Static Free Flooring, ESD Tile, and ESD Coatings
Updated 9/27/17
As static-sensitive electronic components grow more intricate, so do consumers of static-control flooring. Here are some key points to consider when choosing flooring for home offices and small businesses.
As electronic components become faster and more sensitive to electrical interference, the need for static control grows exponentially. Especially so, in mission-critical areas like 911 call centers or biotech facilities where data loss can pose a safety threat. When most of us think of static, we think of nuisance – static cling or irritating shocks. For humans to feel the effects of static electricity, the discharge must be at least 3500 volts. To put this into perspective, sensitive computer parts can receive damage by a static discharge as low as 20 volts.
Static electricity is the result of friction between two materials. So, walking across a floor is the major source of static buildup.
That’s why the cornerstone of any static-free environment is static-protective flooring. Fortunately, almost every conceivable floor covering material can be manufactured to provide some static-protective properties.
The first question a buyer should ask is this: Will the people who walk on this floor wear grounded heel straps and conductive shoes? If the answer is no, the floor must provide static dissipative elements and the capacity to prevent or inhibit static build-up. Before selecting static-protective flooring, it is imperative to understand how the floor will interact with the environment and humans.
Requirements for Static-Control Flooring
To prevent static build-up, a static-control floor must meet two basic requirements. It must not contribute to static generation and it must be ground-able after installation.
Although these requirements seem basic, in practice they are anything but simple. For example, a 3.5 kV antistatic floor will not generate charges higher than 3500 Volts. However, the typical computer-grade antistatic floor is not ground-able and cannot come close to reducing charges to the minute thresholds necessary to protect today’s ultra-sensitive electronics.
Intuitively, we would assume that static dissipative carpet would be less capable than conductive vinyl, but the opposite is usually true. Static dissipative carpet tiles contain thousands of grounded dissipative fibers. The fibers sweep off static and transfer onto shoes, the same way small brushes eliminate static on high-speed copiers as the paper goes into the collator. This does not mean that conductive vinyl is an inferior product. It means that conductive vinyl works best in applications, such as electronic manufacturing and assembly, where you can monitor and control footwear and traffic.
ESD Flooring For Call Centers
Many static-protective floors are incapable of providing both of these attributes. Vinyl tile may be “conductive or static dissipative tile”. However, this does not necessarily mean that it will prevent static problems. Certain conductors primarily comprise ordinary static-generating materials with a small distribution of carbon or graphite particles. Although the embedded conductors enable the vinyl floor to be grounded, the floor fails to prevent static build-up. When that same server room includes a static dissipative carpet tile, it is almost impossible to create a harmful amount of static charge – regardless of footwear.
Static control rubber provides static inhibiting properties similar to dissipative carpet tiles. We know whenever two dissimilar surfaces rub together they generate static. The corollary is also true. Similar materials generate less static when they interact. The base compound in antistatic rubber flooring sufficiently resembles most shoe soles to the point that it will inhibit static generation. Unlike conductive vinyl, rubber is a naturally low-static generator. Like dissipative carpet and vinyl, rubber can be grounded and has many of the same ergonomic properties as dissipative carpet.
ESD Conductive Epoxy Flooring For Wet Areas and More
Every static-control floor has its attributes and its drawbacks. Carpet, for example, despite its positive ergonomic and charge reduction properties, is inappropriate for many applications. Some areas in electronics manufacturing are constantly wet or face contaminants like splashes of lead solder or solvents. These areas are best fit for heavy-duty flooring materials that clean or mop up easily. Static control rubber, vinyl, and quartz-filled conductive epoxies are particularly suitable for these wet, messy areas. That does not mean that adjacent areas can’t be carpeted, but it does mean that extra thought should go into the layout and design of the facility. The advent of conductive release adhesive enables the interchangeability of some flooring materials, such as rubber and carpet. Before installing, it is wise to ensure that carpet and resilient tiles are modular and compatible with the same adhesive.
Permanent ESD Systems VS ESD Floor Coatings
Finally, in choosing static-control flooring, buyers should consider the need for permanent static protection and maintenance procedures and costs. The static-control properties of certain floors wear off, requiring periodic buffing or waxing to maintain performance. Many vinyl tiles are not necessary unless the customer uses special antistatic floor finishes. One should be carefully scrutinize any carpet that requires a restoring agent, like an antistatic/stain blocker.
Pricing For ESD Flooring Systems and ESD Epoxy Floor Coatings
Today, there are static-control floors and styles to meet every flooring consideration and budget. As with any specialty product, confusion due to technical jargon and complicated specifications is normal. Before making any decisions, it’s wise to identify reputable suppliers who offer a combination of flooring and static control knowledge. Finding a supplier with both skill sets will ensure that the flooring will yield a lifetime of utility. You also help your customers guarantee that their mission-critical operations are safe from the hazards of random static discharge. Before purchasing a static-control floor, buyers must be aware of the additional cost of maintaining the floor. They must also consider whether it’s prudent to install in a mission-critical area like a flight control tower, a flooring material that requires periodic rejuvenation. After all, static is invisible. How would they know exactly when the static control properties had worn off?
ESD Flooring Materials at Production Automation
- Vinyl or Rubber Roll Flooring (Conductive & ESD)
- Modular Conductive & Dissipative Hidden Interlock Tiles
- Free-Floating Interlock ESD Floor System
- Conductive Carpet Flooring Tiles
- ESD Anti-Fatigue Mats
- Conductive Runner Mats
- Conductive Floor Paint, Wax, and Stripper
As you see, we carry many options! If you have questions or need help selecting the best flooring material for your application we are more than willing to help, our ESD experts can help you through selection to ordering, simply call us toll-free at 888-903-0333, or email us at [email protected]
© David H. Long, 2007 Compliance Engineering
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