Glossary: InSulative

The property of “insulation” refers to a material’s ability to store as opposed to conduct electrical current.

An insulator is the opposite of a conductor. A good example of an insulator is a stone hearth. Although the hearth stores heat from a hot fire, it can be touched without danger because the heat is retained by the hearth and not transferred to the skin (as opposed to touching the metal grille on the same fireplace).

In the case of carpet construction, all fibers are insulators unless a conductive coating is applied to the external perimeter of the fibers. Insulated fibers will both generate and store static electricity. They cannot be grounded, even if a copper wire is attached to the tile.

Illustration in three panels that explains the difference between standard low kv carpet, low kv carpet with permanent conductive fiber and ANSI/ESD compliant carpet tile. The first panel is headed “Standard Low kV carpet” and has an illustration of a thread cross section (labelled as such). The text underneath reads “Conductive fiber is buried inside each thread (elevation)”. Then follows an illustration showing a cropped leg/foot walking on carpet with a zoomed in section showing the shoe contacting the floor. At the bottom the text reads “Buried in the carpet thread, conductive fiber cannot make contact with the shoe, so there is no conductivity. Standard carpet tile cannot be grounded.” The second panel is headed “Low kV Carpet Tile with Permanent Conductive Fiber”. Underneath is an illustration showing the fiber integrated into the carpet weave (labelled thread cross section). The text underneath reads: “Conductive fiber is integrated into the fiber weave (elevation)”. Underneath is an illustration of a cropped leg/foot walking on the carpet. In a zoomed in close up, the fibers can be seen integrated into the thread. The text at the bottom reads: “The backing is insulate. Without a conductive backing, there is no path to ground. Even with the conductive fibers, the carpet cannot be grounded.” The third panel is headed “ANSI/ESD Compliant Carpet Tile”. Underneath is an illustration showing the fiber integrated into the carpet weave (labelled thread cross section). Below that is the text “Conductive fiber is integrated into the carpet weave (elevation). Underneath is an illustration of a cropped leg/foot walking across a carpet with the bottom layer showing as grounded (by the grounding symbol). In a zoomed in close up, the fibers can be seen integrated into the thread. At the bottom of the panel is the text: “ANSI/ESD compliant carpet tile provides four layers of conductivity. Under the conductive fiber is a conductive primary backing, a conductive pre-coat, and conductive fibreglass, with a static-dissipative PVC backing at the bottom.
Illustration in three panels that explains the difference between standard low kv carpet, low kv carpet with permanent conductive fiber and ANSI/ESD compliant carpet tile. The first panel is headed “Standard Low kV carpet” and has an illustration of a thread cross section (labelled as such). The text underneath reads “Conductive fiber is buried inside each thread (elevation)”. Then follows an illustration showing a cropped leg/foot walking on carpet with a zoomed in section showing the shoe contacting the floor. At the bottom the text reads “Buried in the carpet thread, conductive fiber cannot make contact with the shoe, so there is no conductivity. Standard carpet tile cannot be grounded.” The second panel is headed “Low kV Carpet Tile with Permanent Conductive Fiber”. Underneath is an illustration showing the fiber integrated into the carpet weave (labelled thread cross section). The text underneath reads: “Conductive fiber is integrated into the fiber weave (elevation)”. Underneath is an illustration of a cropped leg/foot walking on the carpet. In a zoomed in close up, the fibers can be seen integrated into the thread. The text at the bottom reads: “The backing is insulate. Without a conductive backing, there is no path to ground. Even with the conductive fibers, the carpet cannot be grounded.” The third panel is headed “ANSI/ESD Compliant Carpet Tile”. Underneath is an illustration showing the fiber integrated into the carpet weave (labelled thread cross section). Below that is the text “Conductive fiber is integrated into the carpet weave (elevation). Underneath is an illustration of a cropped leg/foot walking across a carpet with the bottom layer showing as grounded (by the grounding symbol). In a zoomed in close up, the fibers can be seen integrated into the thread. At the bottom of the panel is the text: “ANSI/ESD compliant carpet tile provides four layers of conductivity. Under the conductive fiber is a conductive primary backing, a conductive pre-coat, and conductive fibreglass, with a static-dissipative PVC backing at the bottom.
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StaticWorx Flooring Products

A completed installation of ShadowFX static-dissipative (ESD) carpet tile (Fields & Stone range) in a lobby
A completed installation of AmeriWorx conductive (ESD) vinyl tile flooring in an electronics manufacturing facility
Photo is a cropped shot of a laboratory facility with a completed ESD rubber floor installation.
An in progress installation of GroundWorx Ultra generation 3 ESD epoxy flooring in an electronics manufacturing and assembly facility.
Completed installation of GroundLock Extreme ESD interlocking tiles at a manufacturing facility

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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.