FAQ: How do I mate conductive tape/copper strip to ensure conductivity across a floor?

I have a #6 AWG copper conductor and the copper strip/tape - how do I best MATE those together? Or how do I ensure conductivity across the floor?

What you’re really asking is this: how do I ensure continued conductivity across the static control floor? The answer must involve your choice of static-control flooring.

There different types of static-control floor coverings, all with different electrical properties, some with limitations. Armstrong manufactures a vinyl product called SDT. Armstrong SDT can’t perform without the application of special waxes.

StaticWorx vinyl tile is a permanently conductive material that requires no special care to remain conductive. Waxes are not needed. Conductive adhesive unites the tiles electrically, and the installation is grounded using a simple 24” long, 2” wide, copper strip under one tile. The other end of the strip is attached to an electrical outlet using one of the screws in the outlet box. (We provide the strips as part of our package.)

Illustration demonstrating how ESD flooring works. The diagram shows cut off legs/foot standing on a conductive tile (labelled conductive tile with carbon pathways). A zoomed in cross-section is labelled "tile cross section: carbon veins". The next layer down is labelled "conductive adhesive". The next layer is labelled "concrete". From the conductive adhesive, copper stripping is shown with a grounding symbol and the label "connect to AC or bldg. ground". The diagram shows an electrical charge being carried from the person throw the conductive tile to the conductive adhesive and then along the copper stripping to ground.
The conductive elements in an ESD floor transport static charges through the thickness of the flooring material, to the conductive ground plane (conductive adhesive or underlayment) to an earth ground.

Only one ground connection is needed per 1000 square feet. The tiles are bonded via with conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive-GroundTack-which contains conductive coated fibers.

How the Adhesive Works

Conductive adhesive creates an electrical bond between ESD flooring tiles, uniting all contiguously installed tiles electrically. When a person walks across the floor or slides out of a chair, static on their body is discharged to the ESD floor. The static charge flows from the surface of the floor, through its thickness, to the adhesive ground plane; from there it’s safely and effectively discharged to ground.
Conductive Adhesive

StaticWorx conductive adhesives are highly conductive and provide excellent continuity across the entire ESD floor. To meet relevant specifications, the conductive adhesive must be attached with copper strips to some form of ground—e.g.,electrical conduit, building steel or a dedicated grounding strip.

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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.