Frequently Asked Questions
In static control, as in any industry, the same questions and concerns arise again and again.
For instance: Does concrete provide adequate static protection? What’s the difference between conductive and static-dissipative? Or: Do I need copper to ground an ESD floor?
In this section, you’ll find answers to these and other commonly asked questions. We’ll continue to add to these pages, so stop by from time to time to see what’s new.
Looking for product-specific articles? We’ve set up a hub for product related articles so those links are all together and easy to navigate.
If you have a question we haven’t answered, drop us a line: 617-923-2000 or email [email protected].
Technical Questions
- ESD Basics
- Conductivity and Static Dissipative and Ohms Resistance
Are ESD floors safe?
Generally, yes. ESD floors should not measure below 25,000 ohms.
Do we need ESD chairs for when people sit down and take their feet off the floor?
In mission-critical operations that use static-sensitive electronic systems, ESD chairs are highly recommended to inhibit static generation.
Does it do any good to have ESD chairs if the floor is not ESD?
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Learn why an ESD chair placed on a non-ESD floor is isolated from ground and provides no static protection.
Does the airlow below an access floor create static?
Cold air flowing under an access floor poses no threat of static shock to personnel or hardware walking or standing on the floor. Find out why.
How can you prevent ESD?
Preventing ESD requires a well-thought-out ESD prevention program. What is required will be dependent on the application and environment.
How do you get rid of electrostatic discharge?
Most static in a workplace is generated by people walking on the floor. The floor is the first line of defense in ESD prevention.
How does an ESD floor work?
ESD floors transport electricity and must be grounded. ESD floors must also generate minimal static electricity.
Is electrostatic discharge harmful? Why is ESD bad?
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage electronics you use or that people charged with your safety use to protect you.
What are some examples of ESD?
The shock you feel when you walk across a carpeted floor or remove clingy laundry from the dryer are examples of ESD.
What does ESD stand for in flooring?
The acronym ESD stands for electrostatic discharge. ESD flooring protects electronic equipment from electrostatic discharge.
What is ESD flooring?
ESD floors dissipate static safely, protecting electronics from accidental damage due to electrostatic discharge (ESD) events.
What is ESD in manufacturing?
In manufacturing facilities electrostatic discharge can cause problems ranging from dirt and particulate contamination to machine failure.
What is ESD-safe flooring?
ESD-safe floors protect electronics by drawing static away from people or objects, transporting charges to ground. Find out more.
What is meant by ESD?
ESD stands for electrostatic discharge. Minute ESD events, too small for humans to perceive, can damage electronic components.
Why is ESD flooring required?
ESD flooring is required to protect most types of electronics parts, which are ultra-sensitive to static electricity.
Will our concrete floor protect against static?
The resistance of bare concrete can vary up to 4 orders of magnitudes due to environmental conditions. Find out why concrete is unsuitable for static control.
What do the terms conductive and static-dissipative mean?
Learn why it’s a mistake to choose an ESD floor based simply on its being labeled static-dissipative or conductive, and why it’s crucial to test performance.
What is the difference between static-dissipative and conductive flooring?
What’s the difference between static-dissipative and conductive flooring? Find the electrical resistance range for each, plus links to performance info.
What is "the Sweet Spot"?
The ideal electrical resistance for an ESD floor is not a number; it’s a range. This brief post cites the ideal range, supported by a clear visual image.
ESD Flooring
- ESD Flooring Materials
- Selecting an ESD Floor
- ESD Flooring Performance
- ESD Standards and Test Methods
Are all carpet lines antistatic?
All ESD carpet tile is antistatic. However, standard carpet has no conductive properties, cannot be grounded.
Are dissipative floors also ESD?
Dissipative or static dissipative is a term used to describe the electrical resistance of a flooring material.
Are interlocking tiles waterproof?
Interlocking tiles are not waterproof per se. The tiles lock together tightly, preventing moisture from the subfloor from seeping through the seams.
Can ShadowFX carpet tile can be installed one to one over raised flooring panels?
One-to-one installation of floor finishes over raised access panels offers advantages but also some disadvantages.
How does flooring material affect ESD?
Floor materials with conductive elements transport static charges to ground, preventing random electrostatic discharge (ESD) events.
How does static-dissipative flooring protect electronic equipment?
Static-dissipative floors dissipate harmful charges to ground and prevent static charges from building on people & moving objects.
How does static-dissipative flooring work?
Static-dissipative floors provide a conductive path to ground. They gain conductivity from conductive elements embedded in the flooring material.
Is all vinyl flooring antistatic?
No. Vinyl flooring is not inherently antistatic. An antistatic floor generates little or no static electricity. Find out more.
