How Does ESD Flooring Work?

Electrostatic dissipative flooring, more commonly known as ESD flooring, is used to protect against the static electricity which accumulates as people walk on certain surfaces. It can help to reduce electrical conductivity and prevent both operatives and equipment from receiving electrostatic shocks, damage or injury.

ESD can be an essential flooring option for some kinds of business, especially those which specialise in making, servicing or using electronic components – or those that use complex electronic equipment. A static discharge of as little as 20 volts could damage or destroy some microelectronic devices, leading to the need for costly repairs or replacements.

However, people often have questions about this innovative flooring solution. For example: exactly what is an ESD floor and how does ESD flooring work? Below we’ll take a closer look at the answers to these questions and find out more about why ESD could be so beneficial for your business.

What is ESD Flooring?

Static electricity builds up on people and objects due to friction, often accumulating when people walk over some kind of floor surface. This charge can discharge suddenly, damaging sensitive electronic components or even causing pain and discomfort to staff and customers. Electrostatic dissipative flooring is designed to include elements such as carbon graphite or other metal-coated particles. When these are distributed throughout the flooring material, they provide it with electrical conductivity which can then be safely distributed where it will not cause any damage to sensitive equipment.

How Does ESD Flooring Work As A Flooring Solution?

As outlined above, ESD flooring acts as a safe conduit for static electricity. It does this by limiting the accumulation of static charge and ensuring a controlled environment for sensitive electronic equipment, as well as for staff safety. ESD floors create a traceable pathway from the walking surface to the ground. This is achieved using ESD flooring grounding, which consists of an underlying ground plane which is attached to copper strips. These are then connected to an outlet or earth ground. In this way, static charge is safely removed from the floor surface and is not transmitted to people or other electronic devices.

Key Components Of Effective ESD Protection

ESD flooring standards are usually based on a combination of both footwear and flooring choices. That’s why it is important to determine what kind of footwear people will be wearing in the space. If people are going to be wearing street footwear then it may be necessary to choose an ESD option that prevents charge build-up. It is also necessary to evaluate the relevant electrical code and check against industry standards for electrical resistance and charge generation.

Although ESD conductive flooring uses special materials embedded in the flooring to ensure efficient charge dissipation, it is also a good idea to understand the demands and constraints of the environment. This could include considering whether anti-slip properties are also required. Slip-resistant resin floors can be integrated into ESD flooring for enhanced safety in specific environments.

If you would like to know more about ESD floors, how they function and what other benefits they can bring to your business, then you can contact us to speak to a member of the team.