Not all networking equipment is deployed in protected server rooms or climate-controlled offices. Many devices are installed in industrial facilities, public spaces, or other environments where they may be exposed to impacts, vibration, or even vandalism.
Ruggedized telecom and networking devices are built for harsh environments, but how rugged is “rugged”? Datasheets often list standards like IK, MIL-STD, and IEC, but what do they really tell you?
In this article, we decode ruggedization standards so you can deploy this equipment with confidence.
Some networking and telecom equipment is deployed in environments where it will experience an unusually high degree of wear and tear, with the possibility of inadvertent or even intentional damage. These devices must be specifically designed with a high degree of mechanical durability and resistance to physical abuse.
High device durability is typically required in industrial facilities, including warehouses, manufacturing plants, construction sites, power generation plants, and mining operations. Publicly accessible installations are also prime candidates, featuring devices like intercoms and access panels at building entry points and parking garages; emergency call boxes in subway stations, train stations, and bus terminals; and outdoor surveillance equipment.
Many manufacturers of network communications equipment offer highly durable devices that can withstand a certain level of abuse. However, it is not sufficient to rely solely on manufacturers’ claims. For this reason, specially designed ruggedization, vandal-resistance, and tamper-resistance standards have been developed by independent organizations to define test procedures and evaluate device durability for particular use cases. A manufacturer’s equipment can then be objectively evaluated and given a specific rating that clearly defines the level of resistance the device has toward various forms of mechanical stress.
Ruggedization involves designing and constructing equipment so that it can withstand physical stress, impact, vibration, and other forms of mechanical abuse. In telecom and networking equipment, ruggedized devices are built with reinforced enclosures and protective features that allow them to operate reliably in demanding or publicly accessible environments.
Note that in many vendor datasheets, the term “ruggedization” may also include environmental protection features such as resistance to dust, moisture, or temperature extremes. In this article, however, we focus specifically on protection against mechanical stress and physical abuse.
Several well-established standards and rating systems are used to quantify ruggedization and resistance to physical abuse. These come from different industries, including industrial equipment, the military, building infrastructure, and electronics, but many apply directly to networking and telecom hardware.
The most relevant standards and best practices include:
Many of the standards above that certify the level of device durability and protection are often found on telecom and networking equipment datasheets. We’ll give a description of each so you can better understand them when they appear in the equipment you are researching.
The IK rating system is used to measure the durability of electronic enclosures against a single strike or impact. Defined in IEC 62262 from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the primary standard used to measure resistance to vandalism, the IK system is described as the “degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against external mechanical impacts.” The rating system uses what is known as an IK code, which indicates how much mechanical impact energy an enclosure can withstand.
The IK rating ranges from IK00 to IK11 and indicates the impact energy that an enclosure can successfully survive, measured in joules. The following table contains some of these ratings and how they are typically described.
| Rating | Impact energy | Typical resistance interpretation |
| IK07 | 2 joules | Moderate impacts |
| IK08 | 5 joules | Strong impacts |
| IK09 | 10 joules | Heavy impacts |
| IK10 | 20 joules | Vandalism |
An IK10 rating is generally considered vandalism-resistant and indicates that the device can withstand an impact equivalent to a 10 lb (5 kg) steel object, such as a large hammer, dropped from a height of 16” (40 cm).
IK ratings are important for devices that are placed in publicly accessible areas, such as:
For telecom infrastructure deployed in public areas, IK10 is often the benchmark, although some may have lower ratings. For example, Grandstream’s GDS3725 and GDS3726 door systems have an IK10 rating. These and similar devices are placed within reach of the general public by design, so a high IK rating is essential.
MIL-STD-810 is a ruggedization standard developed by the U.S. Department of Defense that includes a wide variety of metrics. This standard defines test methods used to measure mechanical durability relevant to telecom and networking equipment, including the following.
| Test method | What it evaluates |
| Method 513 | Acceleration |
| Method 514 | Vibration resistance |
| Method 516 | Shock/drop resistance |
Unlike IK ratings, which provide a standardized impact resistance scale, MIL-STD-810 defines testing procedures. Manufacturers specify the particular test methods and conditions under which their equipment was evaluated and passed.
Although typically used for military equipment, MIL-STD-810 is often cited for non-military industrial networking hardware, communications equipment, or rugged field devices. For example, the SNOM M80 Industrial Handset states in its datasheet that it is “MIL-STD-810g 516.6 tested,” referring to a specific type of shock and drop resistance testing.
The IEC 60068 family of standards defines environmental and mechanical stress testing procedures. Several parts of this standard focus specifically on mechanical durability. The following table shows some of the standards and the types of mechanical stress they evaluate.
| Standard | Test type |
| IEC 60068-2-27 | Mechanical shock |
| IEC 60068-2-31 | Drop and free fall |
| IEC 60068-2-6 | Vibration testing |
These tests are used in industrial electronics certification, including rugged telecom hardware. Unlike IK ratings, which measure single impacts, IEC tests often measure repeated mechanical stress.
Like the MIL-STD-810 standard, the IEC 60068 defines test procedures and conditions used to evaluate how equipment behaves under mechanical stress. Manufacturers will typically state in their datasheets that equipment was tested according to specific IEC 60068 test methods, often including the test parameters, rather than assigning a rating.
Many telecom and security devices are designed to resist intentional tampering in addition to accidental damage. As mentioned above, an IK rating is often used as a baseline indicator of vandal resistance, but IK ratings only define resistance to single physical impacts. A more holistic approach to vandal resistance design often includes additional engineering features that include:
These features are common in:
For example, the CyberData Outdoor Video Intercom can be installed flush to the wall, reducing accessibility to internal components, or it can be installed using a protective shroud.
All of the above-mentioned features are not strictly part of specific standards but are components of best practices for installation in areas where devices can potentially become damaged by vandalism or misuse.
You may wonder why we didn’t mention ingress protection (IP) ratings, which address water and dust intrusion. IP deals with environmental protection and weatherproofing, which is a related but distinct aspect of equipment durability. These protections focus on preventing environmental elements such as dust or water from entering the device enclosure, rather than protecting the device from mechanical abuse or intentional damage.
The term ruggedization, as used by vendors, typically includes the environmental protection aspects of device durability. However, environmental protection is important enough in its own right to be addressed in a separate article. We'll cover environmental protection specifically in a future article.
Ruggedization standards provide an objective way to evaluate how well telecom and networking equipment can withstand mechanical stress, impact, and potential abuse. While not every deployment requires ruggedized hardware, environments that involve industrial activity or public accessibility can place significant physical demands on equipment.
Understanding related standards and best practices helps network planners and installers make informed decisions when selecting equipment for these environments. Using this information, organizations can ensure reliable operation and reduce the risk of equipment failure or damage over time.
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