Photo of a laboratory with ESD flooring with some ESD chairs under the tables.

Bolt ESD Chairs, Belkin, consumer electronics, Los Angeles, CA.

ESD Chairs: A Critical Part of the ESD Flooring System

Reduce the Risk of ESD Damage in Electronics Environments

To protect static-sensitive electronics in environments that manufacture or rely on critical electronic components, including cleanrooms and labs, it is crucial to mitigate electrostatic discharge (ESD). Because walking across a floor generates static, called walking body voltage, an ESD floor is considered the first line of defense against unwanted static charges.

A diagram in three panels showing how walking body voltage works. The first panel shows someone walking across the floor and a build up of static. The text reads "1. Friction between the soles of shoes and the surface of the floor causes a transfer of electrons, leaving a positive charge on one surface and a negative charge on the other. This is called a triboelectric charge, or static electricity." The second panel shows a further build up of static electricity. The text reads: "As the person walks, static accumulates on the body. Humans can’t feel static until the charge reaches 3500 volts." The final panel shows someone at a desk touching electric equipment with a charge on their hand/arm. The text reads:" Static stays in place until the person touches someone or something, then the charge transfers, or discharges, to the other person or object. A static charge as low as 20 volts can damage or destroy sensitive electronic components."

But an ESD floor can’t draw charges from people sitting in an ordinary chair. ESD chairs are designed to keep people at the same electrical potential as their surroundings. They work by dissipating static charges from people to the ESD floor and ultimately to ground. Working in conjunction with the ESD floor, ESD footwear, ESD chairs and the ESD floor function as an ESD flooring system.

Understanding ESD Chairs

ESD chairs are specialized seats engineered to minimize the accumulation and discharge of static electricity. StaticWorx Bolt ESD chairs, for example, are built with conductive materials, such as carbon fibers in the upholstery and metal frames. These conductive materials facilitate the dissipation of electrostatic charges. A ground cord running through the spine of the ESD chairs allows for a connection from the upholstery through the frame and wheels to the designated ground point.

Graphic labelled “Without an ESD floor, an ESD chair is like any other chair - it does not inhibit static.” The illustration underneath shows a woman sitting at a desk with red dots on her body to represent charge being generated. The text underneath reads “With no ESD floor, static charges stay in place, charging both the person and the chair, raising the risk of a damaging ESD event.”
Graphic labelled “ESD Seating - part of an ESD flooring system.” The illustration underneath shows a woman sitting at a desk. A yellow line with red dashes -representing charge being dissipated - runs down her, down the chair she is sitting on and then along to floor to ground (denoted by the ground symbol in three places). The text underneath reads “On an ESD floor, static charges dissipate from the person, through the chair and castors, to the floor, where they are transported safely to ground.”
Graphic labelled “Without an ESD floor, an ESD chair is like any other chair - it does not inhibit static.” The illustration underneath shows a woman sitting at a desk with red dots on her body to represent charge being generated. The text underneath reads “With no ESD floor, static charges stay in place, charging both the person and the chair, raising the risk of a damaging ESD event.”
Graphic labelled “ESD Seating - part of an ESD flooring system.” The illustration underneath shows a woman sitting at a desk. A yellow line with red dashes -representing charge being dissipated - runs down her, down the chair she is sitting on and then along to floor to ground (denoted by the ground symbol in three places). The text underneath reads “On an ESD floor, static charges dissipate from the person, through the chair and castors, to the floor, where they are transported safely to ground.”

Benefits of ESD Chairs

In most electronics-dependent environments, the biggest source of unwanted static electricity is not from people walking; it’s from seating. When people walk, the ESD floor draws static away from their body and dissipates charges to ground, inhibiting static buildup. When they sit, particularly with feet lifted, they are no longer grounded by the floor. If they are not seated in an ESD chair when they generate charges – moving in the chair, for example – there is no place for charges to go, and static builds on their body.

