A vending machine IP rating tells you one thing: how well the enclosure keeps out dust and water, as tested under IEC 60529. It does not tell you whether the glass survives a kick, whether the screen is readable at noon, or whether the cabinet survives a coastal winter. This guide explains the three rating systems you will meet when buying an outdoor machine — IEC 60529 IP codes, IEC 62262 IK codes and NEMA 250 enclosure types — what each one tests, how they compare, and how to write them into a specification without paying for protection the position does not need.
Quick answer
- IP code (IEC 60529): first digit for solids and dust (5 dust-protected, 6 dust-tight), second for water (4 splashing, 5 jets, 6 powerful jets). IP65 is dust-tight and jet-protected.
- IK code (IEC 62262): impact resistance in joules, from IK01 (0.14 J) to IK10 (20 J), with IK11 (50 J) added in 2021. Specify it for the glass, screen and front.
- NEMA 250 types (North America): Type 3R, 3, 4 and 4X are the outdoor types you will meet. They add icing and corrosion tests, so a NEMA type maps to an IP code but not the reverse.
- A rating applies to what was tested. On a vending machine that is usually the screen, the payment terminal or an electronics compartment, not the whole cabinet.
- Shelter changes the answer. Sheltered positions often need around IP54 for the electronics; exposed or hosed positions around IP55–IP65.
- KioskForce publishes no standard IP or IK rating. Ratings are specified per project and confirmed on the quotation.
The IP code: what IEC 60529 actually rates
IEC 60529, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code), is the international standard for ingress protection of electrical equipment up to 72.5 kV. The current consolidated version is edition 2.2, published by the IEC on 29 August 2013. Europe adopts it as EN 60529, Australia as AS 60529.
An IP code is “IP” followed by two digits. An “X” in place of a digit means that property was not tested.
| First digit | Protection against solids | Second digit | Protection against water |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | None | 0 | None |
| 1 | Objects over 50 mm | 1 | Vertically dripping water |
| 2 | Objects over 12.5 mm (fingers) | 2 | Dripping water, enclosure tilted up to 15° |
| 3 | Objects over 2.5 mm (tools) | 3 | Spraying water, up to 60° from vertical |
| 4 | Objects over 1 mm (wires) | 4 | Splashing water from any direction |
| 5 | Dust-protected: some dust may enter, not enough to interfere with safe operation | 5 | Water jets: 6.3 mm nozzle, 12.5 litres per minute |
| 6 | Dust-tight: no dust ingress, tested under vacuum | 6 | Powerful jets: 12.5 mm nozzle, 100 litres per minute |
| 7 | Temporary immersion to 1 m for 30 minutes | ||
| 8 | Continuous immersion, conditions set by the manufacturer | ||
| 9 | High-pressure, high-temperature spray at close range |
Three rules in the standard catch buyers out:
- Ratings are cumulative only up to 6. An enclosure rated for water jets (5 or 6) also meets the lower water numerals. An enclosure rated only for immersion (7 or 8) is, in the standard’s terms, not considered suitable for water jets unless it is dual coded, for example IPX6/IPX7.
- “X” means not tested, not “not needed”. IPX5 tells you nothing about dust.
- The water test uses fresh water. A rating says nothing about salt spray, detergents or pressure-washer chemicals.
What the IP code does not cover
NEMA’s guidance on enclosure types sums up the gap plainly: IEC 60529 does not specify protection against mechanical damage, risk of explosions, or conditions such as moisture produced by condensation, corrosive vapours, fungus or vermin. Add sun and temperature to that list. For an outdoor vending machine those are often the failures that matter most. Condensation and heat are covered in outdoor vending in heat and cold.
Is an IP65 vending machine what you need?
An IP65 vending machine is the phrase buyers search for, and it is often the wrong way to frame the purchase. IP65 means dust-tight and protected against water jets. That is a sensible target for the parts of a machine that fail when wet. It is rarely realistic, or necessary, for the whole cabinet, for three reasons:
- A vending machine has openings by design. The delivery port, the coin or note slot, the card reader face and the service door seals all have to work hundreds of times a day.
