What is an IK number?

[CriticalEye]

My HP OfficeJet Pro 8500A (A910n) Premium e-AiO works fine. But when I perform a diagnostic checkup & click on the 'Device Info' tab w/in the 'Network Toolbox' feature, it displays a serial #, a service ID #, & then an IK # of 669. What's an IK #?

[praveenbv]

Hi@CriticalEye, Welcome to the HP Support Community!

The IK Code, or impact rating, is an international numeric classification for the degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against external mechanical impacts. ... The IK Code is defined in the European Standard EN 62262.

Hope that answers your question and you have a great day!

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[CriticalEye]

Thanks for your reply.  The only problem is that the IK Code, as defined in the European Standard EN 62262, is always a 2-digit #: IK01-IK10.  (The higher the # the better the protection.)  But as indicated in my query, the specs on my HP printer state that the IK# for this unit is 669, a 3-digit #.  So, unless I'm missing something, I don't think the IK Code corresponds to this IK #.  Please advise if you or anyone else has addl. info.  Thank you.

[praveenbv]

Hi@CriticalEye,

It's a unique ID  printed on the devices, by the HP Model number you will be able to find the details.

[CriticalEye]

1.  See the screen shot above as it relates to the 8 steps below:

2.  Access 'HP Printer Assist'.

3.  Click on the 'Print, Scan, & Fax' tab.

4.  Click on the 'Maintain Your Printer' tab.

5.  Click on the 'Device Info' tab w/in the 'Network Toolbox'.

6,  Find the HP printer model # (8500 A910) & the IK # (669).  Again, HP's IK # doesn't appear to be the same thing as an IK Code (impact rating), which is limited by intl. stds. to a 2 digit # from 00-to-10.

7.  There are no other details from HP.

8.  Using a different approach, I also printed an HP Office Pro 8500 A910 Series Printer Self-Test Diagnostic Page, which printed 3 specs/data subsections, including: 'Printer Info', Ink Cartridge Status', & 'Printhead Status'.  Under 'Ink Cartridge Status', 1 of the specs included IK:  669.  Assuming this would indicate that IK# 669 has something to do w/HP ink cartridges, I Googled this using several different, related key search words to no avail.  Google's algorithms typically attempt to auto-correct 'IK' to 'Ink' (as in ink cartridge) or 'UK' (as in United Kingdom).

9.  I've called HP Support & escalated the question beyond Level-II.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anyone at HP yet who knows what HP's own printer specs mean when it comes to this question of:  "What is IK #669?"

[praveenbv]

Hi@CriticalEye,

IK is an international numeric classification for the degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against external mechanical impacts.

Basically a unique ID for the devices, And it's not required it's for internal use only.

[CriticalEye]

Thank you again for all your patience w/me re: this 1 small item.  From my reading, I understand the meaning behind both the earlier/older IP code & the later/newer IK#.  Where I've had some difficulty is in the way it was expressed by HP in the spec sheet of the printer.  Allow me to provide some additional background, & then I'll share w/you at the end why it seemed a bit confusing to me.  Thanks to you & any other readers who may have additional insights.  Very respectfully yours....

IK Rating = Impact by Kinetic (Energy)

The Euro std. EN 62262—the equivalent of intl. std. IEC 62262 (2002)—is commonly referred to as an IK rating. This is an intl. numeric classification for the degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against external mechanical impacts. It provides a means of specifying the capacity of an enclosure to protect its contents from external impacts. The IK Rating Std. uses a 2-numeral code. It was originally defined in Euro Std. BS EN 50102 in Oct. 1995. IK code & impact energy values were amended in 1998. Conflicting natl. stds. had to be w/drawn by April 1997. Following its adoption as an intl. std. in 2002, the Euro std. was renumbered EN 62262. EN 62262 specifies how enclosures should be mounted for testing, the atmospheric conditions that should prevail, the # of impacts (5), their (even) distribution, & the size, style, material, dimensions, etc., of the various types of hammers designed to produce the energy levels required.

Before the advent of the IK code, a 3rd numeral occasionally was added to the closely related IP (Ingress Protection) Rating to indicate the level of impact protection, e.g., IP66(9). The IP Code classified/rated the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects (incl. body parts like hands & fingers), dust, accidental contact, & water in mechanical casings & w/electrical enclosures. The std. aimed to provide users more detailed info than vague mktg. terms such as ‘waterproof’. But no ed. of the std. was openly published for unlicensed readers, leaving space for wide interpretation. (From Security .World & Wikipedia entries)

IK Codes range from 0 (no protection) to 10 (max protection) as follows: IK00-IK10. ‘IK09’ represents an Impact by Kinetic (IK) Energy of 10 joules w/resistance in impact from an object of 11lb (5kg) thrown 7.9” (20cm).

Back to the IP (Ingress Protection) rating system. The ‘IP66’ designation, e.g., represented:

The level of protection the enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts from the ingress of:

-1st  Digit: Solids:    ‘6’: Dust Tight: No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact.

-2nd Digit: Liquids: ‘6’: Water projected in powerful jets (12.5mm nozzle) against enclosure from any direction must have no harmful effects. Duration: >3min @100l/min (.37impgal/s) @100kPa (15psi) @3m (9.8ft) distance.

Again, before the advent of the IK code, a 3rd non-standardized numeral occasionally was added to the closely related IP Rating to indicate the level of impact protection, e.g., “IP66(9)”. This non-std. was 1 of the key factors that led to the development of the IK std.’s 2-numeral code to distinguish it from the old systems.

The part I still don’t quite understand is that the HP Office Jet Pro 8500A (A910n) Premium e-AIO printer spec sheet clearly shows the “IK#” as “669”.  Given that the IK rating std. was released in 2002 & had been in use for nearly a decade when the printer was released in late-2010, why did HP use the old IP Rating (‘IP66’) & add a 3rd numeral (uncommon) & call the 3-numeral combo an “IK#”, which, by definition, has only 2 numerals?  And even then, according to all the resources I could find, the correct way to express the old IP rating code, IF adding a 3rd numeral would’ve been as “66(9)”.  So, the way that HP listed the spec seemed unnecessarily confusing.  But if I’m missing something here, please don’t hesitate to enlighten me if you have additional info.  Thank you.

[praveenbv]

Hi@CriticalEye,

Unfortunately, this will not be available with the HP community.

I'd suggest you Contact HP in your region regarding the service options for your computer. 

If you are having trouble navigating through the above options, it's most likely because the device is out of warranty. If yes? please send me a private message with the region you are contacting us from. Check next to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it.   

Have a great day!  

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. 

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!