Two of the most important measures of a rugged laptop and its ability to operate optimally in any environment are its IP rating and MIL-STD. IP stands for International Protection but is informally known as ‘ingress protection.’ This is the performance and safety rating standard set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for electronic devices.

The MIL-STD rating is a standard used by the US military, to determine and accredit whether equipment is suitable for use in military applications. Rugged laptop computers that meet the MIL-STD ratings are said to be ‘military grade’ and are capable of withstanding conditions found in military environments such as extreme altitude, complex EMI fields, dust, wind, temperature and a variety of weather conditions.

IP ratings set the standard for measurement of dust and water ingress into an electronic device. In other words, it specifies the level of protection required from foreign bodies and liquid.

IP Rating and the Rugged Laptop

The ‘IP’ in an IP rating is followed by two digits that inform the user of the different levels of protections the device brings in two specific areas. The level of protection against solid objects like dirt, dust and other physical contaminates is reflected in the first digit. The second digit provides the level of protection against liquids. Each of these numbers can range from one to as high as six for the first digit and as high as eight for the second digit. Each one denotes the level of protection, but each one can be replaced by an X where the classification doesn’t apply, such as in IPX6.

IP68 is the highest standard for rugged laptop computers and indicates that the device is completely dust-proof and can be submerged in water to a depth of 1.5m for 30 minutes. This translates to a laptop that is purpose built to keep dust and water from infiltrating the device at any point including any interconnection points.

There are a range of IP ratings that a device can meet depending on the range of environments and uses that the manufacturer intends. Not every user requires the utmost protection such as an IP68 rating, so choosing the device with the best rating is depends on how and where it will be used.