Tech · 1 July 2026 · 4 min
NFC and workplace safety: why exactly NFC, and not a QR code or RFID?
NFC
An NFC chip is read only a few centimetres away, at most 8, and needs no batteries.
Exteryo Report Editorial Team
Unique UID, passive battery-free chips, reading at a few centimetres: why NFC is the right technology to identify and inspect PPE.
The short answer
NFC brings together four useful features for PPE:
- Codea unique code for each chip
- Batterythe absence of batteries
- Distancea reading distance of a few centimetres
- Hardwaresimple, inexpensive hardware
The short answer
A smartphone is all you need to read it.
Why it is not simple
A technology born with contactless payments seems new, and therefore untested for workplace safety.
Since 1983.
Why it is not simple
However, the first NFC concepts date back to 1983, with significant developments since 2006: today it is in credit cards, smartphones and PPE.
Chapter 1 of 4
What is NFC, and what does it connect?
Short range
NFC stands for Near Field Communication: it is the language with which an NFC chip and a reader create a digital link between a physical device and an IT system.
Short range
The technology is transforming many sectors, from contactless payments to transport management. In workplace safety, it connects each PPE to its digital record.
Short range
Although many consider it recent, the first concepts date back to 1983 and significant developments to 2006.
Note
Credit cards and smartphones already use it every day: with Exteryo Safety 4.0 on PPE comes a technology that people already have in their pockets.
Chapter 2 of 4
Why does a battery-free chip last for years?
Battery-free
The NFC chip is passive: it has no batteries, and therefore guarantees a multi-year lifespan without any maintenance.
UID
It is the Unique ID of the chip, the identification code that guarantees the uniqueness of each device and allows full traceability.
Battery-free
The hardware is simple and cheap: the components are resistant and require no maintenance, which is why they are applied to PPE of all kinds.
Chapter 3 of 4
Why is it read only a few centimetres away?
A few centimetres
NFC reading takes place only a few centimetres away: a controlled distance that reduces the risk of interference and accidental readings.
Before moving on
At what maximum distance can an NFC chip be read?
The reading
To read a chip, simply bring a smartphone close, without dedicated hardware.
1 of 3
A smartphone
2 of 3
An NFC chip
3 of 3
8 centimetres at most
A few centimetres
At that distance, reading is precise: you read the chip in front of you, not the one next to it.
Note
A short distance is only an apparent limit: during an inspection you need to know which device you are reading.
Chapter 4 of 4
Why NFC and not QR code or RFID?
The comparison
Compared to QR codes, which tend to fade, and RFID, which requires dedicated readers, NFC offers a balance between accessibility and robustness.
The comparison
- QR codetends to fade
- RFIDrequires dedicated readers
- NFCis read with a smartphone and requires no maintenance
Versatility
In addition to the standard adhesive version, Exteryo has developed fabric chips, cable ties and tailor-made solutions for all types of PPE, from helmets to fall arrest systems.
The source
According to Exteryo Safety's article on NFC technology, immediate reading reduces inspection times by 40% and the optimised process reduces registration errors by 50%.
Note
These are values declared by Exteryo for its own platform, not an independent measurement.
The KIT
The integrated management of KITs also allows you to control entire sets of devices as a single entity.
In one sentence
A passive chip, a unique code, and a smartphone: this is all NFC needs to give a piece of PPE a readable identity.
Exteryo Report
Takeaway
Five questions to choose between QR code, RFID, and NFC. For those who have to identify and inspect a PPE fleet.
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Sources
Images and animations: illustrative objects generated with artificial intelligence. They do not depict real objects or documents mentioned in the article.
ExteryoExteryo Report · 1 July 2026