A 2015 ASHRAE-sponsored study documented static charge generation in excess of 4000 volts produced when people sat in and stood from a chair. In a 2019 study conducted by Intel, by simply combining Bolt ESD seating with grounded ESD flooring static charges were maintained below 100 volts (.1kV)

In a 2019 study conducted by Intel, by simply combining Bolt ESD seating with grounded ESD flooring static charges were maintained below 100 volts (.1kV)

As part of an ESD flooring system, ESD chairs offer several advantages. First, they draw charges away from people and provide a controlled path for static dissipation, reducing the risk of harmful ESD events. Second, ESD chairs aid in keeping seated people at the same electrical potential as their environment, reducing the risk of static buildup and discharge to components. Bolt ESD chairs also provide ergonomic support, minimizing discomfort and fatigue. In cases where the use of grounded wrist straps is mandated but not policed, ESD chairs provide a highly effective fault-tolerant workaround.

Background image is a photo of an ESD flooring installation completed in a lab which uses ESD chairs of which three can be seen. In the foreground at the bottom are two boxes. The top is a bright blue with the StaticWorx logo and the words "Static Shorts with StaticWorx: Right from the den". The second is a dark blue-gray and includes the text in white: “ESD Chairs: A Crucial Part of Your ESD Flooring System”
Play Video about Background image is a photo of an ESD flooring installation completed in a lab which uses ESD chairs of which three can be seen. In the foreground at the bottom are two boxes. The top is a bright blue with the StaticWorx logo and the words "Static Shorts with StaticWorx: Right from the den". The second is a dark blue-gray and includes the text in white: “ESD Chairs: A Crucial Part of Your ESD Flooring System”
Background image is a photo of an ESD flooring installation completed in a lab which uses ESD chairs of which three can be seen. In the foreground at the bottom are two boxes. The top is a bright blue with the StaticWorx logo and the words "Static Shorts with StaticWorx: Right from the den". The second is a dark blue-gray and includes the text in white: “ESD Chairs: A Crucial Part of Your ESD Flooring System”
Play Video about Background image is a photo of an ESD flooring installation completed in a lab which uses ESD chairs of which three can be seen. In the foreground at the bottom are two boxes. The top is a bright blue with the StaticWorx logo and the words "Static Shorts with StaticWorx: Right from the den". The second is a dark blue-gray and includes the text in white: “ESD Chairs: A Crucial Part of Your ESD Flooring System”

What is an ESD system?

People often think of ESD flooring as a standalone product. Yet every flooring installation is subjected to multiple variables from the initial installation through the post-installation environment and ongoing maintenance. The strength and reliability of any system is only as good as its weakest link. If the installation wasn’t done properly, for instance, or the floor was installed with incorrect materials the installation could fail.

The same applies to the component parts of the system: ESD footwear, ESD chairs, chair grounding and personnel mobility, and redundant ground paths, including ESD flooring.

Establishing An ESD-Control Flooring System

When establishing an ESD-control system, it’s important to consider the following:

1. Footwear Grounding

ESD footwear, such as ESD shoes, heel or sole grounders, form an electrical bond with the static-control floor to establish a reliable and consistent path to ground. ESD flooring grounds ESD footwear, dissipating static charges and preventing static from building on people when they walk. ANSI/ESD S20.20, the electrical standard for the electronics manufacturing and handling industries, mandates the use of special ESD-preventive footwear.

ESD Shoes

2. ESD Chairs

Once the person is seated, with feet lifted or resting on a footrest, even with ESD footwear, they are no longer connected to ground. ESD chairs dissipate any static people may generate while seated and transport it through a grounding cable in the spine of the chair to the ESD flooring, which carries static charges to ground.

3. Chair Grounding Reliability

The effectiveness of ESD chairs relies on consistent contact between the person and the chair’s conductive surfaces. Contact between the chair and the conductive elements in the floor should be checked with an ohm meter. Some ESD floors are made with sparsely-spaced conductive granules that don’t make reliable contact with casters on ESD chairs and carts.

