| Whilst digital signage hasn’t been with us very | | | | to make contact with internal parts using fingers |
| long the concept of putting plasma and LCD | | | | or appliances). Whilst the second digit, 5, suggests |
| screens outside was inevitable considering the | | | | that while the LCD enclosure cannot be |
| rapid growth of the new media. Outdoor digital | | | | submerged in water it is completely resistant to |
| signage does of course pose challenges as any | | | | splashing and pressure washing. |
| display has to be protected from the elements. | | | | Sometimes IP66 is used to describe the |
| IP65 and IP66 are often used to describe the | | | | protection of outdoor digital signage, offering |
| outdoor capabilities of a digital advertising system | | | | slightly better waterproofing than an IP65 although |
| such as an LCD or plasma but the rating system | | | | the difference is marginal and denotes the |
| is much misunderstood, so exactly what is IP65. | | | | strength of water jets it could resist. Obviously |
| The IP rating system is a European guideline that | | | | for outdoor signage any LCD enclosure would |
| stands for ‘Ingress Protection’. The IP | | | | need to be protected form the rain rather than |
| rating is used to denote all electrical equipment | | | | high pressure water jets. |
| enclosures and the protection they offer against | | | | There is a common misunderstanding about the |
| any foreign body. There are two digits after the | | | | IP rating system. It is often assumed that IP is a |
| letters IP, the first number denotes the protection | | | | quality mark – it is not. The IP standard is a |
| from solid objects, such as dust, dirt and even | | | | self-certified system meaning anyone can build an |
| fingers; the higher the number the better the | | | | LCD enclosure and claim it is IP65 rated, however, |
| protection. | | | | this is no guarantee that the device will operate |
| The second number demonstrates the protection | | | | effectively outdoors although it does mean the |
| the enclosure offers against liquids, again the | | | | product has been sold with that intent. For any |
| higher the number the better protection. In our | | | | outdoor digital signage application it is better to |
| outdoor digital signage example, IP65 is most | | | | speak to the manufacturers and ask how there |
| commonly used. This is because it offers excellent | | | | enclosures offer protection and what engineering |
| protection against solid objects (6 suggests the | | | | is used in their assembly. |
| enclosure is dust-tight and impossible for anyone | | | | |