What sets rugged devices apart from standard consumer products is their ability to take a beating while on the job. These devices are made to meet the demands of the harshest work environments. As a result, you will expect that rugged devices pass specific ruggedness tests.

Electronics devices typically cannot tolerate wet and dirty contaminants, especially when it comes close to their crucial parts and system. Any dust or water entering an electronic enclosure will eventually cause damage. The harm can vary; for example, dust built up may cause some layers to be insulated and overheat. If dirt inserts between surfaces, it may cause poor conductance and create problems for connectors and switches.

Dust is not the only problem, though. Water and moisture buildup can cause numerous issues to delicate microcircuits. A business where devices are exposed to the mercy of the weather or wet environments risk device failure sooner than later.

Ingress protection rating is critical because it allows users to gauge how safe it is to use certain devices in specific environments and applications.

What sets rugged devices apart from standard consumer products is their ability to withstand the harshest work environments. These devices are designed to take a beating while on the job and to pass specific ruggedness tests to ensure their durability. However, in addition to physical stress, electronic devices can also be partially or fully resistant to dust and water contaminants that can cause significant damage to their internal components.

Dust and other solid objects can be particularly harmful to electronic devices. When particles build up, they can create insulation layers that cause the device to overheat. Additionally, dust can cause poor conductance, leading to problems with connectors and switches. That is why the ingress protection rating is critical. It allows users to gauge how well a device is protected from total dust and water.

Water and moisture can also wreak havoc on electronic devices. Devices with good a IP rating have liquid ingress protection. Continuous immersion, high-pressure water jets, or high-temperature spray-downs are not a problem. This is particularly important for businesses that operate in wet or humid environments where devices are exposed to moisture regularly.

Ingress protection plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and durability of electronic devices in harsh work environments. It provides a standard way to measure a device’s ability to resist damage from solid objects and water, offering complete protection to sensitive internal components. By selecting a device with a high IP rating, businesses can ensure that their electronic devices are better equipped to handle the challenges of a job, ultimately leading to increased productivity and efficiency.

In a previous blog, we outlined everything related to IP Ratings which can be viewed here.

An Ingress Protection rating indicates how resistant a device is to intrusion from water, dust, or any other harmful ingress. This rating system is developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC’s) Technical Committee 70 to define an electronic device’s levels of sealing effectiveness against foreign bodies.

Ingress Protection Ratings are considered an international standard. Unlike vague terminology including “waterproof”, an IP rating is made to be more specific. This combination of letters and numbers indicates the protection level of a device.

IP Ratings are straightforward. The letters’ IP’ are always followed by two numbers which indicate the degree of protection a device offers. The first number shows the level of protection against solids, and the second number shows the level of protection against liquids. A third letter that describes other information can also be included but is most often not.

Why IP Ratings Matter

For a device to have an ingress protection rating, it must pass testing by an independent and certified company. The testing company will then assign a numerical IP Rating to the device. This shows users how well the item is protected against foreign objects.

With an IP rating, users will be able to use a product in certain environments confidently. It offers an assurance that the product can withstand winds, heavy use, extreme environments, changing weather, and more.

Using IP Rated products such as rugged devices means that the users are fully aware of its protective measures – or lack thereof. This improves the total cost of ownership and increases the overall safety of the users and devices.

Additionally, a user of IP Rated equipment is fully aware of its protective measures (or lack thereof), so they can work more safely, with less risk of injury to themselves or damage to the equipment. One thing that users need to understand is that ignoring IP ratings can mean instant damage to their devices.