Glossary: Conductive Flooring
When referring to flooring materials, the term “conductive” is often confused with the term “static dissipative.” Floors are correctly classified as conductive or static-dissipative based upon their electrical resistance to ground. Electrical resistance is measured in ohms (Ω).
The resistance to ground of a conductive floor is usually defined as < 1.0 x 10E6 ohms, measured per ANSI/ESD STM 7.1. Conductive flooring meets the required resistive properties (< 10E9 ohms) for a floor complying with the resistance to ground parameter in ANSI/ESD S20.20.
- Conductive flooring should not be considered as superior to a floor in the static dissipative range.
- Static-control floors should be selected based on two parameters: Electrical resistance and walking body voltage. While all conductive floors meet the resistance requirements of ANSI/ESD S20.20, some fail to meet the walking body voltage requirement (< 100 volts).
2) A type of flooring intended to prevent, mitigate, dissipate, conduct, remove or ground excessive static electricity charges on people, furniture, mobile carts and equipment.
Note: This generic description is not useful in evaluating static-control flooring materials. Materials should be evaluated based upon their electrical resistance, suitability for the application, and compliance with industry standards.
Safety Considerations
- Static conductive flooring should not be used near or under energized equipment.
- Always consult industry standards as well as local building and safety codes before installing conductive flooring.
- Depending on the application, ground fault interrupters may be required in spaces equipped with conductive flooring.
- Conductive flooring should never be installed in dispatch areas, call centers or flight control rooms. These spaces require the electrical resistance of flooring materials to measure at least 1.0 x 10E6 or above.
Learning Center Articles
- 7 Common Mistakes Selecting an ESD floor
- A Guide to ESD Flooring Selection
- Avoid Costly Failures: What You Need to Know When Specifying ESD Flooring
- Choosing ESD Flooring for:
- ESD Footwear: What Is It and When Is It Necessary?
- ESD Footwear for Electronics Manufacturing and Handling Applications
- Facility Managers’ Guide to Selecting ESD Flooring
- The Need for Due Diligence in Specifying Static-Free Flooring
- Standard of Care for Specifying Floors in Mission-Critical Spaces
- Understanding the Hidden Costs of ESD Flooring
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.
