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

For humans to perceive an ESD event (static discharge), the charge must be at least 3000 volts. Yet a discharge of only 20 volts can damage or destroy the micro-circuits inside today’s high-speed electronic components.

Protecting sensitive electronics requires a much greater reduction in static than the anti-static treatments in commercial carpets provide. This is true whether components are used or housed in an electronics manufacturing or handling facility, data or critical call center, 9-1-1 dispatch operation, or flight control tower – or any space where damage to electronic equipment can compromise the core mission.

With StaticWorx ShadowFX™ carpet tile, electrically conductive carbon elements are introduced during the manufacturing process. This inherent conductivity prevents static charges from accumulating on people by bleeding static from the walking surface and dissipating – or transporting – charges to ground.

ShadowFX ESD carpet tile is made in a sustainable factory using recycled materials.
100% carbon neutral over the life of the carpet.

On the left is an illustration showing a thread cross section of standard low kV carpet with the wording "Conductive fiber is buried inside each thread" and "Buried in the carpet thread, conductive fiber cannot make contact with the shoe, so there is no conductivity. Standard carpet tile cannot be grounded." On the right is an illustration showing a thread cross section of Staticworx ShadowFX carpet tile with the text "Conductive fiber is integrated into the carpet weave. (elevation)" and "ANSI/ESD-compliant carpet tile provides four layers of conductivity. Under the conductive fiber is a conductive primary backing, a conductive pre-coat and conductive fiberglass, with a static-dissipative PVC backing at the bottom."

When people walk across a floor the contact and separation between the soles of their shoes and the surface of the floor generates static. This static charge stays in place, accumulating on their body, until they touch someone or something. Then the charge jumps from their body to the other person or object. This transfer of minute, imperceptible static charges can damage or destroy the high-speed micro-electronic circuitry inside electronic systems or components.

The fibers in commercial carpet are treated with an anti-stat that wears off over time.

Commercial carpet is treated with an anti-stat, allowing the yarn fibers to retain a small amount of moisture. This helps prevent static from building on the carpet, so we don’t feel a static shock when we walk on the floor. Because there is no measurable conductivity, regular carpet cannot be grounded.

Over time, anti-static treatments wear off. As the anti-stat is invisible—and there is no path to ground and no measurable conductivity—there’s no way to know when the anti-stat is no longer effective.

StaticWorx ESD carpet tiles sweep static from shoe soles and provide a verifiable path to ground, eliminating static at the source and providing permanent static protection.

The nylon fiber tufts in StaticWorx ShadowFX ESD carpet are wrapped with electrically conductive fibers. When people walk on our ESD carpet, the conductive fibers wrapped around the yarn tufts make contact with the soles of their shoes. Like brushes inside a copier—which sweep static away from paper as it moves through the machine—the conductive helix fibers woven into the carpet brush or sweep static away from the soles of shoes and discharge it through the conductive layers in the carpet tile, across the adhesive or conductive underlayment, to ground.

The conductive fibers in StaticWorx ESD carpet also provide excellent electrical contact with conductive castors and drag chains on carts and chairs.

Illustration shows how conductive carbon fibers sweep static from shoe soles and transport charges to the underlying ground plane (conductive adhesive or underlayment).
Conductive fibers sweep static from shoe soles and transport charges to the underlying ground plane (conductive adhesive or underlayment); charges move across the ground plane to copper strips attached to an outlet or other type of earth ground.

The underside of the ShadowFX carpet tile backing is pre-coated with a conductive, carbon-loaded material. This conductive coating draws static charges downward, from the walking surface through the thickness of the tile. From there, static charges move across the underlying conductive ground plane for transport to ground.

The backing on standard commercial carpet is insulative, and acts more like a dam than a bridge – stopping static charges from moving to ground.

Illustration shows how conductive carbon fibers sweep static from shoe soles and transport charges to the underlying ground plane (conductive adhesive or underlayment).
Conductive fibers sweep static from shoe soles and transport charges to the underlying ground plane (conductive adhesive or underlayment); charges move across the ground plane to copper strips attached to an outlet or other type of earth ground.


The underside of the ShadowFX carpet tile backing is pre-coated with a conductive, carbon-loaded material. This conductive coating draws static charges downward, from the walking surface through the thickness of the tile. From there, static charges move across the underlying conductive ground plane for transport to ground.

