Video: Measuring Walking Body Voltage (Test Method: ANSI/ESD STM97.2)
August 4, 2017
In this short video, we show you how to perform the ANSI/ESD-approved test, method STM97.2, to measure walking body voltage.
Click here for the full video on Walking Body Voltage.
Visit our Learning Center to find out more about walking body voltage.
For help or advice about choosing an ESD floor, call us on 617-923-2000, email [email protected], or visit our Guide to ESD Flooring Selection.
The static that’s generated when we walk is called walking body voltage. To measure that voltage, we use a charge monitor, something like the instrument in my hand.
Here’s a great example of what we’re talking about. In this clip, a person is stepping
across a conductive vinyl floor while wearing special static-control heel straps. This is what a heel strap looks like for those of you who’ve never seen one. Notice they are generating less than 25 volts of static. That’s very good.
Now look what happens when the same person walks on the same floor wearing a pair of ordinary sneakers. 3,000 volts. That’s enough to destroy, damage, or corrupt equipment. This is why you need to do two tests: a Resistance test and a Walking Body Voltage test. And this is why we always tell our clients that they should never specify a floor just because a supplier tells them how conductive that floor is.
In order to serve your needs, the floor must also be low static generating.
For more information about Walking Body Voltage tests, or to view ESD flooring options, visit Staticworx, your trusted ESD flooring partner.
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
- The Case Against Overly Conductive Flooring
- Conductive vs Dissipative
- Electrical Resistance
- Electrical Resistance in Mission-Critical Spaces
- Ensuring Accuracy: Why It’s Critical to Clean Floors and Probes Before ESD Testing
- ESD Standards and Test Methods
- Resistance, Resistivity, and Real World Application
- Walking Body Voltage
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.
