Technical Article Hub

In a hurry? We get it. For those of you who don’t have time to hunt for information, we’ve gathered all the technical articles from our hubs and linked to everything here.

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ESD Basics
Specifying an ESD Floor
Installing and Maintaining an ESD Floor
Technical Information
About StaticWorx

7 Myths About Static-Control Flooring

A general lack of technical knowledge has led to widespread misunderstanding and misinformation in the ESD industry. Learn the truth behind 7 common myths.

Illustration demonstrating how ESD flooring is grounded. Conductive elements in ESD flooring transport static charges from people or objects on the floor to the conductive ground plane (conductive adhesive or underlayment); charges then flow across the conductive ground plane to copper strips at the periphery of the room, connected to some form of earth ground.

What is ESD Flooring, How Does It Work and How Do I Choose One?

What is ESD Flooring? Our primer explains what it is, how it works, and how to make sure you choose the best ESD floor for your application and environment.

ESD Flooring: A Historical Perspective - Microchip

ESD Flooring: A Brief Historical Perspective

Interested in static or how the ESD flooring industry began and progressed? This brief historical perspective gives you the highlights.

7 Common Mistakes in Specifying ESD Flooring

ESD standards vary across industries. This and a lack of technical knowledge can make choosing an ESD floor confusing. In this post, we describe the 7 mistakes we most often see in the field.

Photo of a female architect working at a desk. Two male architects can be seen in the background.

Avoid Costly Failures: What to Know When Specifying ESD Flooring

Standards for electronics manufacturing and handling differ from those governing telecom, PSAPs, FAA flight towers, and other end-user spaces. To avoid costly mistakes, do due diligence and follow industry protocols.

A Guide to ESD Flooring Selection

The information in this guide is based on industry-approved flooring specifications, along with the review of hundreds of static-generation tests on all forms of ESD flooring, using multiple test subjects wearing dozens of types of ordinary and ESD footwear.

Two people putting on botties in a cleanroom gown room. The flooring installation is ESD rubber flooring

Choosing ESD Flooring for Cleanrooms

ESD requirements for cleanrooms differ from other flooring applications. We offer tips and relevant technical details to help you choose the right ESD floor.

Photo is of a completed ShadowFX static-dissipative (ESD) carpet installation in an electronics manufacturing and assembly facility.

Choosing ESD Flooring for Electronics Handling and Manufacturing Applications

Standards for ESD floors in electronics manufacturing and handling services (EMS) are stringent. Learn how to choose the best ESD floor for your space.

Mission-critical command center control room

Choosing ESD Flooring for Mission-Critical Spaces

Mission-critical spaces must operate 24/7. ESD can disrupt data and damage or destroy equipment. Learn how to protect your space against static discharge.

ESD Footwear: What is it and When is it Necessary?

Without special footwear, some ESD floors cannot prevent static discharge. Learn why, how options differ, and how footwear interacts with flooring materials.

Facility Managers' Guide to Specifying ESD Flooring

Property owners/facility managers face many challenges in selecting a static-free floor. Find out why more than one flooring material may be your best option

The Need for Due Diligence in Specifying ESD Flooring

To avoid liability, specifiers must ask what they need to know – as well as what they should have known. Learn what you should know about ESD flooring.

<a href="/learning_center/selecting-specifying-esd-floor/mission-critical-spaces-standard-of-care/">Standard of Care for Specifying Floors in Mission-Critical Spaces</a>

Standard of Care for Specifying Floors in Mission-Critical Spaces

To prevent ESD failure in critical spaces, specifiers must look at flooring performance, safety, and industry compliance. Here’s what specifiers need to know.

Illustration demonstrating how charges are grounded with ESD carpet. A person (cropped to show legs/feet) stands on a carpet tile. A zoomed-in close up shows the carpet tile and backing. Underneath the tile is a layer of conductive adhesive and then the floor. The diagram shows the path to ground for the charge from the person. The illustration shows how conductive carpet fibers sweep static from shoe soles and transport charges to the underlying ground plane (conductive adhesive or underlayment).

Static-Control Footwear for Electronics Handling and Manufacturing Applications

To protect ultra-sensitive electronic circuitry, electronics manufacturing and handling facilities must adhere to more rigid standards than for other types of ESD flooring applications

Understanding the Hidden Costs of ESD Flooring

To evaluate the full, long-term cost of the floor, it’s important to consider the cost of the floor prep and installation, as well as long-term costs to maintain and repair.

