▁M ES C ▁was ▁initially ▁introduced , ▁materials ▁were ▁allocated ▁a ▁unique ▁ 7 - digit ▁number . ▁This ▁was ▁increased ▁to ▁ten ▁digits ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 6 . ▁The ▁system ▁has ▁a ▁numerical ▁" c oding ▁schedule " ▁of ▁ 1 0 ▁digits ▁to ▁code ▁the ▁materials . ▁It ▁consists ▁of ▁groups , ▁sub - ▁and ▁sub - sub - groups ▁of ▁ 2 ▁digits ▁each , ▁and ▁a ▁" Bu ying ▁description " ▁of ▁ 3 ▁digits . ▁Local ▁coding ▁is ▁allowed ▁for ▁every ▁company . ▁The ▁last ▁digit ▁for ▁central ▁c oded ▁materials ▁is ▁a ▁ 1 , ▁the ▁last ▁digit ▁for ▁local ▁c oded ▁materials ▁is ▁a ▁ 9 . ▁With ▁a ▁single ▁ 1 0 ▁digit ▁code ▁materials ▁can ▁be ▁purchased ▁all ▁over ▁the ▁world , ▁independent ▁of ▁the ▁manufact urer ▁or ▁brand . ▁ ▁Typ ical ▁example : ▁Some where ▁in ▁the ▁world ▁a ▁bu yer ▁purch ases ▁ 5 0 0 ▁met re ▁cable ▁c oded ▁ 6 8 . 6 8 . 6 1 . 3 0 1 . 1 ▁He ▁knows ▁he ▁gets ▁a ▁tele communic ation ▁cable , ▁ 1 1 0 ▁volt , ▁pol yth ene ▁isolated , ▁lead ▁she athed ▁and ▁steel wire ▁armed , ▁P VC ▁served , ▁colour ▁green , ▁with ▁conduct ors ▁of ▁high - con duct ivity ▁solid ▁plain ▁an ne aled ▁co pper ▁wire , ▁pol yth ene ▁ins ulated ▁and ▁pol yth ene ▁inner ▁she ath , ▁grouped ▁ 1 x 4 x