Before describing the ESD flooring specifications, let’s know about the flooring first. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) flooring is a type of flooring system that protects sensitive electronic devices and equipment from damage caused by static electricity. Static electricity is generated by the contact and separation of two surfaces, such as a person walking on a floor or a device being handled by a worker. Static electricity can cause sparks, fires, explosions, or malfunctioning of electronic components. ESD flooring works by dissipating or grounding the static charge before it can harm the devices or equipment.
ESD Flooring Specifications
There are different specifications and standards for ESD flooring, depending on the industry and application involved. Some of the most common ones are:
ANSI/ESD S20.20: This is the standard for the protection of electrical and electronic parts, assemblies and equipment from electrostatic discharge. It covers the requirements for ESD flooring, as well as other elements of an ESD control program, such as personnel grounding, packaging, labelling, and testing. The standard specifies that ESD flooring should have a surface resistance of less than 1E9 ohms (ANSI/ESD 7.1), a system resistance of less than 3.5E7 ohms (ANSI/ESD 97.1), and a body voltage generation of less than 100 volts (ANSI/ESD 97.2).
EN 61340-5-1: This is the standard for the protection of electronic devices from electrostatic phenomena in Europe. It gives general requirements for ESD flooring, as well as other aspects of an ESD control system, such as personnel grounding, workstations, packaging, and measurement methods. The standard requires ESD flooring to have a surface resistance of less than 1E9 ohms and a system resistance of less than 3.5E7 ohms.
NFPA 484: This is the standard for combustible metals in the US. It covers the requirements for ESD flooring in areas where combustible metal dusts, powders, or flakes are produced, processed, or handled. The standard specifies that ESD flooring should have a surface resistance of less than 1E6 ohms and a system resistance of less than 1E8 ohms.
ESD Flooring Specifications & Differences
Considerations in ESD Flooring
Choosing the right ESD flooring for a project depends on several factors, such as the type and sensitivity of the devices or equipment involved, the level of static charge generation and accumulation in the environment, the desired performance and durability of the flooring, and the budget and installation constraints. There are different types of ESD flooring materials available, such as epoxy, vinyl, rubber, carpet, and tile.
The table compares different types of ESD flooring materials based on five criteria: conductivity, wear resistance, maintenance, aesthetics, and cost. Conductivity refers to how well the material can dissipate or ground the static charge. Wear resistance refers to how durable the material is against abrasion and damage. Maintenance refers to how easy the material is to clean and repair. Aesthetics refers to how attractive the material looks and feels. Cost refers to how expensive the material is to purchase and install.
According to the table, epoxy and rubber are the most conductive and wear-resistant materials, but they are also the most expensive and have low aesthetics. Vinyl and tile are moderately conductive and wear-resistant, but they have high aesthetics and moderate cost. Carpet is the least conductive and wear-resistant material, but it has low cost and moderate aesthetics.
One Stop ESD Solutions by TAKO Since 1979
TAKO is another leading manufacturer and supplier of ESD flooring solutions for various industries and applications. TAKO offers a range of ESD flooring products and systems that meet or exceed the relevant specifications and standards for ESD protection. TAKO’s ESD flooring products include TAKO ESD Vinyl Floor Tiles, TAKO ESD PVC Floor Mat, and TAKO Raised Floor systems. These systems are designed to provide reliable and consistent ESD performance, high mechanical strength and chemical resistance, easy installation and maintenance, and attractive appearance.
TAKO has 43 years of hands-on ESD expertise and provides industrial-specific ESD solutions, awareness, and training. TAKO also offers ESD site evaluation and risk assessment services to help customers identify and solve their electrostatic problems. TAKO has completed many ESD flooring projects for various clients, such as Sony, Honda, Petronas, SP Setia, TNB, MRT Corp, and University Malaya.
To learn more about TAKO’s ESD flooring solutions, Click Here.