FAQ: Will our concrete floor protect against static?

While bare concrete—i.e., a concrete floor that hasn’t been sealed—often exhibits some static-dissipative or conductive tendencies, these electrical properties are variable and environmentally dependent. Conductivity is not inherent or consistent in concrete.

Concrete draws its conductivity from moisture in the floor, and its electrical resistance is subject to changing variables, including moisture permeation, geological conditions, subterranean activity, aquifers, weather, and ambient humidity or RH. A concrete floor that’s too conductive during a high humidity summer could be insulative in drier weather later that same year.

More important: Bare concrete does not reliably meet industry standards. ANSI/ESD S20.20, tested using method STM 7.1, recommends electrical resistance below 1 x 10E9 ohms. As concrete dries, its electrical resistance increases, making it less conductive. If a floor with an electrical ohms resistance at or near 10E9 becomes less conductive, it will not meet best practices or ESD industry standards.

Likewise, as resistance decreases, charge dissipation increases. Concrete can absorb vapor from the soil below, lowering its resistance, making the floor dangerously conductive.

The electrical resistance of bare concrete can vary by 2-3 magnitudes in either direction. Inherent dust and particles along with broad performance differentials, caused by uncontrollable site and environmental conditions, make bare concrete an impossible sell to an ESD-savvy customer or any auditor as part of an ISO certification.