- Refrigeration needs air. A chilled machine’s condenser rejects heat to the outside air. Sealing the refrigeration deck the way you would seal a junction box would stop it working. The electronics can sit in a sealed compartment; the condenser cannot.
- Shelter is cheaper than sealing. A canopy or vending machine shelter removes most of the rain and sun load, and with it most of the rating you would otherwise pay for.
The useful question is therefore not “is it IP65?” but “which parts carry which rating, and was it tested with the vents, reader and printer fitted?”. A screen with an IP65 front face does not make the machine IP65.
Planning starting points by position
| Position | What reaches the machine | Typical starting point for the electronics and payment hardware |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor, unconditioned (loading dock, car park undercroft) | Dust, temperature swings, condensation | Dust protection; wide operating temperature range |
| Covered, open-sided (canopy, courtside shelter) | Blown rain, splashes, dust | Around IP54; drip edges over doors and the delivery port |
| Fully exposed (street, car park, campus path) | Driving rain, full sun, dust, impact | Around IP55–IP65, plus an IK rating for glass and screen |
| Hosed or wash-down (food sites, some transport hubs) | Water jets during cleaning | IPX5 or IPX6 on the parts that get hosed |
| Coastal or industrial atmosphere | Salt spray, corrosive dust | As above, plus corrosion-resistant materials and finishes |
These are planning starting points, not requirements of the standard. The same ranges are used on our outdoor smart lockers guide, because a locker and a vending machine in the same spot face the same weather.
The IK code: impact resistance under IEC 62262
IEC 62262 classifies how well an enclosure protects its contents against external mechanical impact. The base standard dates from 2002; the current consolidated version, IEC 62262:2002+AMD1:2021 (edition 1.1, September 2021), added the IK11 level. Each level is tested with five impacts at a stated energy:
| IK code | Impact energy | Typical test (mass dropped from height) |
|---|---|---|
| IK07 | 2 J | 0.5 kg from 0.40 m |
| IK08 | 5 J | 1.7 kg from 0.30 m |
| IK09 | 10 J | 5 kg from 0.20 m |
| IK10 | 20 J | 5 kg from 0.40 m |
| IK11 | 50 J | 10 kg from 0.50 m |
Two points to keep in mind. First, the IEC notes that the standard applies only where the product’s own standard calls for impact protection, so an IK claim on a vending machine is usually a claim about a component — the screen glass, a polycarbonate window, the payment terminal — tested by its maker. Second, IK10 describes a test, not resistance to a determined attack with tools. For that, glazing has its own classification (EN 356, from P1A to P8B), covered in vandal-resistant vending machines.
NEMA 250 enclosure types
In the United States and Canada, enclosures are often specified by NEMA type rather than IP code. NEMA’s published definitions (from NEMA 250-2003) for the outdoor types a vending buyer will see:
- Type 3R: indoor or outdoor; rain, sleet and snow; falling dirt; undamaged by ice forming on the enclosure. May be ventilated.
- Type 3: as 3R, plus windblown dust.
- Type 3S: as Type 3, and external mechanisms stay operable when ice-laden.
- Type 4: as Type 3, plus splashing and hose-directed water.
- Type 4X: as Type 4, plus additional protection against corrosion.
Why NEMA and IP do not convert both ways
NEMA’s guidance is explicit that its types “cannot be exactly equated” with IP codes. NEMA 250 includes tests that IEC 60529 does not: an outdoor corrosion test, a gasket ageing test, an external icing test, and no water penetration in the rain test, where IEC 60529 allows water in if it does not reach live parts or deposit on insulation. So NEMA publishes a one-way table: a NEMA type meets or exceeds the IP code it maps to, but an IP code cannot be used to select a NEMA type. NEMA’s worked example: for an IP45 requirement, Types 3, 3X, 3S, 3SX, 4, 4X, 6 and 6P qualify.
