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Standards and Certifications FAQs

Standards and certifications show that a system will survive its environment and pass approval. These FAQs explain IP, NEMA and IK ratings, MIL-STD, ATEX and hazardous areas, rail, marine and medical standards, and the temperature and cooling choices behind them.

67 answers Search all FAQs
Topics 12
IP RATINGS · WATER

IP67 vs IP68: What Is the Difference?

IP67 and IP68 are both dust tight under IEC 60529. The difference is water: IP67 means an enclosure survives temporary immersion to 1 meter for 30 minutes, while IP68 means it survives continuous immersion beyond 1 meter, under depth and time conditions the manufacturer states. Neither rating covers water jets unless the product also carries IP65 or IP66.

6 MIN
IP RATINGS · WATER

IP65 vs IP66: What Is the Difference?

IP65 and IP66 are both dust tight under IEC 60529; the difference is the strength of water jet they withstand. IP65 is tested with a 6.3 mm nozzle delivering 12.5 liters per minute, and IP66 with a 12.5 mm nozzle delivering 100 liters per minute, so IP66 suits heavy rain, sea spray and hose-down cleaning.

6 MIN
DEFENSE · STANDARDS

What Is MIL-STD-1275?

MIL-STD-1275 defines the 28 V DC electrical power characteristics on military ground vehicles, including the voltage spikes, surges, ripple and starting dips that onboard equipment must tolerate to run reliably from the vehicle supply.

6 MIN
IP RATINGS · WATER

IP65 vs IP68: What Is the Difference?

IP65 and IP68 are both dust tight, so the difference is water. IP65 protects against low-pressure water jets from any direction, while IP68 protects against continuous immersion beyond 1 meter, under depth and time conditions set by the manufacturer. An IP68 rating does not automatically cover jets, so check for a dual rating if the equipment will be hosed.

6 MIN
STANDARDS · INDUSTRIAL CYBERSECURITY

What Is IEC 62443?

IEC 62443 is the international series of standards for the cybersecurity of industrial automation and control systems. Developed by ISA and the IEC, it sets requirements for asset owners, system integrators and product suppliers, and defines zones and conduits, seven foundational requirements and four security levels.

6 MIN
STANDARDS · CYBERSECURITY REGULATION

What Is the Cyber Resilience Act?

The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) is EU Regulation 2024/2847. It sets cybersecurity requirements for hardware and software “products with digital elements” sold in the EU, from design through support. Vulnerability reporting duties apply from 11 September 2026 and most obligations from 11 December 2027.

6 MIN
INDUSTRIAL PROTOCOLS · POWER UTILITIES

What Is IEC 61850?

IEC 61850 is the international standard for communication in electrical substations and other power utility automation. It gives every protection relay, meter and controller a common data model, a configuration language (SCL) and three Ethernet services: MMS for SCADA, GOOSE for fast peer-to-peer trips and Sampled Values for digitized measurements.

6 MIN
MEMORY AND STORAGE · SERVER SSDS

What Is E1.S?

E1.S is a small, hot-swappable NVMe SSD form factor for servers, short for EDSFF 1U Short. It is a slim ruler-shaped drive about 31.5 mm wide and 111 mm long that slots vertically into the front of a 1U or 2U server, giving more drives, better cooling and easier replacement than M.2.

6 MIN
STANDARDS · PRODUCT SAFETY

What Is cULus?

cULus is a UL safety mark showing that a product has been tested and certified by UL Solutions to both Canadian (c) and US (us) safety standards. One certification covers both markets, and UL inspects the factory on an ongoing basis. It is accepted by US OSHA rules and Canadian electrical codes.

6 MIN
ENCLOSURES · NEMA RATINGS

What Is NEMA 4X?

NEMA 4X is an enclosure type from the NEMA 250 standard for indoor or outdoor equipment. Like NEMA 4, it protects against windblown dust and rain, splashing and hose-directed water, and ice forming on the outside. The X adds corrosion resistance, which is why NEMA 4X enclosures are usually stainless steel, aluminum or plastic.

8 MIN
ENCLOSURES · INGRESS PROTECTION

What Is IP54?

