IP53 appears in 4 of the 45 data sheets we publish on robustbook.bitblade.io, and all four belong to laptops: the Getac S410 G5, Getac S510, Durabook S14I and Durabook S15. Of the 13 laptops in our range, four therefore carry IP53, four IP65, four IP66 and one IP5X. The rating means protection against dust in a harmful quantity and against spray water. That is narrower than it sounds. The second digit 3 tests water that falls from above or at an angle from above. Water from a shallow angle, a water hose and immersion are not part of it. This article sets out the test behind digit 3, puts six laptops side by side with their data sheet values and explains why the data sheet of the Durabook S15 reads “IP53 (optional)”. How the digits are built in general is explained in the overview IP protection classes. Here we deal only with the combination of 5 and 3.
The two digits are defined in IEC 60529, published in Germany as DIN EN 60529, and are tested separately. According to the description on Wikipedia, the 5 in first position means that dust is not entirely kept out, but it must not enter in a quantity that disturbs safe operation. IP53 shares this level with IP54 and IP55. How it differs from the dust-tight 6 is covered in the article IP54 in detail.
The 3 in second position requires that water falling as a spray at an angle of up to 60° from the vertical must have no harmful effect. The digit says nothing more. It describes a defined test setup.
The standard allows two setups. Which one a test lab chooses depends on the device. The values in the following table come from Wikipedia (IP Code), the description on ingressprotectiontest.com and Eurotech's notes on testing practice:
| Test parameter | Oscillating tube | Spray nozzle with shield |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Tube with spray holes that sweeps 60° either side of the vertical | Hand-held nozzle with a counterbalanced shield |
| Water volume | 0.07 l/min per hole | 10 l/min at 50 to 150 kPa |
| Duration | 5 minutes, then the specimen is turned by 90° for a further 5 minutes | 1 minute per m² of enclosure surface, at least 5 minutes |
| Passed if | the water has no harmful effect | |
For a laptop, the nozzle test always runs for the minimum of 5 minutes, because its surface is far below 5 m². With the oscillating tube the total is 10 minutes. The shield is the difference from digit 4: according to Wikipedia, the same nozzle without the shield belongs to the test for splashing water from any direction. Digit 3 therefore limits the angle deliberately.
Eurotech also points out that a test can be carried out on an empty enclosure and that a result does not automatically apply once cables, connectors, vents and heat-generating components are fitted. For buyers this leads to a simple question: for which configuration does the test report exist?
60° from the vertical means that water falls on the device from above or at an angle from above. If it arrives at less than 30° above the horizontal, it lies outside the test setup. That can be the case with rain and a side wind, and with water that splashes up from wet ground. The test time is short, and the digit says nothing about how long a device survives continuous rain. The higher digits each test a different load:
According to Wikipedia, the water levels build on each other up to digit 6. From 7 upwards this no longer applies, because a different load is tested.
The following table shows the four laptops with IP53 and, for comparison, two laptops with IP66. The values come from the core data table of the data sheets, which we built from the manufacturer data sheets of Getac and Durabook:
| Device | Ingress protection | Display | Weight | Operating temperature | MIL-STD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Getac S410 G5 | IP53 | 14 inches | 2.38 kg | -29 °C to 63 °C | MIL-STD-810H |
| Getac S510 | IP53 | 15.6 inches | 2.35 kg | -29 °C to 63 °C | MIL-STD-810H |
| Durabook S14I | IP53 | 14.0 inches | 2.37 kg | -29 °C to 63 °C | MIL-STD-810H |
| Durabook S15 | IP53 (optional) | 15.6 inches | 2.6 kg | -20 °C to 60 °C | MIL-STD-810H |
| Durabook Z14I | IP66 | 14.0 inches | 3.6 kg | -29 °C to 63 °C | MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461G |
| Getac B360 G3 | IP66 | 13.3 inches | 2.32 kg | -29 °C to 63 °C | MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461G |
Two observations can be read from the figures. First, the protection rating is no indication of weight: the Getac B360 G3 has IP66 and weighs 2.32 kg, less than any of the four IP53 models. The Durabook Z14I has the same 14.0 inch display as the S14I but weighs 3.6 kg instead of 2.37 kg. Both weight figures vary with the configuration according to the data sheet. Second, the protection rating does not fix the temperature range either. Three of the four IP53 devices work from -29 °C to 63 °C, exactly like the two IP66 devices. Only the S15 lies below that, at -20 °C to 60 °C.