IP vs IK vs NEMA: side by side
| IEC 60529 (IP) | IEC 62262 (IK) | NEMA 250 (Type) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it rates | Ingress of solids, dust and water | Resistance to mechanical impact | Ingress plus environmental conditions |
| Scale | Two digits, 0–6 and 0–9 | IK00 to IK11 | Named types (3R, 3, 4, 4X …) |
| Where used | Worldwide; EN 60529, AS 60529 | Worldwide; EN 62262 | Mainly the US and Canada |
| Covers icing and corrosion | No | No | Yes, for the relevant types |
| Covers condensation, sun, heat | No | No | Not as a rating; corrosion and icing only |
| Typical use on a vending machine | Electronics compartment, screen front, payment terminal | Screen glass, window, front panel | Electrical enclosures, in tenders that ask for NEMA |
| Converts to the others | No | No | One way, to an approximate IP code |
Certification is a separate question: UL 751
A rating is not a safety certification. In North America, vending machines are evaluated to UL 751. Intertek’s notice on the revised standard (UL 751, ninth edition, revised 18 December 2024, effective 12 June 2026) restates the scope: machines are intended for indoor use only, except that they will be investigated for outdoor use or use in a protected location if the manufacturer designates them for it. If a machine will stand outside in the US or Canada, the outdoor designation has to be part of the certification brief, not added later. See UL 751 and vending certification.
This is a summary for planning, not legal or certification advice. Standards are revised; confirm the current edition with your certifier or inspector (as of October 2026).
How to read a rating claim on a spec sheet
When a supplier quotes an IP or IK rating, ask five questions:
- Which part? The cabinet, the electronics compartment, the screen front, the payment terminal or the delivery port? Each can carry a different rating.
- Tested by whom? A test report from an accredited lab, or the component maker’s datasheet, or neither?
- Tested as built? With fans, vents, cable glands, the card reader and any printer fitted? A field-drilled cable entry voids the result.
- Which standard and edition? IEC 60529 edition 2.2, IEC 62262 with or without the 2021 amendment, NEMA 250?
- Dual coding? If an immersion rating (7 or 8) is quoted, is the jet rating (5 or 6) also stated?
What to specify if you are buying one
Write the ratings into the enquiry by part and by position, not as a single number for the whole machine:
- Position: sheltered or exposed, which way it faces, whether it is hosed down, coastal or not. A photo helps more than a rating chosen in advance.
- Ingress: the IP code (or NEMA type, if your tender uses NEMA) for the electronics compartment, screen and payment hardware.
- Impact: the IK code for the glass or screen and any windows; the EN 356 class if you need security glazing.
- Climate: the coldest and hottest expected temperatures, so the refrigeration, heaters and components can be chosen to suit.
- Certification: which marks your market requires, and that the machine is designated for outdoor use.
Start from the outdoor vending machine guide, check the price bands on vending machine cost, and see power and compliance for voltage and certification marks. KioskForce does not publish a standard IP or IK rating: the ratings, the parts they cover and the testing are specified per project and confirmed on the quotation. Modified standard builds take 4–6 weeks and fully custom builds 8–12 weeks. We sell direct and, in some regions, through local distributors.
Where a high rating is the wrong answer
- You can put the machine under cover. A lobby, an undercroft or a roofed shelter usually costs less than building the cabinet for full exposure.
- The rating is a box-tick. Paying for IP66 on a cabinet that sits under a canopy buys nothing a drip edge would not.
- The real risk is impact or theft. A dust-tight machine with plain glass in an unsupervised spot is still a soft target. Spend on the front, the lock and going cashless first.
- Nobody will maintain the seals. Gaskets age and filters clog. A rating is only as good as the last time someone checked the door seal.
Frequently asked questions
What IP rating does an outdoor vending machine need?
It depends on the position. Under a canopy or in an open-sided shelter, protection against splashing water and dust, around IP54 for the electronics, is a common starting point. A fully exposed machine that takes driving rain or is hosed down is usually specified against water jets, around IP55 to IP65, for the parts that would fail when wet. These are planning starting points, not requirements of IEC 60529. State the position and the rating you need, and ask which parts the rating covers.
What does IP65 mean on a vending machine?
Under IEC 60529, the 6 means dust-tight: no dust ingress in a test that applies a vacuum to the enclosure. The 5 means protected against water jets from a 6.3 mm nozzle at 12.5 litres per minute from any direction. On a vending machine it usually applies to a part, such as the touchscreen front, the payment terminal or a sealed electronics compartment, rather than the whole cabinet. Ask what was tested and for the report from the lab that tested it.
