- Match customer preferences with tap, mobile, and QR payments
- Support memberships, fleet billing, and loyalty programs
- Use remote activation to manage terminals from anywhere
In unattended environments, durability isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s critical. Whether your payment reader is installed at a self-serve car wash, outdoor parking station, vending machine, or EV charging point, exposure to weather, dust, and even vandalism can put your equipment at risk and and take it out of service.
That’s why you’ll often hear operators, manufacturers, and resellers talk about IP and IK ratings when recommending hardware. But what do these ratings actually mean? And how can understanding them help you make better purchasing decisions?
Breaking Down IP and IK Ratings
IP (Ingress Protection) and IK (Impact Protection) ratings are not just technical specs. They are globally standardized systems used to classify how well a device is protected against environmental elements and physical impact. These ratings apply across many rugged technologies — and unattended payment terminals are no exception. Choosing the right-rated device means fewer breakdowns, longer lifespan, and a better experience for your customers.
IP ratings use a two-digit system to indicate resistance against solid particles (like dust) and liquids (like rain or water jets). For example, an IP65-rated payment reader is completely dust-tight and protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction, ideal for outdoor or splash-prone environments like car washes or parking machines.
An IP rating consists of two digits:
First Digit – Protection against solid objects:
0 – No protection
1 – Protection against objects >50 mm (e.g., accidental touch by hand)
2 – Protection against objects >12.5 mm (e.g., fingers)
3 – Protection against objects >2.5 mm (e.g., tools, thick wires)
4 – Protection against objects >1 mm (e.g., most wires, small tools)
5 – Dust protected (limited ingress, no harmful deposit)
6 – Dust tight (no ingress of dust at all)
Second Digit – Protection against water ingress:
0 – No protection
1 – Protection against vertically falling drops (e.g., condensation)
2 – Protection against falling drops up to 15° from vertical
3 – Spraying water up to 60° from vertical
4 – Splashing water from any direction
5 – Water jets from any direction
6 – Powerful water jets/heavy seas
7 – Immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes
8 – Immersion beyond 1 meter (conditions defined by manufacturer)
9 – High-pressure, high-temperature water jets (rarely used outside specialized industrial equipment)
IK Rating Levels:
IK ratings, on the other hand, measure a device’s ability to withstand mechanical impact, such as being struck by objects or tampered with. A rating of IK10, the highest on the scale, means the device can resist 20 joules of impact, equivalent to a 5kg object dropped from 400mm, an essential feature in vandalism-prone settings.
IK00 – No protection
IK01 – Protection against 0.15 joules (e.g. 200g object dropped from 7.5 cm)
IK02 – 0.2 joules
IK03 – 0.35 joules
IK04 – 0.5 joules
IK05 – 0.7 joules
IK06 – 1.0 joules
IK07 – 2.0 joules
IK08 – 5.0 joules
IK09 – 10.0 joules
IK10 – 20.0 joules (e.g. 5 kg object dropped from 40 cm)
Reduce your operating costs with our full suite of payment solutions
When your payment terminals operate outdoors or in unattended environments, they face more than just regular wear. From constant exposure to water, dust, and extreme temperatures to the risk of impact or vandalism, devices need a higher level of protection. A terminal with IP65 and IK09 or higher ratings is well suited for industries like self-serve car washes, laundromats, outdoor parking, and EV charging. These ruggedized systems help reduce downtime, prevent service disruptions, and maintain reliability where it matters most.
Protection You Can Count On
At MONEXgroup, we understand that rugged environments demand rugged solutions. That’s why our unattended payment terminals are engineered with high IP and IK ratings to ensure consistent performance, even in the harshest conditions. Whether you’re running a car wash, managing outdoor parking, or operating self-serve laundry or vending stations, we provide the protection, reliability, and support your business needs to stay up and running.
Get in touch today to discover how MONEXgroup can help you deploy smarter, tougher payment solutions built to last.
Related Articles
How Car Washes are Boosting Sales with Contactless Payments
The number of people that go about their daily routines carrying physical currency in the form of cash and coins in their pockets, wallets, and purses continues to decline rapidly as more and more are preferring alternate forms of payment such as debit cards, credit cards, and digital wallets.
Benefits of Weatherproof Unattended Terminals for Year-Round Outdoor Payments
Many businesses rely on the convenience of unattended outdoor payment processing systems to serve customers. However, not all unattended payment systems are suitable for regions that experience drastic temperature swings, heavy rainfall, or intense snow.
Maximize Revenue with Car Wash Loyalty Programs
Did you know that a repeat customer is much cheaper to attain than a new customer? For many car wash owners, getting repeat customers can be a challenge. However, some of these operators have been able to convert many first-time customers to repeat customers through loyalty programs.
Contact us today and discover the right payment solution for YOUR business!
Fill in the form below
We will never sell, distribute, or publish your details.