The backing on standard commercial carpet is insulative, and acts more like a dam than a bridge – stopping static charges from moving to ground.

This carbon-loaded fiberglass layer provides another conduit for transporting static charges through the thickness of the tile. From the conductive fibers on the surface, static charges flow downward, through the carbon-loaded fiberglass into the backing and from there toward ground.

Standard commercial carpet tile is backed with insulative material like PVC and polyolefin. PVC is an insulative material, meaning it cannot conduct electricity – or static charges.

Most ESD carpet tile with a carbon (as opposed to PVC) backing, on the other hand, is electrically conductive.

While standard commercial carpet has no conductivity and cannot eliminate static charges at all, ESD carpet with a carbon backing is the opposite. It can be too conductive – meaning it bleeds charges too quickly; under the right circumstances, it could pose a safety risk.

By adding a precise amount of carbon to our backing, we control the rate at which charges move across the floor (or the rate of static dissipation). With our static-dissipative ShadowFX carpet, charges move at just the right speed – neither so slowly that they fail to eliminate static charges nor too quickly, potentially posing a safety risk to people working on the floor.

In end-user spaces such as telecom, 9-1-1 dispatch, critical call centers, flight towers, etc., where people do not wear static-protective footwear with a built-in electrical resistor, conductive floors are prohibited. To protect personnel working with or near electrified equipment, standards such as Motorola R56, ATIS 0600321 and FAA 019f require the use of static-dissipative flooring.

All style collections in our ShadowFX line are static dissipative (not conductive).

The conductive adhesive or underlayment below StaticWorx ShadowFX carpet tile acts as a conductive ground plane, connecting all ESD tiles in a contiguous installation to ground.

To transport static through the carpet tile to the adhesive or underlayment, the tile must have inherent conductivity. Standard commercial carpet tile has no measurable conductivity. With no conductivity, standard carpet tile cannot transport static charges to the adhesive.

If you were to use conductive adhesive with standard carpet tiles (e.g., regular Shaw, Mohawk or Interface tiles) it would act like any off-the-shelf adhesive, providing zero static protection. The same principle would apply to a conductive underlayment like StaticWorx GroundBridge.

To prevent the minute, undetectable ESD events that can easily damage electronic equipment, the floor must transport static from its surface to ground.

Grounding Installation 05

Copper strips are the final link in the carpet-to-ground connection.

From the underlying conductive ground plane (conductive adhesive or underlayment) static is transported to copper strips placed around the perimeter of the room. These copper strips are attached to an earth ground or A/C ground connection.

With no measurable conductivity, regular commercial carpet will fail this test.

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ShadowFX Static-dissipative (SC) Carpet Tile Collections

Carpet Tile for Access Flooring Applications

Looking for easy installation of Staticworx ESD Carpet Tile over your bare access floor panels?


ShadowFX SDC with TacTiles® is your solution.


  • Installation economy – no adhesive required
  • Guaranteed to meet all ESD standards for any application
  • ShadowFX carpet tiles with dissipative backing are grounded upon contact with metal panels Carpet tiles are easily lifted and replaced
ShadowFX Solids

With its simple, subtle texture and diversity of color options, Shadow FX SDC Solids is a popular choice for many styles of interior. It’s also ideal for mixing and matching with other Shadow FX SDC carpet tiles, to create accents, inserts, borders or checkerboard effects – a really useful, versatile tool for designers.


ShadowFX Patterns and Cubic Collections

After two or three years of use, carpet tiles exposed to chair casters and heavy traffic used to be prone to pile crush, making them look different from adjacent tiles. The main factor contributing to this problem was the pattern designs used in typical ESD carpet tile. All of these systems were either a solid pattern with slightly mottled colors or linear patterns with directional lines. Because carpet tiles appear seamless, like one large continuous floor, worn areas would stick out like a coffee stain on a white shirt.

 

The solution: Learning from nature.

 

Based on biomimicry – the study and imitation of nature’s best ideas to solve human problems – Staticworx ShadowFX static-dissipative (SD) carpet tiles mimic the organic design of nature. Tiles vary in patterns and colors within one style and colorway – all but eliminating the ability to observe pile crush or other forms of wear between tiles.