The data sheets do not state why the manufacturers assign IP53 to these models, and we do not interpret it here. The protection rating of all 13 laptops can be laid side by side in the laptop comparison table. For the S410, Getac also lists a splash-resistant keyboard and “sealed ports and connectors” on the manufacturer page. Those are features of their own beside IP53, not parts of the digit.
For the S15, the “protection rating” row of the data sheet carries the addition “(optional)”. This comes from the manufacturer data sheet DURABOOK_DM_S15_DE_20251128. The Durabook manufacturer page is not consistent on this: the list of rugged specs reads “IP 53 certified (optional)”, while the introductory text says the S15 is certified with IP53 and MIL-STD-810H, without any addition. The manufacturer description of the “Standard Plus” configuration on our product page names IP53 as a feature of that version. The older Durabook S15AB, by contrast, carries IP5X, a rating with no statement about water.
What the S15 carries without this option is not stated in any of the documents we hold. Anyone who chooses an S15 for its spray water protection should have the configuration with IP53 shown explicitly in the quote. The Durabook S15 also lists “Port covers” as a feature. Whether the test took place with the covers closed is not stated in our data sheets for any of the four devices.
Our assessment, not a statement of the standard: IP53 suits laptops that work mostly in a vehicle, a workshop, a warehouse or a building and occasionally get rain from above. That is the test case of digit 3. Outdoors, wind, puddles and the way of cleaning decide. Four questions help before the decision:
None of the four devices suits two uses: hosing down and immersion. Laptops with IP65 and IP66 are tested against the hose, four and four in our range, including the Durabook Z14I and the Getac B360 G3 from the table. An overview of all 16 models is on the page Outdoor laptops. For immersion there is no laptop with IP67 or IP68 in our range. Five devices carry IP67, all of them tablets and handhelds: Getac ZX80, Getac ATEX EX80 and Fieldbook F57G2, N101 and N80G2. None of the laptops carries IP69K for high-pressure and steam-jet cleaning.
No. “Waterproof” is not a term of the standard. Digit 3 covers spray water up to 60° from the vertical. Jet water and immersion are not tested.
Rain that falls from above matches the test picture. Rain with a side wind, or splashes from the ground, lie outside the angle. The test lasts 10 minutes with the oscillating tube and at least 5 minutes with the nozzle. The digit says nothing about working for longer in continuous rain.
They cannot be compared. According to Wikipedia, the X means that not enough data is available to assign a level. IP5X therefore says nothing about water, neither protection nor lack of protection. IP53, by contrast, documents a passed spray water test.
That cannot be read from the data sheet alone. The S15 shows the case: there, IP53 depends on an option. For configurations with additional interfaces, drive bays or antennas, ask for the test report for exactly that version.
IP53 is worthwhile if the laptop mostly stands dry and water is only to be expected from above. In weight and display the four devices are close together: the Getac S410 G5 with 2.38 kg and the Durabook S14I with 2.37 kg offer 14 inches, the Getac S510 with 2.35 kg offers 15.6 inches. The Durabook S15 weighs 2.6 kg, has the narrower temperature range of -20 °C to 60 °C and carries IP53 only in the corresponding configuration. It is the choice if its equipment is needed and IP53 is shown in the quote.
Anyone who hoses the device down or puts it on the floor in a wet environment should look among the models with IP65 or IP66. The Getac B360 G3 shows with 2.32 kg that this does not have to be bought with more weight. Anyone who expects immersion will find no suitable laptop in our range and has to switch to an IP67 tablet. We are glad to work out with you which device suits your use, based on the data sheets.