ESD Workstation Setup: Grounding & Components

When working on ESD-sensitive projects, whether at home, in a repair shop, or even a large-scale manufacturing operation, having you and your work area grounded is a necessity.

There are many ways to get your workstation fully grounded, here is an example of the ideal layout for a single worker at a station, we’ll start from the ground up:

Flooring

acl-6800ACL Conductive Floor Mat work well for chair movement. ACL’s homogeneous distribution of carbon black and proprietary polymers give the conductive vinyl chair mat a continuous and permanent path-to-ground. Electrical properties will not wear due to damage caused by chair casters, so the conductive circuit remains continuous while guarding against scratching and scuff marks.

These chair mats are laser cut specifically for desks and can be punched if one chooses to add a grounding snap.

Seating

Choosing the right chair is a matter of personal preference, and ergonomics are an important part of the chair selection process,

bevco-9050me4For sensitive environments, the focus remains on selecting the chair with the right blend of comfort and ESD properties. First, we need to decide what height we need a chair at, desk height or bench height – it all depends on your personal set-up.

Your basic upholstery options will usually be fabric, vinyl, or polyurethane. Which upholstery you choose will depend on the environment you are working in. A cleanroom, for example, would exclude the use of fabric and require vinyl or polyurethane depending on the class. Somewhere less stringent, like a repair center or personal workstation would be a great place for fabric options.

One of the most important features of an ESD-safe chair is the drag chain. This chain is connected to the base of the chair and reaches the floor, creating a constant path-to-ground, providing an electrical bond between the chair and the grounded floor.

The last thing you should look for in an ESD-safe chair is the casters, most ESD-safe casters will come in carpet or hard floor options. Choose whichever works for you, but if you plan on using in conjunction with a floor mat, hard floor casters would probably be the better option.

Tables

Production Automation carries a large variety of workbenches, most of which have an ESD laminate option. Your workbench can be fitted with either a grounding jack or constant monitor unit. The difference here is that grounding jacks are simple; you install it into the frame of the table and ground the unit, then wrist straps can be plugged into it, grounding the worker. Constant monitors are connected and function similarly, but will visually and audibly alert users if the connection to ground is lost. Which option, or none, depends again on the work being done.

Grounding mats are another dedicated accessory for an ESD-safe workbench. Grounding mats add another layer of ESD protection for your projects and offer conductive and dissipative options.

Personal Grounding

personalgroundingChoosing to use an ESD-safe floor mat, chair, workstation, and accessories ensure your workstation is a safe and functional space for handling sensitive products. Though, we must not forget that you, the worker, should also take measures to be ESD-safe.

Again starting from the ground up, foot straps and heel grounds ensure that any time your feet are touching, a ground is maintained. Choosing to only wear a grounder on one foot means you lose the earth connection with every step.

Wrist Straps are the ubiquitous ESD accessory, they come in many materials and styles and can be connected to a grounded banana jack, constant monitor, or checked on a wrist strap tester via a grounding cord.

ESD smocks and polo shirts are light, comfortable, and most importantly, reliable for ESD protection.

Adding all of the personal protection to your ESD protected workstation ensures that you are fully ESD compliant and ready to confidently work on any project, no matter how delicate or sensitive it may be. Of course, there are many, many other products that can be incorporated into an ESD-safe workspace, and Production Automation offers a large variety, which you can find on our website. From ESD office supplies, flooring, topical anti-stat, paint, cleaners, and other accessories, PAC makes it easy to find everything related to ESD.

Not sure what you need? Have more questions about creating, expanding, or improving an ESD workspace? We can help! Our knowledgeable staff can answer questions and help you select the right products for your applications. Contact us at 888-903-0333, at [email protected], or through our Live Chat on our website at www.gotopac.com.

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Mel Meadows

Mel Meadows

Mel Meadows is a product specialist with over 14 years of experience. She’s a central source of expertise for thousands of industrial and critical-class products featured on the Production Automation web store. By working directly with manufacturers, Mel deciphers technical documentation and outlines product use in real-world environments. View her profile to learn more about proper techniques, protocol, and product usage in both industrial and cleanroom facilities.

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