IP54 is an ingress protection rating from IEC 60529. The 5 means the enclosure is dust protected: some dust can enter, but not enough to affect operation. The 4 means it resists water splashed from any direction. IP54 is splash resistant, not waterproof, so it is not tested against water jets, hosing or immersion.

6 MIN
STANDARDS · MEDICAL EMC

What Is IEC 60601-1-2?

IEC 60601-1-2 is the collateral standard to IEC 60601-1 that covers electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for medical electrical equipment. It limits the interference a device may emit and sets the immunity levels it must withstand from static, radio fields and mains disturbances while keeping its basic safety and essential performance. The current version is the 4th edition with Amendment 1.

6 MIN
STANDARDS · COMPLIANCE

What Is EMC Testing?

EMC testing checks that an electronic product is electromagnetically compatible: its emissions stay under legal limits, and it keeps working when exposed to static discharge, radio fields, transients and mains surges. It is carried out to standards such as CISPR 32 and IEC 61000-4, and is required before most products can be sold in the USA, EU and US.

6 MIN
MATERIALS · HYGIENE

What Is an Antimicrobial Coating?

An antimicrobial coating is a surface treatment that stops bacteria, mould and some viruses from growing on a surface. It works by releasing agents such as silver ions or by killing microbes on contact. On medical computers it is usually built into the housing plastic or cover glass. It reduces contamination between cleans but does not replace disinfection.

6 MIN
ENCLOSURES · CABLE ENTRY

What Is a Cable Gland?

A cable gland is a fitting that takes a cable through the wall of an enclosure and seals, grips and protects it at the point of entry. It keeps dust and water out to a stated IP rating and stops the cable being pulled loose. Some glands also earth cable armour or screens, or keep a hazardous-area enclosure safe.

6 MIN
STANDARDS · PRODUCT SAFETY

What Is IEC 62368-1?

IEC 62368-1 is the international safety standard for audio/video, information and communication technology equipment, including computers, monitors, network equipment and their power supplies. It replaced IEC 60950-1 and IEC 60065 with a hazard-based approach that classifies energy sources and specifies safeguards. It is adopted as EN 62368-1 in Europe and the USA and as UL 62368-1 in North America.

6 MIN
STANDARDS · RUGGED DESIGN

What Is MIL-STD-810H?

MIL-STD-810H is the current revision of the US Department of Defense standard for environmental engineering and laboratory testing. It describes test methods for temperature, shock, vibration, humidity, altitude, sand, rain and more, and explains how to tailor them to the conditions equipment will meet. It is a test method standard, not a certification, so claims should name the methods used.

6 MIN
EMC · STANDARDS

What Is Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)?

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is unwanted electrical noise from one source that disturbs the working of another circuit or device. It travels along cables (conducted EMI) or through the air (radiated EMI), and comes from motors, switching power supplies, radio transmitters, lightning and static discharge. EMC standards limit how much a product emits and how much it must tolerate.

6 MIN
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT · VALIDATION

What Are EVT, DVT and PVT?

EVT, DVT and PVT are the three build-and-test stages between a working prototype and mass production. Engineering validation testing (EVT) proves the design works, design validation testing (DVT) proves production-intent builds meet the specification and pass certification, and production validation testing (PVT) proves the factory can build it repeatably.

6 MIN
STANDARDS · PRODUCT SAFETY

ETL vs UL: What Is the Difference?

ETL and UL are product safety marks from two competing test laboratories, Intertek and UL Solutions. Both are recognized by OSHA as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) and test to the same published safety standards, such as UL 62368-1, so an ETL Listed product meets the same requirements as a UL Listed one.

6 MIN
STANDARDS · EMISSION SECURITY

What Is TEMPEST Certification?

TEMPEST certification shows that a computer, display or other device has been tested to limit compromising emanations: stray electromagnetic signals that could let an eavesdropper reconstruct the data it handles. NATO equipment is tested to SDIP-27 Level A, B or C and US equipment to NSA TEMPEST standards, in accredited laboratories.

7 MIN
INTERFACES · MILITARY DATA BUS

What Is MIL-STD-1553?

