What exactly are the differences between IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68, and IP69K? How should you choose an industrial display?

What exactly are the differences between IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68, and IP69K? How should you choose an industrial display?

Industrial equipment placed outdoors is exposed to rain; inside a factory, it may encounter oil, dust, and moisture; if the equipment requires regular cleaning, it might even be washed directly with a high-pressure spray gun. For industrial displays, the question isn't simply whether they are waterproof or dustproof, but rather which protection rating is appropriate for the specific operating environment.

When selecting an IP rating, many people assume:
IP65 < IP66 < IP67 < IP68 < IP69K
They believe that a higher number automatically means stronger protection. However, this is not the case. IP65 and IP66 ratings primarily address water jets; IP67 and IP68 focus on immersion; and IPX9/IP69K target high-temperature, high-pressure water jets. Different IP ratings correspond to different testing conditions; it is not simply a case of "the higher the number, the more waterproof it is."

IP stands for "Ingress Protection."
Take IP65, for example: the first digit, "6," indicates protection against solid foreign objects (Level 6 means it meets dustproof requirements under specified test conditions); the second digit, "5," indicates the level of water protection (specifically, protection against water jets). Simply put:
IP6X focuses primarily on dust protection;
IPX5 and IPX6 focus on water jets;
IPX7 and IPX8 focus on immersion;
IPX9 focuses on high-temperature, high-pressure water jets.
Therefore, when selecting an industrial display, you shouldn't look only at the numbers following "IP"; you must consider the actual environment the equipment will face.

II. What are the differences between IP65, IP66, IP67, and IP68?

III. For which industrial displays is IP65 suitable?
IP65 ratings primarily provide protection against water jets.
If the equipment is used in standard industrial environments, outdoors, or as part of automation systems—requiring protection against dust, rain, and general water spray, but without a significant risk of immersion—then IP65 may well suffice. Examples include industrial control cabinets, automation equipment, and outdoor terminals; the appropriate IP protection solution can be selected based on the specific installation structure. For Fannuo Electronics' industrial displays, beyond parameters like screen size, resolution, and brightness, we tailor the front panel structure, sealing method, and touch solution to the customer's specific installation environment. If a customer only requires rain or splash protection, there is no need to incur unnecessary costs by pursuing a higher IP rating.

IV. What scenarios are suitable for IP66?
Compared to IP65, the key improvement in IP66 is its ability to withstand powerful water jets. If an industrial display is mounted on machinery that requires regular cleaning—or even hosing down—IP66 is generally more appropriate than IP65. Applications such as industrial automation equipment, food processing machinery, outdoor machinery, and agricultural equipment often have these requirements. For such products, one must consider not only the IP rating but also the structural design of the touchscreen itself. Factors such as the bonding method between the touchscreen and the display panel, edge sealing, connector protection, and the mounting method onto the customer's equipment all influence the final level of protection. Therefore, waterproofing an industrial display is not simply a matter of "adding a waterproof film over the screen"; it involves the structure, sealing, bonding, connectors, and the installation method for the entire unit.

V. What is the difference between IP67 and IP68?
IP67 primarily addresses temporary immersion in water. Scenarios such as accidental drops into water or brief submersion due to accumulated water require IP67 protection. IP68, on the other hand, addresses continuous immersion under specific conditions. A commonly overlooked point is that there is no single, universal standard for immersion depth and duration for all IP68 products. Specific limits regarding depth and duration must be determined based on product standards, testing conditions, and manufacturer specifications. Consequently, if a customer simply asks for an "IP68 industrial display," that does not constitute a complete set of technical requirements. It is crucial to clarify further details: What is the required immersion depth? How long must it remain submerged? Will it be underwater during normal operation, or is the immersion only occasional and brief? Only by clarifying these conditions can the truly appropriate solution be determined.

