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Retail Hardening and IP Ratings

An NCR White Paper

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Introduction
IP (Ingress Protection) ratings are standards for electrical enclosures as described in document 60529 issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The objective of the standard is to classify degrees of protection of electrical equipment in terms of a) protection of the user against access to potentially harmful parts inside the enclosure, b) protection of the electronics inside against foreign objects, and c) protection of the electronics inside against water. IP ratings are expressed as a two-digit number (example: IP-65). The first number designates protection from solids, while the second number designates protection from liquids. This information is provided for reference only. Official information concerning IEC ratings may be obtained from www.iec.ch/.

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NCR knows retail with over 127 years of retail innovation and experience. We pride ourselves on exceeding retail hardened standards to give our customers the confidence that they made the right choice with NCR.
- Greg Egan, Vice President Solutions Management

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IP Ratings
Level of protection against solid objects, materials, or dust
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 No protection Protected against solid objects down to 50mm Protected against solid objects down to 12mm Protected against solid objects down to 2.5mm Protected against solid objects down to 1mm Protected against dust, limited ingress (no harmful deposit) Totally protected against dust 6

Level of protection against water or liquids

0 1 2 3 4 5 No protection Protection against vertically falling drops of water (e.g., light rain) Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from vertical Protection against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees from vertical Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects Water projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects Water projected in powerful jets (12.5mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects

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IP Ratings and Point-of-Sale Terminals
The ability for a point-of-sale (POS) terminal to achieve an IP rating is directly related to the chassis design including required ventilation. A terminal with a lower performing chipset and CPU can be operated with no fan, which means ventilation requirements are minimal. As the need for performance increases, so does the need for a more robust cooling solution including fans and vents. Placement and design of these cooling elements directly correlates to the amount of dust or water that can penetrate the chassis. Thus, a lower performing fanless POS will be more likely to have a higher IP rating. Only certification by accredited independent laboratories can validate IP ratings, and manufacturers should not make claims without documented test results. Claims made about only one aspect of the POS, such as the touchscreen, are misleading and do not reflect the true incursion protection for the entire POS terminal. The current NCR portfolio of integrated terminals, including NCR RealPOS 70XRT, NCR RealPOS 50 and NCR RealPOS 25, have all been tested by independent labs and achieved certified IP ratings. Prior to taking the POS terminals to an outside lab, NCR conducts real-world spill testing. NCR RealPOS 70XRT, NCR RealPOS 50 and NCR RealPOS 25 internal water testing consists of a repeated 32-once water dump above the terminal from all sides and with display at different angles. This repeatable test process was developed in conjunction with our hospitality customers who described the types of spills that occurred in their environments. These tests are conducted on fully functional and powered POS terminals and there can be ZERO failures to pass the test. Below are photographs of NCRs internal POS testing for water incursion. NCR has developed real-life test fixtures that simulate what will happen in the customer environment over time. Water and dust are just part of the testing for retail hardening. NCR also tests for shock, vibration, electrostatic discharge (ESD), and durability of basic parts such as hinges used to rotate the display. NCRs standards dictate that POS equipment will survive rigorous testing to satisfy basic requirements, which are based on 125 years experience providing solutions to retailers. Each NCR model is slightly different in design and cooling strategy based on required performance, so the rating variesbut all are acceptable in harsh hospitality environments.

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NCR RealPOS 70XRT rated IP-32 for entire POS and IP-55 for the screen

NCR RealPOS 25 and NCR RealPOS 50 rated IP-22 for entire POS and IP-56 for the screen

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Questions for Retailers Comparing IP Ratings from Competitors
If the competitor claims a better IP rating than NCR, can the competitor provide the test results from an authorized independent test laboratory? The test report should contain details about what was tested and how it performed. Is the competitors IP rating based on a similar product with similar performance? As discussed above, fan-less equipment may achieve higher IP ratings but likely has lower performance capabilities. Is the competitors IP rating based on a total POS terminal testing Some POS vendors have discovered that it is easy to claim a high IP rating by only testing the front touchscreen glass, which of course is not subject to water or dust penetration. Customers should validate the terminals overall IP rating. Is the competitor proven in hospitality? Ask for a list of tier 1 and 2 hospitality accounts. How many units have been installed in tier 1 and 2 accounts? Are any reference accounts available? Keep in mind, an IP rating alone does not imply overall design quality, correct component selection or product durability.

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Conclusion
IP standards for Ingress Protection can be particularly important as any outside interference from solids or liquids could cause an electrical device to malfunction, or worse, become a danger to users. The IP rating is an internationally recognized standard, adopted by most countries around the world. This uniform standard saves companies a great deal of time as all they need to do is refer to a devices IP rating rather than having to produce a detailed specification each time they wish to describe how well it is protected from ingress. NCR supports these standards and builds solutions that not only meet these standards for Ingress Protection but also deal with other real-world environmental risks such as shock, vibration, thermal, discoloration and electrostatic discharge. This design approach is called retail hardening and it translates to investment protection for our customers.

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Why NCR?
With over 125 years of retail experience, NCR is a leading global provider of assisted- and self-service solutions. We help our clients around the world improve their customer interactions, implement change quickly and proactively, and transform their businesses to become leaders and change agents. We can help you, too.

NCR Corporation 3097 Satellite Boulevard Duluth, Georgia 30096 USA For more information on NCR, please visit: www.ncr.com/retail

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NCR continually improves products as new technologies and components become available. NCR, therefore, reserves the right to change specifications without prior notice. All features, functions and operations described herein may not be marketed by NCR in all parts of the world. Consult your NCR representative or NCR office for the latest information. NCR RealPOS is either a registered trademark or trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All brand and product names appearing in this document are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective holders. 2011 NCR Corporation Patents Pending EB10393-0811 www.ncr.com

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