Floors

Choosing the correct floor is a probably the most critical ESD decision you will make.

Once a floor is installed it is time consuming and expensive to correct any mistakes.

In general conductive floors are used in ATEX environments while dissipative floors are used where semiconductors are made or assembled.

Electrostatic control flooring is a complex area with many options and choices.

One example of the many complexities involved is the effect of flooring and footwear choices.

It is obviously critical that the footwear allow any charge to be conducted to the floor.

The combination of footwear and flooring material is a key factor in determining the level of charge

generated. The standard method for specifying floors is electrical resistance. The relationship

between electrical resistance and triboelectric charging is complex and not always predictable.

In critical environments the amount of charge generated by the combination of footwear

and flooring should be measured directly.

Many flooring suppliers are very knowledgeable but before making this critical decision

its make sense to consult an independent expert to ensure the best cost/quality option.