Challenging Technology Environments
With the ever increasing demand for technology and integration of tech into day to day tasks, the challenge is to operate computers where they were historically not able to go. Computer platforms are increasingly pushed into environments where sensitive circuitry, components and delicate features are placed at risk. Solids such as sand, grit and dust as well as liquids up to and including moist or humid environments can play hell with delicate technology and cause wear and tear, error, breakage or complete failure. Dependence on technology and using it to help supplement every task from military applications to field work and beyond is only limited to the durability, dependability and rugged nature of the technology in question.
Toughbooks and the Rugged Industry
To address the need of technology in challenging environments, in the late 1990s Panasonic helped pioneer a new industry of rugged computers with the advent of the CF-25 TOUGHBOOK. Quickly following suit, large manufacturers - such as Dell - as well as relative new up and comers - such as Getac - joined the race to help bring technology to environments where it was needed most. Panasonic Toughbooks and Getac and Dell rugged lines of computers all continually push the limits for durability and rugged innovation. New form factors such as tablet/laptop 2-in-1 computers coupled with ever increasing IP ratings and protective innovations have put rugged computers consistently in ever expanding roles and demand. Utilizing a swathe of seals, port covers, locks, moisture diverters, waterproofing, fan-less design and other technological innovations, rugged computer manufacturers are increasing IP ratings constantly.
What is IP?
IP rating stands for Ingress Protection rating. First developed by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) in the 1970s, IP is a standard used to designate what level of protection an enclosure (typically in the context of electrical components and equipment) gives against both solids and liquids. Since the ability to ingress upon and damage varies widely by material as well as time and force, the IP rating has two different numbers that coordinate with a table to equate to a total level of rated protection. The first number in the IP rating stands for the solid ingress the enclosure is protected from and the second number stands for liquid.
The IP Table
The two numbers of an IP rating stack in a table to designate what level of protection an enclosure or computer such as a Panasonic TOUGHBOOK or Getac rugged device give. The first number in the IP rating - which stands for solid protection - ranges from 0 to 6. The second number in the IP rating - which stands for liquid protection - ranges from 0 to 9. 0 IP rating stands for 0 ingress protection. The scale for solid ingress protection ranges from 0 (meaning no protection) up to 6 (meaning dust-tight protection.) A few examples of the table: 1 on the solid scale means it the enclosure is protected against ingress by solid equal or greater than 50 mm (the average human hand) a 4 indicates protection against something equal or greater 1 mm (such as a wire) and a 6 indicates protection against a solid as fine as dust. The scale for liquid ingress protection ranges from 0 (again meaning no ingress protection) up to 9 (meaning protection against the effects of immersion for a long duration and under pressure.) A 1 on the liquid protection indicates protection against vertically falling drops with limited ingress permitted under the rating; a 4 indicates protection against water splashing with limited ingress permitted.
IP Rating for Rugged Computers
Modern rugged computers and technology continue to evolve and increase the ability to operate in harmful environments without the harmful environment able to ingress upon sensitive components. Most rugged computers now come standard with an ingress protection level of IP65 or better. IP65 rates the computer to be able to withstand ingress from solids as fine as dust and liquids sprayed from all angles with only limited ingress permitted. Some computers such as Panasonic's TOUGHBOOK FZ-40 and Getac's X600 or B360 boast an IP66 rating meaning they are rated against dust and complete ingress protection from sprayed/pressured liquids. Protection against ingress of foreign materials into rugged computers is only one layer of protection that manufacturers such as Getac and Panasonic are bringing to their devices. As technology continues to evolve and become more robust and durable, the application for rugged computing will grow as well.
