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What does IP67 mean?

 There has always been considerable confusion regarding the rating systems for ruggedized Pocket PCs. If a unit is described as meeting a particular standard, that can be helpful in making a decision as to which Pocket PC to purchase, depending on the user's needs. This white paper will discuss two rating systems, the IP system and the MIL-STD-810. This is only a brief summary. Please review additional sources if you need a more complete definition of either standard.

  

IP Ratings: (Ingress Protection or International Protection) - The Ingress Protection rating system is a classification system showing the degrees of protection from solid objects and liquids.

The first number refers to the protection against solid objects, normally dust in relation to testing Pocket PCs. If the first number is 0, there is no protection provided. A number 5 refers to limited protection against dust. The number 6 is for total protection against dust.

The second number of the IP rating system refers to protection against liquids. A "0" indicates no protection, while a 7 refers to protection against immersion between 15 centimeters and 1 meter. The following two tables give the protection descriptions.

 

IP First number - Protection against solid objects

   0             No special protection

   1             Protection against accidental touch by hands

   2             Protection against objects such as fingers

   3             Protection against tools and wires

   4             Protection against tools, wires, small wires

   5             Limited protection against dust

   6             Protected from dust

  

IP Second number - Protection against liquids

   0             No Protection

   1             Protection against vertically dropping condensation

   2             Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from vert.

   3             Protection against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees from vert.

   4             Protection from sprays of water in all directions.  Limited water ingress permitted

   5             Protection from low pressure jets of water in all directions. Limited water ingress permitted

   6             Nearly the same as # 5, except for ship decks

   7             Protected against the effects of immersion in water to depth between 15 cm and 1 meter

  

Most environmentally sealed Pocket PCs are rated IP67. They are protected from dust and capable of withstanding water immersion between 15 cm and 1 meter for 30 minutes.