What Is an IK Rating?

An IK rating is a code that grades how well an enclosure protects the equipment inside it against mechanical impact. The scale runs from IK00, no protection, to IK10, which withstands a 20 joule impact. It is set by the international standard IEC 62262, published in Europe as EN 62262, which replaced the earlier EN 50102.

The test strikes the enclosure with a defined hammer at a set energy and checks that it still protects the equipment inside. Each step up the scale raises the impact energy, from 0.14 joules at IK01 to 20 joules at IK10. Where an IP rating covers dust and water, the IK rating covers knocks, dropped tools and vandalism.

Because the rating applies to the enclosure, it says nothing about shock or vibration inside a moving vehicle. Those are covered by separate tests such as IEC 60068-2-27 and MIL-STD-810.

The table lists every level of the scale with its impact energy and the equivalent drop of a striking element. The drop figures are the standard way to picture the energy, not a separate test.

Some manufacturers quote IK11 or higher for very strong enclosures. These levels are not part of IEC 62262, so ask how the test was carried out before comparing them with standard ratings.

IEC 62262 refers to the hammer tests in IEC 60068-2-75. Depending on the energy, the impact is delivered by a pendulum hammer, a spring hammer or a free-falling hammer. The striking element has a defined mass, radius and material, so results from different labs can be compared.

The enclosure is usually struck five times on each exposed face, spread across the surface. After the test it must still meet its other ratings: it must keep its IP rating, live parts must stay out of reach and the equipment must work. Cracks or dents are allowed if they do not compromise that protection.

IK and IP ratings answer different questions, so equipment for harsh or public sites usually carries both, for example IP66 and IK10. The IP code, set by IEC 60529, grades protection against solids and water. The IK code grades protection against impact. One does not imply the other: a fully sealed display can still have fragile glass, and a strong metal box can have open vents.

Our IP66 FAQ explains the ingress side, and our guide to what makes a computer rugged covers the other standards to check.

On a panel PC or display, the cover glass usually decides the IK rating, so check whether the figure applies to the glass or only to the housing. Public-facing and outdoor screens are often specified at IK08 to IK10, using thicker toughened or chemically strengthened glass.

Optical bonding also helps, because the glass is bonded to the panel and supported across its whole area rather than only at the edges. Our guide to optical bonding explains the other benefits. Our rugged panel PCs list their impact and ingress ratings, and many of our sunlight readable panel PCs for outdoor use pair a strengthened front with high brightness.

Start from who and what can reach the equipment, not from the highest number available. Higher ratings usually mean thicker glass and heavier housings, which can affect touch response, weight and mounting. As a rough guide:

We supply rugged panel PCs and displays with the impact and ingress ratings the site needs, and configure and test each one before it ships. Tell us where the screen will be mounted and who can reach it, and we will recommend the IK and IP levels to specify.