How to read product serial numbers and batch codes?
Hochiki electronic products carry either a serial number of nine or ten digits or a four-digit batch number, encoding the year, month and place of manufacture.
Direct answer
Hochiki identifies all main line products containing electronic components with either a serial number or a batch number printed on the product label. A serial number has nine digits on older products and ten digits on more recent products; a batch number has four digits. Both encode the year and month of manufacture and the place of manufacture. FIREscape EL-BAT450 luminaire batteries carry a separate year-and-week date code, and Latitude panels and repeaters use an eleven-field configured part number.
Applies to
- Products / Models: All Hochiki main line products containing electronic components (serial and batch numbers); FIREscape EL-BAT450 (emergency lighting battery date codes); Latitude panels and repeaters – LFA, LFB, LAA, LAB, LHA, LVA, LVB, LAD, LAE, LAF (part number configuration)
- Firmware / Version: Not applicable
- Region: Not applicable
- Standards: Product marking and traceability under the BS EN 54 series; EL-BAT450 design life to BS EN 60598-2-22
Serial number
Older products carry a nine-digit serial number (e.g. 012400697). More recent products carry a ten-digit serial number (e.g. 2412400697), in which the year is shown as the last two digits of the calendar year. Both formats are in use, so check how many digits the label shows before reading it.
Nine-digit serial number, e.g. 012400697
| Digits | Description |
| First digit |
The year of manufacture (e.g. 0 = 2000, 2010 or 2020). The single digit repeats every ten years, so use the product model to establish the decade; if it is still unclear, contact Hochiki Europe product support. |
| Second and third digits |
The month (e.g. 12 = December) |
| Fourth digit |
The place of manufacture: 1 & 2 = Hochiki Corporation Japan 3 = Hochiki Corporation America 4 = Hochiki Europe |
| Next five digits |
The unique serial number |
Ten-digit serial number, e.g. 2412400697
| Digits | Description |
| First and second digits |
The year of manufacture, shown as the last two digits of the calendar year (e.g. 24 = 2024). This format does not repeat every ten years, so no model check is needed to establish the decade. |
| Third and fourth digits |
The month (e.g. 12 = December) |
| Fifth digit |
The place of manufacture: 1 & 2 = Hochiki Corporation Japan 3 = Hochiki Corporation America 4 = Hochiki Europe |
| Next five digits |
The unique serial number |
Batch number, e.g. 0124
A batch number consists of four numbers.
First digit: The year of manufacture (e.g. 0 = 2000, 2010 or 2020). The model of the device will help identify which decade; for more information contact Hochiki Europe product support.
Second and third digits: The month (e.g. 12 = December)
Fourth digit: The place of manufacture:
- 1 & 2 = Hochiki Corporation Japan
- 3 = Hochiki Corporation America
- 4 = Hochiki Europe
Emergency lighting battery batch codes
FIREscape EL-BAT450 luminaire battery
The EL battery batch codes show the date of manufacture as year and week.
Date code example – 2118
21 is the manufacture year 2021
18 is the manufacture week (01st week – 52nd week)
Barcode example – 211800001
21 is the manufacture year 2021
18 is the manufacture week (01st week – 52nd week)
00001 is the serial number (00001 – 99999)
Latitude part number configuration
LFA-E-E-2-1-0-1-P-H4-LG-UK1 (corresponding to sections 1 through 11 below)
| No. | Category |
Options / Examples |
| 1 | Product Style |
Application Note 093 lists the code LVB against both the HFP (8 slot) and the VES (8 slot) panel. Confirm the code for an 8-slot HFP panel with Hochiki Europe product support before ordering. |
| 2 | Standard |
E: EN, U: UL, A: Australian, C: CP10 |
| 3 | Enclosure Style |
E: Standard Enclosure, D: Deep Enclosure |
| 4 | Number of Apertures |
1: 1 Aperture Lid, 2: 2 Aperture Lids |
| 5 | Power Supply |
0: Not fitted, 1: 5.25 A 240 V, 2: 5.25 A 110 V, 3: 10.25 A (Universal) |
| 6 | Zone LEDs |
0: 0 Zone LED's, 1: 48, 2: 96, 3: 144 |
| 7 | Enable Switch |
0: Not fitted, 1: Standard EN (B1828), 2: Swedish (B4289), 3: Australian (B3446), 4: Plexi door (B4000) |
| 8 | Printer |
0: Not fitted, P: Thermal Printer fitted |
| 9 | Loop Cards |
00: Not fitted, H#: 2 Loop Card – Hochiki Protocol, I#: 2 Loop Card – Hochiki Protocol + Media Gateway, Z#: Other (# = number of cards fitted) |
| 10 | Paint Colour |
LG: BS 00 A 05 Fine Texture, HE: HE RAL7042 (Hochiki Europe) |
| 11 | Language |
UK1: English, SK1: Slovakian, TR1: Turkish, CZ1: Czech, etc. |
When to contact technical support
Contact Hochiki Europe product support if the first digit of a nine-digit serial number or of a batch number leaves the decade unclear, if the product label is missing or illegible, if you need to confirm the part number of an 8-slot HFP Latitude panel, or if you need warranty status confirmed for a specific serial or batch number.
Safety note
This article is general guidance for Hochiki Europe products. Design, installation, commissioning, maintenance and modification of fire detection and alarm systems should be carried out by, or under the responsibility of, a competent person in accordance with the applicable standards. Statutory requirements imposed by the relevant enforcing authority also apply. Always refer to the current product manual and data sheet for the exact model before carrying out any work.
References
- Application Note 093 – Product Serial and Batch Numbers (AP093, ISS2 SEP21)
- EL-BAT450 Specification (ISS5 DEC21)
- See also Where do I find Hochiki Europe product documentation? for where the current guides, overviews and catalogues are published.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-13 — Reviewed by: Hochiki Europe Technical Support