MIL-STD-1553 is a US military standard for a serial data bus that links avionics and vehicle subsystems. It runs at 1 Mbit/s over a dual-redundant shielded twisted pair, and a bus controller commands up to 31 remote terminals. The 1553B revision is used on military aircraft, helicopters, ground vehicles, ships and spacecraft.

7 MIN
INTERFACES · AVIONICS DATA BUS

What Is ARINC 429?

ARINC 429 is the data bus most commercial aircraft use to pass data between avionics. One transmitter sends 32-bit words over a shielded twisted pair to up to 20 receivers, at 100 kbit/s (high speed) or 12 to 14.5 kbit/s (low speed). It is defined by ARINC Specification 429, now maintained by the AEEC under SAE ITC.

7 MIN
IP RATINGS · WATER

IP66 vs IP67: What Is the Difference?

IP66 and IP67 are both dust tight, but they test different water hazards. IP66 means an enclosure withstands powerful water jets from any direction; IP67 means it survives temporary immersion to 1 meter for 30 minutes. One does not include the other, so equipment that faces both hosing and flooding should carry a dual IP66/IP67 rating.

6 MIN
THERMAL DESIGN · HEAT PIPES

How Do Heat Pipes Work?

A heat pipe is a sealed copper tube holding a little working fluid, usually water, under partial vacuum. At the hot end the fluid evaporates and absorbs heat; the vapor travels to the cooler end, condenses and releases that heat into fins or the chassis, and a wick draws the liquid back. It moves heat quickly with no moving parts.

6 MIN
RAIL · STANDARDS

What Is IEC 61373?

IEC 61373 is the international standard for shock and vibration testing of equipment fitted to railway rolling stock. It sets test levels by where the equipment is mounted, from inside the car body to the bogie and the axle, so a computer can be qualified for the vibration it will actually see on a train.

6 MIN
RAIL · EMC

What Is EN 50121-3-2?

EN 50121-3-2 is the European standard for electromagnetic compatibility of electrical and electronic equipment fitted to railway rolling stock. It limits the interference a device may emit and sets how well it must withstand interference from the train, so a computer neither disrupts nor is disrupted by signaling and traction systems.

6 MIN
IP RATINGS · DUST

IP5X vs IP6X: What Is the Difference?

IP5X means an enclosure is dust protected: some dust can get in, but not enough to stop the equipment working. IP6X means it is dust tight: no dust gets in at all. The X shows the enclosure has not been rated for water, so a dust-tight computer for wet areas needs a full rating such as IP65 or IP67.

6 MIN
ROBOTICS · STANDARDS

What Are the Cobot Safety Standards?

The main safety standards for collaborative robots are ISO 10218, which covers industrial robots in two parts (the robot itself, and its integration into a system), and ISO/TS 15066, which adds guidance on collaborative operation, including force and pressure limits for contact with the body. Every application also needs its own risk assessment.

6 MIN
ENVIRONMENT · PROTECTION

How Do You Prevent Condensation on Electronics?

Condensation forms when a surface is colder than the dew point of the air around it, so moisture in the air turns to water on it. To prevent it on electronics, keep their surfaces above the dew point with steady heat or a heater, seal the enclosure, control humidity with desiccants or breather vents, and protect boards with conformal coating.

6 MIN
THERMAL · BASICS

What Is Conduction Cooling?

Conduction cooling moves heat out of a computer through solid materials rather than moving air. Thermal pads, heat spreaders and heat pipes carry heat from the processor, memory and storage into the metal chassis, which passes it to the surface it is mounted on or to the surrounding air. With no fans or vents, the system can be fully sealed.

6 MIN
MEDICAL · STANDARDS

MOOP vs MOPP: What Is the Difference?

MOOP and MOPP are levels of electrical protection defined in IEC 60601-1. MOOP (means of operator protection) protects staff who use the equipment; MOPP (means of patient protection) protects patients and is stricter, with higher insulation test voltages and larger creepage distances. Equipment that may contact a patient typically needs 2 MOPP.

6 MIN
MEDICAL · POWER

What Is a Medical Grade Power Supply?