What is the difference between an IP rating and an IK rating?
An IP rating under IEC 60529 covers ingress of solid objects, dust and water. An IK rating under IEC 62262 covers resistance to mechanical impact, measured as the energy of five blows from a defined hammer: IK07 is 2 joules, IK08 5 joules, IK09 10 joules, IK10 20 joules and IK11, added in 2021, 50 joules. An outdoor vending machine usually needs both, specified for different parts: IP for the electronics and payment hardware, IK for the glass, screen and front.
Can I convert a NEMA rating to an IP rating?
Only one way, and only approximately. NEMA’s own guidance says a NEMA enclosure type meets or exceeds the IP code it is mapped to, because NEMA 250 adds tests that IEC 60529 does not have, such as corrosion, gasket ageing and external icing. So a NEMA type can be expressed as an IP code, but an IP code cannot be used to claim a NEMA type. Specify the system your tender, landlord or electrical inspector uses.
Is an IP rating enough for a vending machine left outside?
No. IEC 60529 does not cover mechanical damage, condensation, corrosive vapours, fungus or vermin, and it says nothing about direct sun or temperature. An outdoor machine also needs an operating temperature range for every component, an impact rating for the glass or screen, a finish that suits the site’s atmosphere, and a power connection that is safe in the wet. In North America it also needs to be evaluated for outdoor use under UL 751.
What IP rating do KioskForce vending machines have?
KioskForce does not publish a standard IP or IK rating for its vending machines, kiosks or lockers. For an outdoor or sheltered position, the ingress rating, the impact rating, the parts they apply to and the testing behind them are specified per project and confirmed on the quotation. Describe the position, the climate and the ratings your site or tender requires when you enquire.
Does IPX7 mean a vending machine can be hosed down?
No. IPX7 is a temporary immersion test, 1 metre for 30 minutes. IEC 60529 water ratings are cumulative only up to 6, so an enclosure rated IPX7 has not necessarily passed the water jet tests for IPX5 or IPX6. A product that has passed both should be dual coded, for example IPX6/IPX7. A vending machine never needs immersion protection; it needs protection against rain and jets.
References
- IEC — “IEC 60529:1989+AMD1:1999+AMD2:2013 CSV, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)”, edition 2.2 (29 August 2013; accessed 3 October 2026). https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/2452
- IEC — “IEC 62262:2002+AMD1:2021 CSV, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against external mechanical impacts (IK code)”, edition 1.1 (3 September 2021; accessed 3 October 2026). https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/71109
- NEMA — “NEMA Enclosure Types” (definitions and IEC comparison from NEMA 250-2003; approved November 2005). https://www.nema.org/docs/default-source/products-document-library/nema-enclosure-types.pdf
- Wikipedia — “IP code” (summary of IEC 60529 test conditions; accessed 3 October 2026). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_code
- Wikipedia — “EN 62262” (IK impact energies and test masses; accessed 3 October 2026). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EN_62262
- Intertek — “Standards Update Notice: UL 751, Vending Machines (revised 18 December 2024)” (issued 7 July 2025; effective 12 June 2026). https://w3inte.intertek.com/siteassets/resources/sun/2025/ul-751-cc-sun-rev-12-18-2024-ed-6-12-2026.pdf
- BSI — “BS EN 356:2000 Glass in building. Security glazing. Testing and classification of resistance against manual attack” (accessed 3 October 2026). https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/glass-in-building-security-glazing-testing-and-classification-of-resistance-against-manual-attack
Related
- Outdoor vending machines: weatherproof cabinets, shelters and siting: the cluster guide
- Outdoor weatherproof vending machines
- Vending machine shelters and awnings
- Outdoor vending machines with glass doors
- Outdoor vending in heat and cold
- Outdoor kiosks: IP, NEMA and IK ratings for touch screens
Talk to us about ratings for an outdoor machine
Send a photo of the position, whether it is covered, which way it faces, and the IP, IK or NEMA rating your site or tender asks for. We will tell you which parts can carry it and confirm the specification on the quotation.
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