Read: Caster Contact: The Achilles Heel of ESD Flooring (In Compliance Magazine)

4. Mobility and Area Coverage

ESD chairs are designed for use in specific areas in which static-sensitive equipment or processes are in use. Ideal for jobs performed while seated, as well as for use in cleanrooms and labs, StaticWorx agile Bolt ESD chairs provide the flexibility necessary for people to move freely in their seats.

5. Redundancy and Multiple Grounding Paths

To enhance safety and reliability, an effective ESD-control program advocates for redundancy and multiple grounding paths. Combining various grounding methods, such as ESD footwear, ESD chairs, and ESD flooring establishes an overlapping network of protection. This systemic approach significantly reduces the risk of electrostatic discharge compared to using either an ESD floor or ESD seating as a standalone product. 

Combining various grounding methods, such as ESD footwear, ESD chairs, and ESD flooring establishes an overlapping network of protection. This systemic approach significantly reduces the risk of electrostatic discharge compared to using either an ESD floor or ESD seating as a standalone product. 

Considerations for Implementing ESD Chairs

ESD chairs play a critical role within the ESD flooring system. They offer highly effective passive static protection regardless of how well personal grounding with straps and footwear is enforced. The following considerations should be taken into account when implementing ESD chairs in static-sensitive environments:

1. Integration with ESD Control Measures

ESD chairs should be utilized as part of a comprehensive ESD control strategy, in conjunction with other grounding measures and equipment. Integration with ESD footwear and static-control flooring ensures a robust and comprehensive approach to personnel grounding.

2. Training and Awareness

Proper training and awareness are crucial to implementing an ESD flooring system. People should be educated on the purpose, usage, and limitations of ESD chairs. They also need to understand the importance of following proper static-control procedures and protocols.

3. Regular Maintenance and Testing

To ensure optimal performance, ESD chairs should be regularly inspected and maintained. Lab managers should establish an auditing and maintenance schedule that includes checking the condition of grounding cords, verifying the conductivity of chair surfaces, and addressing any issues promptly. Regular electrical testing, such as surface resistance measurements, can help identify potential problems and validate the chair’s effectiveness in dissipating static charges.

4. Risk Assessment and Analysis

Before implementing an ESD flooring system, a risk assessment and hazard analysis should be conducted. This assessment should consider the specific requirements and risks associated with the particular lab or cleanroom environment including the probability that the proper use of personal grounding devices will be followed consistently. The sensitivity of electronic components, the use and monitoring of ESD footwear, and the use and maintenance of ESD seating and how the components integrate must all be considered.

5. Compliance with Standards and Regulations:

Lab managers should ensure that the ESD chairs selected for use comply with relevant industry standards and regulations. These standards, such as ANSI/ESD S20.20 or IEC 61340-5-1, provide guidelines for ESD control programs and equipment. Selecting chairs that meet these standards ensures that they are designed and manufactured to provide reliable static charge dissipation.

Thinking in terms of a flooring system, as opposed to singular product, forces specifiers to consider every aspect of an installation, building in redundancies where necessary to create a fail-safe flooring system, ensuring the success and reliability of the installation.

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Useful Resources

Background graphic is a still from the StaticWorx GroundSafe ESD Flooring – Your Trusted Partner explainer animation. In the foreground at the bottom are two boxes. The top is a bright blue with the StaticWorx logo and "GroundSafe ESD Flooring" underneath in white. The second is a dark blue-gray and includes the text in white: “GroundWorx ESD Flooring – Your Trusted Partner”
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StaticWorx high-performance static-control floors protect electronic components, explosives, and high-speed computers from damage caused by static electricity. ESD flooring is part of a system. Choices should always be based on objective, researched evidence. When you partner with us, we look at all possible items that may need to integrate with the floor, and, focusing on your goals and objectives, help you find the right floor for your application.