A medical grade power supply is approved to IEC 60601-1 for use in medical electrical equipment. Compared with a standard IT power supply, it has much lower leakage current and stronger isolation between mains and output, typically 2 MOPP, so it can be used safely in equipment that operates near or connects to patients.

7 MIN
MEDICAL · STANDARDS

What Is IEC 60601-1?

IEC 60601-1 is the international safety standard for medical electrical equipment. It sets requirements for basic safety and essential performance, covering electric shock, leakage current, insulation, temperature, fire and mechanical hazards. EN 60601-1 is the European adoption of the same standard, and related parts such as IEC 60601-1-2 cover electromagnetic compatibility.

8 MIN
DISPLAYS · DURABILITY

What Makes a Touch Screen Vandal-Proof?

A vandal-proof touch screen combines strengthened cover glass, a touch technology that senses through that glass, and a sealed, rigid housing with hidden fixings. Its impact resistance is graded with an IK rating under IEC 62262: IK07 withstands a 2 joule impact and IK10 a 20 joule impact.

6 MIN
FOOD SAFETY · ENVIRONMENTS

What Is a Washdown Area?

A washdown area is a part of a plant that is cleaned regularly with water, detergents and sanitizers, often hot and at high pressure, to keep it hygienic. They are common in food, beverage, dairy, meat and pharmaceutical production, and any equipment installed there has to be sealed, corrosion resistant and easy to clean.

6 MIN
INGRESS PROTECTION · COMPARISON

IP69K vs IP67: What Is the Difference?

Both ratings mean the enclosure is dust tight, but they test water in different ways. IP67 covers temporary immersion, up to 1 m deep for 30 minutes. IP69K covers close-range, high-pressure, high-temperature water jets, like those used in wash-downs. Passing one does not mean passing the other, so equipment that faces both is tested to both.

6 MIN
FOOD SAFETY · STANDARDS

What Are 3-A Sanitary Standards?

3-A Sanitary Standards are US design standards for equipment used in dairy, food and beverage processing, published by 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. They set requirements for materials, surface finishes and construction so equipment can be cleaned and sanitized properly. Equipment that passes third-party verification can carry the 3-A Symbol.

6 MIN
HAZARDOUS AREAS · NORTH AMERICA

What Is Class 1 Division 2?

Class 1 Division 2, often written C1D2, is a North American hazardous location rating. Class 1 means flammable gases or vapours may be present; Division 2 means they are only expected under abnormal conditions, such as a leak or equipment failure. Equipment rated C1D2 will not ignite the atmosphere during normal operation.

8 MIN
HAZARDOUS AREAS · PROTECTION

Intrinsically Safe vs Non-Incendive: What Is the Difference?

Intrinsically safe equipment limits electrical and thermal energy so it cannot ignite a hazardous atmosphere even when faults occur, which allows use in the most hazardous areas. Non-incendive equipment cannot cause ignition in normal operation, but is not protected against faults, so it is limited to Division 2 or Zone 2 areas.

6 MIN
HAZARDOUS AREAS · ZONES

What Are ATEX Zones?

ATEX zones classify a hazardous area by how often an explosive atmosphere is present. For gases and vapours, Zone 0 means continuously or for long periods, Zone 1 means likely in normal operation, and Zone 2 means unlikely and only briefly. Dust areas follow the same pattern as Zones 20, 21 and 22.

9 MIN
HAZARDOUS AREAS · BASICS

What Is ATEX?

ATEX is the European framework for equipment and workplaces where an explosive atmosphere of gas, vapor or dust can occur. The name comes from the French “ATmosphères EXplosibles”. One directive sets the safety rules for equipment sold into these areas; the other requires employers to classify hazardous areas into zones and use suitably certified equipment.

6 MIN
RUGGED · TEMPERATURE

What Is the Industrial Temperature Range?

The industrial temperature range is −40 to 85 °C: the grade an electronic component must operate across to be called industrial, compared with 0 to 70 °C for commercial parts. Rugged computers built from industrial-grade components typically run from −25 or −40 °C up to 70 °C as a complete system.

6 MIN
RUGGED · IMPACT

What Is an IK Rating?