VI. Does IP69K represent a higher level of protection?
IP69K ratings are frequently found in industrial machinery, agricultural equipment, heavy-duty vehicles, and road vehicle equipment. It primarily addresses:
High-temperature, high-pressure water jet washing.
For instance, if equipment requires frequent, high-intensity cleaning—where standard rain or spray tests no longer reflect actual operating conditions—then the requirements of IPX9 or the IP69K standard (often found in related systems) must be considered. However, IP69K and IP68 address different scenarios:
IP68: Focuses on immersion in water under specific conditions.
IP69K: Focuses on high-temperature, high-pressure water jet washing.
Therefore, one cannot simply assume that "because the number 69K is higher than 68, IP69K automatically encompasses IP68."
If a device needs to withstand both immersion and high-temperature, high-pressure washing, the specific protection requirements for each must be verified individually.
It is worth noting that while IEC 60529 defines the standard IP Code, the IP69K designation is commonly found in standards such as ISO 20653, particularly within the automotive sector.

VII. What exactly does an industrial display's IP rating protect?
This is a point often overlooked by customers when ordering custom industrial displays.
For example, if a product is rated "Front Panel IP65":
This indicates that the display's front panel offers IP65-level protection under specified conditions. However, it does not mean the entire display assembly meets the IP65 standard. There are numerous potential points of water ingress, such as connectors, cable exits, structural seams, mounting holes, and the interface where the display mounts to the customer's equipment.
Consequently, if a customer requires an industrial display truly suitable for outdoor or wet environments, we must consider the entire structural design rather than focusing solely on the panel itself.
For Fannuo Electronics' custom display projects, we tailor specifications—such as display size, touch technology, bonding methods, and sealing structures—to match the customer's equipment mounting method, operating environment, and protection requirements. If the final product must achieve a specific system-level IP rating, a comprehensive evaluation involving the customer's complete device structure is also required.

VIII. Waterproof touchscreens: It’s about more than just "waterproofing"
Touchscreens used in industrial equipment involve another critical issue: functionality after water exposure. Can the touchscreen still operate correctly? For example, outdoor equipment may be exposed to rain, and operators might be wearing gloves or even need to use the screen with wet hands. Therefore, when it comes to industrial touch displays, factors beyond the IP rating must be considered based on the actual usage scenario, such as operation with wet hands or gloves, multi-touch capabilities, high brightness for outdoor visibility, wide operating temperature ranges, and anti-glare properties. This explains why the design philosophy for industrial displays differs from that of standard consumer-grade displays. For products such as outdoor terminals, industrial equipment, agricultural machinery, and vehicle systems, displays often require customization based on the device's operating environment rather than the simple procurement of a standard off-the-shelf screen.

IX. IP Rating Does Not Mean "Suitable for Any Environment"
IP ratings primarily address protection against the ingress of dust and water. However, industrial equipment may also be exposed to extreme temperatures, mechanical shock, vibration, chemicals, corrosion, and UV radiation. For instance, IP ratings cover dust and water protection; IK ratings focus on mechanical shock resistance; chemical resistance requires a separate material compatibility assessment; and temperature extremes require consideration of both operating and storage temperature ranges. Consequently, an IP69K-rated industrial display cannot be assumed to be resistant to all cleaning agents, corrosion, or temperature extremes based solely on its IP rating. Specific requirements regarding wide temperature ranges, high brightness, impact resistance, corrosion resistance, or specialized touch functionality should be established during the initial project phase.

Summary
IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68, and IP69K are not simply a ranked list of "waterproofing levels." Each addresses a different set of environmental conditions:
IP65: Primarily protects against water jets;
IP66: Primarily protects against powerful water jets;
IP67: Primarily protects against temporary immersion;
IP68: Primarily protects against continuous immersion under specific conditions;
IPX9/IP69K: Primarily withstands high-temperature, high-pressure water jets.
Therefore, when selecting an industrial display, do not simply ask, "Which IP rating is the highest?" Instead, ask, "What kind of water, dust, and cleaning conditions will my equipment actually encounter?" If you are developing industrial equipment, outdoor terminals, agricultural machinery, vehicle systems, or other products requiring water and dust protection, you can determine the appropriate IP rating based on the specific application environment.