Unlike the office or homes where the personal computer is used, the IPC is used in factories where there are many people working, a lot of dust and noise. The industrial computers are built to manage harsh environments with extreme temperatures, heat, humidity, power fluctuations that the normal PC cannot sustain.

IPC can work in conditions of 45°C and above while commercial PCs must be well below the 35°C temperature range. The cooling fans when outside the chassis come with special filters to block dust and other similar contaminants. When the fans are inside the chassis, there will be continuous clean air flow.