An IK rating grades how well an enclosure resists mechanical impact, from IK00 (no protection) to IK10, which withstands a 20 joule impact. It is defined by IEC 62262 (EN 62262) and is used alongside the IP rating to specify displays, panel PCs and enclosures for public and industrial sites.

6 MIN
RUGGED · PROTECTION

What Is Conformal Coating?

Conformal coating is a thin protective film, tens of microns thick, applied over an assembled circuit board so that it follows the shape of the components. It protects the electronics from moisture, condensation, dust, salt and chemicals, and is common on rugged computers, vehicle electronics and boards used outdoors.

6 MIN
DEFENSE · DESIGN

What Is SWaP-C?

SWaP-C stands for size, weight, power and cost. It is the design trade-off used in defense and aerospace to judge equipment for platforms with tight limits, such as drones and vehicles, where every gram, watt and pound spent reduces endurance, payload or budget.

6 MIN
DEFENSE · CONNECTORS

What Is MIL-DTL-38999?

MIL-DTL-38999 is the US military specification for high-density, environmentally sealed circular connectors. It defines four series of connector, with bayonet, threaded and breech-lock coupling, used for power, signal and data on aircraft, military vehicles and rugged computers.

6 MIN
STAINLESS STEEL · MATERIALS

What Is Marine Grade Stainless Steel?

Marine grade stainless steel usually means grade 316 or 316L: austenitic stainless steel with 2 to 3% molybdenum, which resists pitting from salt water and sea spray far better than 304. It is a trade description rather than a formal standard, so always check the actual grade on the specification.

6 MIN
STAINLESS STEEL · MATERIALS

What Is Food Grade Stainless Steel?

Food grade stainless steel is stainless steel suitable for contact with food, most commonly grade 304 (18/8) and grade 316. Both are corrosion resistant, non-porous and easy to clean. “Food grade” is a description rather than a single standard: compliance comes from the food-contact regulations of your market.

6 MIN
FOOD AND BEVERAGE · HYGIENE

What Is EHEDG?

EHEDG, the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group, is a consortium of equipment makers, food producers, research institutes and public health bodies, founded in 1989. It publishes guidelines on hygienic design for food processing equipment and certifies equipment designs that pass its cleanability tests.

6 MIN
CLEANROOM MANUFACTURING · STANDARDS

What Are Cleanroom Classes?

Cleanroom classes define how many airborne particles a cleanroom may contain. ISO 14644-1 sets nine classes, from ISO 1, the cleanest, to ISO 9, based on the number of particles of a given size per cubic meter of air. ISO 5 to ISO 8 cover most manufacturing, and EU GMP adds Grades A to D for sterile medicines.

7 MIN
CLEANROOM MANUFACTURING · STANDARDS

What Is an ISO 7 Cleanroom?

An ISO 7 cleanroom is a controlled room that contains no more than 352,000 particles of 0.5 µm or larger per cubic meter of air, as defined by ISO 14644-1. It is equivalent to the former US Class 10,000 and is widely used for electronics assembly, medical device manufacturing and pharmaceutical preparation.

6 MIN
FOOD AND BEVERAGE · HYGIENE

What Is Clean in Place (CIP)?

Clean in place (CIP) is a method of cleaning the inside of process equipment, such as pipework, tanks, heat exchangers and fillers, without taking it apart. Cleaning solutions are pumped through the closed system in a set sequence of rinses, a caustic wash, an acid wash and a sanitizing step, run by an automated CIP set.

6 MIN
DEFENSE · STANDARDS

What Is MIL-STD-704?

MIL-STD-704 defines aircraft electrical power characteristics: the AC and DC voltages, frequencies, transients and abnormal conditions that airborne equipment must operate through on a military aircraft. The current revision is MIL-STD-704F, with test methods in MIL-HDBK-704.

6 MIN
DEFENSE · STANDARDS

What Is MIL-STD-464?

MIL-STD-464 sets the electromagnetic environmental effects (E3) requirements for a whole military system or platform. It is the system-level counterpart to the equipment-level MIL-STD-461, covering EMI, lightning, ESD, EMP and bonding across the platform.