Is bare concrete an acceptable ESD floor?
Bare concrete is rarely used as an ESD floor. Because relative humidity varies, its conductivity is unreliable.
Is ESD epoxy appropriate for a small server room?
Find out why epoxy coatings are not an appropriate static-control solution for data centers or server rooms and which ESD materials are better options.
Is SDT the same as ESD tile?
The acronym SDT stands for static-dissipative tile. Static-dissipative tile is considered ESD tile.
Is static-dissipative flooring expensive?
Static-dissipative flooring can be more expensive than traditional floors but saves money in the longrun by protecting electronic equipment and important data.
Is wood antistatic?
No, wood is not antistatic. You can learn which materials are antistatic and which are not by looking at our Triboelectric chart.
What are the benefits of antistatic carpet tile?
Antistatic carpet tile protects electronics from harm caused by random ESD events. It has other benefits including its sustainability.
What is a suitable hospital flooring material?
Most healthcare facilities and labs use low-VOC vinyl or rubber flooring materials.
What is a suitable laboratory flooring material?
Laboratory floors are typically covered with vinyl or rubber tile or sheets, sometimes epoxy or urethane.
What is an interlocking tile?
An interlocking tile is a tile with teeth that can be pressed into place with a mallet, locking the tiles together.
What is antistatic carpet tile?
Antistatic carpet tile is a modular tile designed to protect electronics from electrostatic discharge (ESD) events. Used in most industries.
What is antistatic floor paint?
A type of paint, like GroundWorx Basics, made with conductive additives is sometimes called antistatic floor paint.
What is electrically conductive rubber?
Electrically conductive (EC) rubber is rubber with conductive chips added to the material during the manufacturing process.
What is static-dissipative flooring?
Static dissipative is a term within the broader term ESD flooring. It is used for flooring measuring > 1 x 10E6 to < 1 x 10E9 per STM7.1.
Where is antistatic carpet used?
Antistatic carpet tile protects electronics from ESD events. It is used in facilities that rely on electronics and cannot afford disruption.
Where is conductive rubber used?
Conductive rubber is a high-end static control product often used in labs, cleanrooms and electronics manufacturing facilities.
Where is static-dissipative flooring typically used?
Static-dissipative flooring is used in every type of facility that manufactures, handles, uses or relies on electronic equipment for their core mission.
Why not buy cheaper VCT tile?
Find out why epoxy coatings are not an appropriate static-control solution for data centers or server rooms and which ESD materials are better options.
Are there any scientific studies about the performance of antistatic or conductive flooring for mission-critical environments or data centers?
In this post, we explain why mission-critical spaces require static-control flooring and provide information on the two essential functions of an ESD floor.
Can conductive tile be used as a 9-1-1 call center application?
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.
Can you explain the differences between low static and anti-static with grounding?
Learn the critical distinction between antistatic and permanent static control, why it matters, and when not knowing the differences can be catastrophic.
Could a conductive floor endanger people working around operational energized equipment?
Standards for telecommunications and flight-control spaces where people work near electrified equipment prohibit the use of conductive flooring. Find out why.
Are conductive reducers and transitions necessary?
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.
Are the static-dissipative aspects of an ESD floor affected by transitions or reducers?
The static dissipative aspects of an ESD floor are not affected by the type of transitions, reducers and wall base used on a project.
Can regular flooring become ESD flooring if it is installed with conductive adhesive?
No, regular flooring is not conductive and cannot be grounded. Because regular floors are not conductive they cannot transport static charges.
If a material is antistatic, does that mean it will dissipate or conduct electricity?
The terms antistatic – or low charge-generating – and conductive are unrelated. Learn what this means for static-control floors and why the distinction matters.
What is a mission-critical environment in the context of ESD flooring?
Learn the definition of the term mission-critical environment in the context of ESD flooring, and find out which mission-critical spaces require ESD floors.
Would I be better off with an antistatic, static-dissipative or a conductive floor?
Find out why a low charge-generating (anti-static) floor may not dissipate static properly and learn the differences between conductivity and charge generation.
Does an ESD floor do the same thing as a wrist strap?
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.
Does ESD flooring lose its electrical properties?
A well-designed ESD floor provides permanent static control, as long as it’s cleaned and maintained. Others lose conductivity. Discover the differences.
How are static-dissipative and conductive properties added to flooring?
Static-control floors are commonly produced by adding carbon or graphite to the flooring formula. Learn more and find out why some floors cannot be grounded.
How does relative humidity affect the performance of an ESD floor?
To evaluate conductivity and predict performance, ESD flooring materials should be conditioned and tested at 12 % (or lower) RH. This post explains why.