Conductive Adhesive

Conductive adhesive forms a ground plane unifying ESD tiles. Learn how conductive adhesive works and why the adhesive must be more conductive than the floor.

Photo shows a man guiding a ShadowFX static-dissipative (ESD) carpet in place to be affixed with TacTiles

Glue-Free ESD Floors

Most ESD floors are installed using conductive adhesive, but in some cases a glue-free installation may be a better option.

How to Ground an ESD Floor

This how-to article explains several ways to properly ground an ESD floor. Detailed instructions are supported by illustrations for an easy-to-follow field guide.

Installing a New ESD Floor Over an Existing Floor

A new ESD floor can be installed over an existing surface without move time or shutdown. Below we set out how and which questions to ask to find the best flooring option.

Installing an ESD Floor

You do not need a specialty flooring installer to install ESD flooring. Other than following simple grounding procedures and using conductive adhesives, there is no difference between installing conventional flooring and static-control flooring.

Cleaning and Maintaining an ESD Floor

To maintain their electrical performance, ESD floors must be cleaned regularly. A layer of dirt on an ESD floor could act as an insulator, preventing static from dissipating properly to ground.

In this illustration a worker is crouching touching equipment with a metal tool a yellow glow around the object indicates an electrical charge to indicate the worker is receiving a shock.

The Case Against Highly Conductive Flooring

NFPA 99 no longer covers conductive flooring. Find out what this means in terms of selecting ESD flooring.

Conductive vs Dissipative

This article explains why the terms “conductive” and “static dissipative” can be misleading. Why the right floor for an electronics application can fail in an end user space. And why it’s best to eliminate conductive and dissipative from conversations on specifying ESD floors.

An ESD flooring installation - made up of Eclipse EC (electrically conductive) rubber and ShadowFX static-dissipative (ESD) carpet tile in a 9-1-1 dispatch center.

Electrical Resistance in Mission-Critical Spaces

Resistance standards are industry-specific. Learn grounding standards for mission-critical spaces, how they differ from ANSI/ESD standards, & how to test and evaluate ESD flooring.

<a href="/learning_center/esd-flooring-technical-information/resistance-resistivity-real-world-application/">Resistance, Resistivity and Real World Application</a>

Resistance, Resistivity and Real World Application

Resistance standards are industry-specific. Learn grounding standards for mission-critical spaces, how they differ from ANSI/ESD standards, & how to test and evaluate ESD flooring.

What is Electrical Resistance?

Find out why conductivity and electrical resistance matter for ESD flooring choices. Learn the standards and why to avoid overly conductive floors.

The diagram shows a walking body voltage test in progress. A figure stands on the ground with a cord attached from them to a voltage measuring device. A cord is also connected from the device to ground. The note by the connecting wire reads "cord attached to read". The note next to the measuring device reads "voltage measuring device".

What is Walking Body Voltage?

If a conductive floor doesn’t prevent static buildup, it won’t prevent ESD damage. Learn technical facts about charge generation, aka walking body voltage.

Scenic landscape photograph taken in Vermont

About StaticWorx: We Keep You Grounded

ESD flooring specialists/suppliers. We earn trust by listening, sharing researched info & objective data. We’re there inception through installation.

The StaticWorx Green Story

Good stewardship means environmentally sound choices and sustainable ESD products. See what StaticWorx does to help ensure a healthy planet for the future.

StaticWorx first office: photograph of a Starbucks with an orange arrow pointing to the window on the floor above, labeled in white "SW first office"

Our History

StaticWorx opened in 2007 with a vision of transparency & trust. Today we provide 2 million sq./ft. of ESD flooring worldwide. See our journey’s highlights.

Why Choose StaticWorx?

Clients trust StaticWorx with ESD issues. Read what they say about our floors, why they enjoy working with us, and why you can rely on us!

ESD Workshop: Antistatic Flooring Basics

Architects say our AIA-accredited workshop on ESD flooring may be the best AIA presentation they’ve ever attended. Learn more & sign up here.

StaticWorx Flooring Products

Useful Resources

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.

Technical Article Hub

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