6 MIN
DEFENSE · STANDARDS

What Is MIL-STD-167-1?

MIL-STD-167-1 defines mechanical vibration testing for equipment installed on US Navy ships. It is usually paired with MIL-S-901D, now MIL-DTL-901E, which covers high-impact shock; together they qualify shipboard equipment for the naval environment.

6 MIN
DEFENSE · STANDARDS

MIL-STD-810G vs MIL-STD-810H: What Is the Difference?

MIL-STD-810G (2008) and MIL-STD-810H (2019) are successive revisions of the US military environmental test standard. 810H is the current version; it refined and reorganised test methods and tightened guidance, but both define test methods rather than a pass or fail certificate.

7 MIN
DEFENSE · STANDARDS

What Is MIL-STD-461?

MIL-STD-461 is the US military standard for the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of equipment. It sets limits and test methods for how much electromagnetic interference a device may emit, and how much it must tolerate, across both conducted and radiated paths. The current revision is MIL-STD-461G.

7 MIN
PROCUREMENT · COMPLIANCE

What Is TAA Compliance?

TAA compliance means a product is wholly made or substantially transformed in the United States or a TAA-designated country, as the Trade Agreements Act requires for many US federal and defense purchases. It is about country of origin, not US content levels, which the separate Buy American Act covers.

8 MIN
PROCUREMENT · COMPLIANCE

Which Countries Are TAA Compliant?

TAA compliant countries are the United States plus the countries designated under the Trade Agreements Act: WTO Government Procurement Agreement members such as the USA, EU states, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, US free trade agreement partners, and least developed and Caribbean Basin countries. China, India and Vietnam are not designated.

6 MIN
STANDARDS BRIDGE · NEMA — IP

NEMA vs IP rating — how the two enclosure systems compare

NEMA and IP are parallel enclosure rating systems used in North America and internationally — they overlap, but they are not equivalent. Here is the practical mapping between them, what each system tests that the other does not, and which to specify when both matter.

7 MIN
INGRESS PROTECTION · IP65 PRIMER

What does IP65 mean?

IP65 defines the minimum waterproof rating for any “weather-resistant” claim — dust-tight against all particle ingress, and protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction. Here is what that means in practice, how it is tested, and when it is the right specification.

5 MIN
INGRESS PROTECTION · IP66 PRIMER

What does IP66 mean?

IP66 is the rating above IP65 — dust-tight, and protected against powerful water jets. It is the standard specification for outdoor industrial computing in storm-exposed locations, marine deck equipment and light wash-down food handling, equivalent to NEMA 4 / 4X in North American markets.

4 MIN
INGRESS PROTECTION · IP67 PRIMER

What does IP67 mean?

IP67 means an enclosure is dust-tight and protected against temporary submersion in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. It is the standard rating for field-deployed equipment that might be briefly immersed — agricultural sensors, military field hardware, marine bilge installations — equivalent to NEMA 6 in North American markets.

5 MIN
INGRESS PROTECTION · IP68 PRIMER

What does IP68 mean?

IP68 means an enclosure is dust-tight and protected against continuous immersion under manufacturer-specified conditions exceeding the IP67 envelope. It is the rating for permanent or long-duration underwater deployment — sub-sea instrumentation, deep-fluid handling, certain mining applications — equivalent to NEMA 6P in North American markets.

4 MIN
INGRESS PROTECTION · IP69K PRIMER

What does IP69K mean?

IP69K means an enclosure is dust-tight and protected against high-pressure, high-temperature water jets per DIN 40050-9 — 80°C water at 8—10 MPa from close range. It is the food and beverage industry standard for sanitary wash-down on both sides of the Atlantic — and it does NOT imply submersion protection.

5 MIN
FANLESS · BASICS

What Are the Advantages of Fanless Computers?

Fanless computers cool themselves passively, through a finned heatsink chassis and heat pipes, instead of a fan. With no moving parts and no airflow drawing in dirt, they are more reliable in dusty or vibrating places, silent, low maintenance and easy to seal, which is why they are the standard choice for industrial and embedded use.

6 MIN
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