How long do conductive and static-dissipative properties last in ESD flooring?
How long do dissipative and conductive properties last in ESD flooring? This brief response answers the question and provides a baseline for further reading.
Is ShadowFX carpet tile rated for chair casters rolling over it (without a chair mat)?
The traffic classification for all StaticWorx ShadowFX ESD carpet is “Heavy,” meaning rated for heavy-duty use.
How do you test an ESD floor?
To ensure they meet pertinent standards, ESD floors are tested for electrical resistance and static generation.
Is it possible for a conductive floor not to meet ANSI/ESD S20.20-2021?
A static-control floor can fail to meet ANSI S20.20—if it fails either resistance or body voltage tests. Learn what’s involved in meeting this ESD standard.
What are ESD guidelines?
Because different applications require different specifications for static control, ESD guidelines, or standards, vary across industries.
What are the ANSI/ESD S20.20 specifications?
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.
What does it mean when someone says a floor "meets ANSI/ESD S20.20"?
Resistance measurements are only part of the ANSI S20.20 requirements. To meet the standard, an ESD floor must also pass body voltage tests. Find out more.
Installation
- Grounding
- Installing an ESD Floor
- Moisture
- Adhesives and Underlayments
Are grounding wires needed to create an anti-static environment?
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.
Do I have to use grounding strips?
This brief response to one of our most frequently asked questions explains why you need to use copper grounding strips in ESD flooring installations.
Do conductive and static-dissipative tiles need to contact one another in order to be grounded?
Find out why ESD tiles cannot be grounded with an underlying ground plane – e.g., conductive adhesive, a conductive underlayment, or a metal access floor.
Does static-dissipative tile need to be grounded?
All ESD tile must be grounded. Any floor that is not grounded cannot conduct electricity and cannot dissipate static charges.
How do I ensure continued conductivity across an ESD tile floor?
How do you ensure continuous conductivity across an ESD tile floor? Learn what’s involved and find out why some antistatic floors cannot be grounded.
How do I ground a raised floor?
Raised floors can be grounded to the metal access floor panel or grounded like any other ESD floor with copper tape.
How do I ground materials and carts to a conductive tile floor?
In this brief post, we explain how to ground materials and carts to a conductive tile floor and provide information on insulators and floating conductors.
How do I mate conductive tape/copper strip to ensure conductivity across a floor?
Ensuring electrical conductivity across ESD floor tiles involves choosing the right flooring materials. Learn how to unify and ground a static-control floor.
Can I mix non-ESD tiles with ESD tiles?
Regular, non-ESD tiles cannot be used with ESD floor tiles in a single installation. Find out what would happen and why the two can’t be mixed.
Do I need a specialist to install the floor?
Regular & ESD floors differ only by the electrical properties of the flooring material & adhesive. Learn why any competent installer can install an ESD floor.
Can new ESD floors be installed over old?
Can new ESD floors be installed over old? The brief response to this FAQ will give you a starting point for determining what makes the most sense for you.
Don't let moisture ruin your ESD flooring installation
Moisture is a serious issue and must be handled up front, with lock-tight solutions. What to do about moisture and why ignoring the problem can be costly.
Why should I worry about moisture protection with ESD flooring?
Moisture permeation can cause installation failures with all types of flooring. Learn how to test moisture and why high moisture readings must not be ignored.
Can I apply a conductive dry adhesive over any type of subfloor?
Dry adhesives can be installed over an old floor, with no move-in or move-out time. Learn more about dry adhesives & where they can be used.
Can I install an ESD floor using regular adhesive?
Using an adhesive that’s less conductive than the ESD flooring material could pose a safety risk. Learn the technical details for ensuring electrical safety.
Can I use regular tile with conductive adhesive?
Standard, non-ESD tile is insulative, and cannot be used with conductive adhesive to dissipate static or prevent static generation. Find out why.
Why should the adhesive be more conductive than the ESD flooring material?
Using an adhesive that’s not conductive or is less conductive than the flooring material could pose a safety hazard.
Maintenance and Cleaning
- Maintaining an ESD Floor
Do I need to apply special antistatic sprays after the floor is installed?
This brief response to a commonly asked question explains why an ESD floor should never acquire its electrical conductivity from special antistatic sprays.
Can a floor finish prevent static?
ESD floor tiles that gain their electrical properties from waxes or floor finishes prevent shocks, but do not provide adequate static protection. Find out why.
Get in Touch
The form below will help us better understand your needs and get you as quickly as possible to the right person. We look forward to helping you solve your static problem!
You can expect a response within 24 hours. For faster service, please give us a call: 617-923-2000
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
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.
