ESD flooring is required to protect most types of electronics parts, which are ultra-sensitive to static electricity.
FAQ: Don't let moisture ruin your ESD flooring installation
We were recently contacted by a client who wanted our opinion about an inexpensive system designed to eliminate moisture vapor in concrete. Measurements using Test Method ASTM F2170 showed moisture levels in the concrete throughout the client’s facility in excess of 95%. At nearly 100% humidity, any ESD floor installed with low-VOC conductive adhesives will fail without some form of moisture mitigation system.
The supplier of the moisture-mitigation system had promised the client that their system would prevent the installation from failing and guaranteed it for the life of the floor. The warranty covered up to “8 pounds” of moisture per the ASTM F1869 calcium chloride test method, stating, “in the unlikely event of any failure resulting from moisture vapor below 8 pounds, XYZ, Inc. will either replace the material or refund the cost of the floor.”
Here’s the problem with this scenario:
- Brand-new, manufactured by a small company, the system had not been thoroughly vetted. The warranty guaranteed performance for “the life of the floor,” but the system hadn’t been in use long enough to justify such a claim.
- A warranty claim could cost 100s of thousands of dollars. Did this small company have the financial backbone to pay out such a claim? It wasn’t clear.
- The manufacturer cited a different ASTM test method than the method the client had used for the first set of tests. If there was a problem, how could the client be sure the method cited by the manufacturer would produce consistent results?
- The guarantee covered only the replacement costs of materials. It did not cover labor. Nor did the warranty compensate for inconvenience or cover any costs associated with lost business due to shutdowns. On a big job, labor can cost as much as or more than the material. And lost business could cost an operational facility 5, 10, or even 50 times more than the cost of an ESD floor.
Moisture is a serious issue, and it’s expensive to solve. It’s even more expensive if not handled with lock-tight solutions up front. If moisture testing indicates a problem, there’s a problem. Don’t be like property owners or facility managers who try to hide from a problem by looking for contrary test results. Remember: there is always a contractor out there who, to gain your confidence – or get the job—will be willing to take on a risk. But will that contractor compensate you fully if the floor fails and needs to be replaced?
If a solution sounds too good—or too cheap—to be true? It probably is.
Please note: StaticWorx is not in the moisture mitigation business. We’re providing this information as a service to the many clients and contractors who use our ESD flooring.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Reddit
Pinterest
Email
More FAQs
ESD-safe floors protect electronics by drawing static away from people or objects, transporting charges to ground.
The acronym ESD stands for electrostatic discharge. ESD flooring protects electronic equipment from electrostatic discharge.
ESD floors transport electricity and must be grounded. ESD floors must also generate minimal static electricity.
ESD floors dissipate static safely, protecting electronics from accidental damage due to electrostatic discharge (ESD) events.
To ensure they meet pertinent standards, ESD floors are tested for electrical resistance and static generation.
ESD stands for electrostatic discharge. Minute ESD events, too small for humans to perceive, can damage electronic components.
Floor materials with conductive elements transport static charges to ground, preventing random electrostatic discharge (ESD) events.
Laboratory floors are typically covered with vinyl or rubber tile or sheets, sometimes epoxy or urethane.
Most healthcare facilities and labs use low-VOC vinyl or rubber flooring materials.
In mission-critical operations that use static-sensitive electronic systems, ESD chairs are highly recommended to inhibit static generation.
Wrist straps are highly effective devices. They ground the wearer as do grounded ESD floors. For it to work it must be connected to ground.
No, regular flooring is not conductive and cannot be grounded. Because regular floors are not conductive they cannot transport static charges.
The acronym SDT stands for static-dissipative tile. Static-dissipative tile is considered ESD tile.
Dissipative or static dissipative is a term used to describe the electrical resistance of a flooring material.
Bare concrete is rarely used as an ESD floor. Because relative humidity varies, its conductivity is unreliable.
Interlocking tiles are not waterproof per se. The tiles lock together tightly, preventing moisture from the subfloor from seeping through the seams.
An interlocking tile is a tile with teeth that can be pressed into place with a mallet, locking the tiles together.
Preventing ESD requires a well-thought-out ESD prevention program. What is required will be dependent on the application and environment.
Raised floors can be grounded to the metal access floor panel or grounded like any other ESD floor with copper tape.
All ESD tile must be grounded. Any floor that is not grounded cannot conduct electricity and cannot dissipate static charges.
Conductive rubber is a high-end static control product often used in labs, cleanrooms and electronics manufacturing facilities.
Electrically conductive (EC) rubber is rubber with conductive chips added to the material during the manufacturing process.
No, wood is not antistatic. You can learn which materials are antistatic and which are not by looking at our Triboelectric chart.
The 2" wide reducer need not have any conductivity since the first full step on to the ESD floor will remove any charges generated from walking on standard flooring surfaces.
The static dissipative aspects of an ESD floor are not affected by the type of transitions, reducers and wall base used on a project.
One-to-one installation of floor finishes over raised access panels offers advantages but also some disadvantages.
The traffic classification for all StaticWorx ShadowFX ESD carpet is “Heavy,” meaning rated for heavy-duty use.
Most static in a workplace is generated by people walking on the floor. The floor is the first line of defense in ESD prevention.
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage electronics you use or that people charged with your safety use to protect you.
All ESD carpet tile is antistatic. However, standard carpet has no conductive properties, cannot be grounded.
Because different applications require different specifications for static control, ESD guidelines, or standards, vary across industries.
In manufacturing facilities electrostatic discharge can cause problems ranging from dirt and particulate contamination to machine failure.
The shock you feel when you walk across a carpeted floor or remove clingy laundry from the dryer are examples of ESD.
A type of paint, like GroundWorx Basics, made with conductive additives is sometimes called antistatic floor paint.
No. Vinyl flooring is not inherently antistatic. An antistatic floor generates little or no static electricity. Find out more.
ESD floors do not meet ANSI/ESD S20.20. Because S20.20 is not a specification. Learn more about this process document and the standard test methods it cites.
Conductive vinyl tile is not an appropriate ESD floor for an emergency dispatch center, and will not prevent static from damaging equipment. Find out why.
Why does an ESD floor need only 1 ground connection per 1000 ft? The conductivity in ESD tile and conductive adhesive form an electrical bond. Find out more.
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
Play Video
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.
