The KKS code (Kraftwerk-Kennzeichensystem, power plant classification system) is an alphanumeric identification system that uniquely identifies every system, piece of equipment and component in a power plant by its function, installation point and location. Developed in Germany by VGB, KKS allows the same part to be tracked under the same code in design drawings, shipping documents, the warehouse and maintenance records.
Where did KKS come from and which standard is it based on today?
KKS was developed in the 1970s under the umbrella of VGB PowerTech through joint work by German power plant operators and manufacturers; the first guideline was published in 1978. The current core text is the 8th edition of standard VGB-S-811-01, published in 2018; the VGB-B 106 application guideline and the VGB-B 105 key lists complement this standard. From the mid-2000s, RDS-PP, based on ISO/IEC 81346, was developed as the successor to KKS. Nevertheless, plants coded with KKS are not recoded; extensions and modifications are still marked with KKS.
What types of code does KKS have?
- Process-related code: Identifies systems and equipment by their mechanical, electrical, civil and control function. It is the type most frequently seen in logistics.
- Point of installation code: Shows in which panel, cabinet or console electrical and control devices will be installed.
- Location code: Identifies the building, floor, room and fire zone; it determines which room on site the material will go to.
How is a KKS code structured?
The process-related code consists of four breakdown levels: plant, system, equipment unit and component. As an example, the code 1 2LAC03 CT002 QT12 is read as follows:
| Level | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – Plant | 1 | Unit (block) no. 1 |
| 1 – System | 2LAC03 | Feedwater pump system no. 3 in water-steam cycle no. 2 |
| 2 – Equipment unit | CT002 | Temperature measuring circuit no. 2 |
| 3 – Component | QT12 | Thermowell no. 12 |
The first letter at system level gives the main group: J stands for nuclear heat generation, L for the steam-water-gas cycle, M for main machine sets and U for structures. A letter-by-letter and digit-by-digit breakdown is given in a separate entry on how to read a KKS code.
What is a KKS code used for?
In a nuclear power plant project, hundreds of suppliers produce tens of thousands of items. If everyone used their own part number, the same valve would inevitably appear under different names in the order, packing list, customs invoice and assembly drawing. KKS eliminates this confusion with a single identity:
- The designer's drawing, the purchase order and the manufacturer's passport carry the same code.
- The logistics company records the code on the crate label and the packing list.
- The site warehouse matches incoming material by code and directs it to the correct storage area.
- Installation and maintenance teams find the same part under the same code years later.
This chain is the backbone of the equipment traceability that is mandatory in nuclear projects.
Who assigns the KKS code and who uses it?
The code is determined by the plant owner or the general contractor responsible for design and written into the design documents. The supplier does not create the code itself; it transfers the code given in the order to the equipment, documents and packaging. The forwarder, customs broker and site warehouse are responsible for verifying this code. KKS-based coding is used in many power plant projects, including Rosatom's VVER projects abroad.
Common mistakes
- Writing the code without spaces and level separation; scanners and warehouse systems cannot match it.
- Marking the code only on the main crate for equipment shipped in multiple packages.
- Confusing the packaging code with the equipment code.
- Failing to reflect a revised code in the shipping documents.
Details of labelling and documentation practice are in the entry on using the KKS code on packaging.
How does Voltim Global help?
Voltim Global, which has handled more than 450 shipments on the Russia–Akkuyu route since March 2024, compares the KKS code on the crate label with the packing list and shipping documents before loading as part of nuclear project transportation. This check reduces waiting caused by document mismatches at site entry.