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The TSI Code is a numeric code used as a unique identifier for building services components (electrical, heating, ventilation and plumbing) when data relating to those components is transferred between software systems and/or trading partners.

TSI Code was introduced in 1995 by Trade Service Information Ltd (commonly known as Luckins) a supplier of business information and software to the UK and Irish building services industries, Trade Service Information is now part of Amtech Group Ltd since 2008.

TSI codes are part of the Luckins database, a listing of electrical, heating and plumbing components including their part numbers, descriptions and prices which is used in conjunction with estimating, costing and procurement software applications. The TSI Code is simply a unique numeric reference to each item or SKU (stock keeping unit) on the database providing a key with which to identify products.

Interest in e-commerce in the sector the early 2000's led to a need for a unique product identification code to perform a similar function to that of the EAN Code/GTIN number in retail sectors. Being widely adopted in the sector and already embedded in many contractors and distributors systems the TSI Code was suitable for this purpose and has been widely adopted for e-commerce and the exchange of trading data (discount terms etc).

The code is purely numeric and up to 13 digits (or may be packed to 13 digits with leading zeros). There is no inbuilt meaning in the code (e.g. reference to the supplier) so the code can remain unchanged throughout a product's life cycle. This differentiates it from for example EAN Codes where the codes may need to be changed as a result of supplier mergers or de-mergers.

The code is applied to all items on the Luckins database which contains the majority of building services products regularly used in the UK. Only 30% of these products carry EAN or GTIN codes. Codes are allocated to an item on addition to the database and are never re-used even after the product becomes obsolete. Thus a TSI Code may be used to identify a product long after it has been discontinued by the supplier.

Over 2 million codes have been issued to date, Currently there are 879000 active codes representing currently available products in circulation, covering products from 750 suppliers or brands. Currenly an average of 120,000 new products are issued with TSI Codes each year.

Users of TSI Codes include major UK distributors and the majority of medium to large building services contractors.Since 2010 the Luckins database has been made available on-line as LUCKINSlive which is being developed as a repository for in-depth product information such as pictures, technical specifications, maintenance instructions, environmental data, CAD objects etc. The TSI Code provides a link between this rich data and compatible desk top applications.

The introduction of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has created a further need for a unique code to tie together disparate pieces of data relating to each component with a digital model of a building and the TSI Code is now being adopted for this purpose through embedding in digital BIM components.