® codes and immediately translates it into readable and understandable information.
The RDS-PP® app is currently being revised. New version in spring 2025!
Your bespoke solution
You are convinced of KKS or RDS-PP® and would like to use the system tailor-made? Both systems can be individually extended and tailored to your facilities and needs. You can further develop KKS and RDS-PP® yourself. If required, we can support you with advice and training.
User support
Do you have the task of coding system parts according to the RDS-PP®?
Would you like to do this economically and according to the rules of the vgbe guidelines?
Would you like to make optimum use of all the possibilities and advantages of RDS-PP®?
Individual consultation
- We are happy to support you in solving complex labelling tasks
- We clarify electrical, mechanical or engineering issues together with your experts
Quick check
- You send us a list of your RDS-PP® codes (max 1.000, best with some illustrating P&IDs)
- We provide a conformity check according to the RDS-PP® rules
- You get a feedback report with improvement hints
Education/ training
- We train your staff in efficient RDS-PP® application
- In-house training – or at KWS Energy Knowledge eG
- Individual training topics? That´s our speciality!
KKS App
The KKS app decodes a scanned or entered KKS code and, based on VGB-S-811/VGB-B 106, provides the generally applicable KKS system information and the plant-specific detailed system information of your company.
The KKS-APP is currently being revised.
New version in spring 2025!
Your company KKS
With two steps you can enter your own KKS data of a plant or your entire plant fleet into the app. Simply upload your data as a file. You will then receive a code which you enter in the app and after that it will be available for your applications.
How does the app help?
The KKS app assist the user in decoding systems, components and documents employing KKS codes at the plant. So you always know which systems, components and devices you have in front of you and where you are.
The general basic KKS from vgbe is also inclued for free use.
More KKS
The app can be designed with your logo and your colors. Or do you prefer to extend it with additional data? Be it more texts, pictures or a manual.
You need a connection to existing systems, for example to record meter readings or measured values?
RDS-PP®
RDS-PP® is a plant identification system for all types of energy plants. The RDS-PP® app decodes scanned RDS-PP® code and immediately translates it into readable and understandable information.
The RDS-PP® app is currently being revised.
New version in spring 2025!
Your company RDS-PP®
With two steps you can enter your own RDS-PP® data of a plant or your entire plant fleet into the APP. Simply upload your data as a file. You will then receive a code, which you enter in the app and after that it will be available for your applications.
How does the app help?
The app scans an RDS-PP® label and translates it into readable and understandable information using the data you have stored. So you always know which plants, plant components and devices you have in front of you and where you are.
The basic RDS-PP® of VGB is always available as a reference in the app.
More RDS-PP®
Real-time data, activation, circuit diagrams, photos or manuals.
Real-time data, activation, circuit diagrams, photos or manuals. Everything is possible!
Get in touch
vgbe is permanently working on the further development of the two plant identification and taxonomy systems KKS (Power Plant Identification System) and RDS-PP® (Reference Designation System for Power Plants) for the benefit of the entire industry. KKS and RDS-PP® are available for practically all applications in power plants and any source of energy. vgbe standards provide detailed documentation and suitable license models (KKS and RDS-PP® can be acquired for implementation by any user.
In recent years, the need to designate energy supply systems and their components unambiguously has even further increased. vgbe and the international competence centre for the generation and storage of electricity, heat, hydrogen and energy sources based on these, as well as sector coupling, have published a vgbe position paper “Labelling of systems in the energy supply”.
A license is needed for using and applying KKS and RDS-PP®. Ordinary members of vgbe (= operators of energy plants as far as they are member according to § 3 (1) of the statutes) are licensed to use and apply KKS and RDS-PP® within the scope of vgbe PULSE (access to the digital vgbe rules and standards). Sponsoring and extraordinary vgbe members benefit from special offers.
Give us a call, we are looking forward to supporting you!
Our team
Andreas Böser
Jörg Kiepert
KKS license agreement
