Industrial Keyboards and IP Protection Ratings: What You Need to Know Before Choosing

Do you work in the food, pharmaceutical, or manufacturing industry where your keyboards and industrial hardware are exposed daily to water, dust, and dirt?

If your answer is "Yes," then you know how important an industrial keyboard’s IP rating is.

The IP rating tells you how protected your keyboard is from liquids and solid particles.

And when it comes to choosing an industrial keyboard, this is exactly what you need to focus on!

Choosing one at random?
That would be a serious mistake that could cost you dearly in terms of hygiene, safety, and operational efficiency.

So, here is the ultimate guide to help you navigate terms like IP65, IP67, and beyond, with practical examples (including wireless keyboards like the TS310WL), plus a real case study requested by a client.

What are IP ratings?

The IP (Ingress Protection) rating is an international standard that indicates how well a device is protected against:

• Dust and solid objects (first digit: from 0 to 6)
• Liquids and moisture (second digit: from 0 to 9K)

Let’s look at a few practical examples...

IP65: Basic protection for outdoor use

Complete protection against dust and full resistance to water jets from all directions.

IP66: Resistant to heavy sprays

IP66 can withstand high-pressure water jets, such as those from cleaning equipment used in sterilized environments or heavy storms in outdoor settings.

However, it does not allow the device to be immersed in water.

IP67: For short-term immersion

High protection against water and complete protection against dust.

This rating guarantees temporary immersion in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes.

Total protection from dust, water, and other chemical agents. Keyboards with an IP67 rating are ideal for outdoor equipment, especially in areas prone to heavy rain, standing water, or flooding.

These devices are used in marine environments and harsh outdoor settings where your keyboard may be exposed to high humidity.

IP68: For prolonged immersion

A device protected by an IP68 rating is completely dust-tight, can withstand continuous immersion in water (deeper than 1 meter), and provides a higher level of protection than IP65, IP66, and IP67.

Speaking of keyboards with an IP67 rating...

Let’s pause for a moment here, because there is a type of IP67 keyboard that certainly does not go unnoticed...

IP67 Stainless Steel Keyboards: Total Sanitation

Do you work in an environment that requires frequent, continuous sanitation, where keyboards are constantly immersed or exposed to powerful water jets?

If so, your choice should be an IP67 stainless steel keyboard.

Why do we say this?

Let us explain right away!

An IP67 stainless steel keyboard has the following features:

1. Compact size
2. Completely resistant to dust and liquids
3. Ideal for food industry environments.

And it’s not the only one with such unique features...

Case Study: Wireless Keyboard with a Very High IP Rating

A client of ours requested a keyboard with the highest possible protection rating, but wireless.

At first glance, it seems like a simple request, except that…

Every wireless keyboard requires a charging port or batteries.

So…

Even if the body is IP67, just having a port reduces the protection rating, often down to IP64 or IP65.

The conclusion?

If you want the highest IP rating, you have to give up wireless and opt for a fully sealed USB wired keyboard.

However, if wireless is a must for you, IP65 is already an excellent protection level for a keyboard!

But beyond the protection rating… there’s also something else you should consider...

Glass or Silicone Keyboards: Which Is the Best Choice for the Food Industry?

Whether you choose a glass or silicone keyboard, you can rest assured: both solutions are perfectly suitable for the food industry.

They are easy to sanitize, durable, and hygienic.

You see, the key isn’t so much which keyboard to choose, but rather selecting the right IP rating!

IP Ratings: A Quick Comparison

And to show you exactly what we mean, we’ve summarized all the IP ratings we’ve discussed so far in this table:

This way, you can quickly compare the different IP ratings of keyboards yourself and assess which one might be best suited for your industry.

Final Conclusions

And to give you a little extra help, here are our final conclusions:

• If you want the highest possible IP rating, forget wireless and choose a wired keyboard with IP67 or higher.
• If you’re looking for flexibility and convenience, a wireless IP65 keyboard like the TS310WL is already an excellent choice.
• And don’t forget: both glass and silicone keyboards are great for the food industry, as long as you choose the right IP rating.

Would you like to find out which keyboard is best suited for your industry?

Or have you already looked through our keyboard catalog but haven’t found the one you need—because you're looking for a specific model, customized to meet your company’s requirements?

Request a consultation

We’ll help you identify the most suitable keyboard for your industrial sector and provide all the support and customization you need!

P.S. The consultation is free!

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