 

Because there’s no need to worry about matching dye lots, you need less attic stock and selective replacement is more effective. Replacement tiles are almost indistinguishable from older – original – tiles in the same installation.

 

Non-directional Installation for Less Installation Waste

 

ShadowFX SDC Patterns and Cubic Collections offer the added benefit of non-directional installation, meaning that tiles can be laid in any order or orientation. With no set pattern to maintain and no need to align tiles in a certain direction, there is significantly less installation waste. In fact, the average ShadowFX non-directional installation produces only 1.5% waste versus an average of 14% for other carpet styles. That means more of your floorcovering investment is on your floor, not in a dumpster.

 

And the best part, ShadowFX carpet tiles can be installed without glue, as a floating floor over any hard surface.

 

 
ShadowFX SDC Treez Budget-Friendly Collection

Simplicity Meets Style


Treez, our latest ShadowFX carpet tile collection, marries timeless style with the simplicity in nature. Tufted, textured loop construction adds dimension, creating a look as natural and stately as the bark on a tree. As appealing and comfortable in an uptown financial services space or high-tech lobby as in a workhorse application such as a data center or manufacturing facility.


ShadowFX SDC Parks Series

In sophisticated tones with threads of complementary colors in varying widths, our Parks Series carpet tile puts an earthy twist on classic linear design. A low-profile face uses less material for a tailored, upscale aesthetic.


ShadowFX SDC Peaks Collection

Like the stately summits of Vermont, our Peaks series carpet tile combines natural beauty with zen-like tranquility. Elegant in pattern and texture, with colorways in both warm and cool tones, our Peaks collection gives you a floor with dimension, functionality, and character.


ShadowFX SDC Fields & Stone Collection

Humans instinctively crave a connection to nature. Time spent in holistic places like Vermont provides a sense of comfort and wellbeing while promoting physical and mental health.


Inspired by the natural world, our ShadowFX Vermont Fields and Stone Carpet Tile Collection brings nature into the workspace, evoking feelings of serenity and refuge. A fusion of organic design and neutral color palette makes this dynamic collection as ideal for urban as for country or rural environments.


ShadowFX SDC Chenille Warp Carpet

ShadowFX SDC Chenille Warp Carpet is a tufted patterned level tip-sheared pile carpet tile, with SD backing. The pile material is made from recycled solution-dyed nylon. The fundamental aesthetic of Chenille is stripes which have been interpreted in a bold and textural way without relying on heavy face weight. Shadow FX Chenille Warp is available in colorways. The tiles can be installed in a variety of ways including quarter-turn, ashlar, brick fashion and parquet, with the potential to provide an unconventional appearance.


ShadowFX SDC Furrows II Carpet Tile

Linear precision, softened by texture and offset shapes.


As its name suggests, Furrows II has a resilient patterned loop pile carpet, reflecting the linear regularity of ploughed fields. Its textured, structured loop pile creates the three-dimensional impression of an aerial view of a cultivated landscape.


Designed for heavy contract performance, ShadowFX Furrows II maintains its distinctive appearance even in high-traffic areas. Pile yarn and backing contain pre-consumer recycled material, minimizing environmental impact.


Vermont Slate Carpet Tile

Built to withstand heavy traffic and abuse and designed to address the most stringent static control requirements – making Vermont Slate ideal for any application from electronics manufacturing to labs to 24/7 critical environments.


StaticWorx Vermont Slate carpet-tile collection provides the durability and high performance you expect from StaticWorx floors in a design that transports you to the mountains of Vermont. Warm, monochromatic earth tones promote a peaceful environment, inspiring creativity and a sense of wellbeing and connectedness.


The rock-like etchings in our Vermont Slate carpet tiles flow seamlessly across the surface of the floor in a non-directional or monolithic installation. Merge-ability enables mixing dye lots and saves money by allowing you to add new or replace worn or damaged tiles without worrying about dye lot compatibility.


  • Mergeable design – eliminates worry about matching dye lots
  • No fade – solution-dyed yarn prevents fading
  • Non-directional install method – easy to install and replace
  • Durable – rated for high traffic
  • Superior static control performance – meets the most stringent ESD standards including ANSI/ESD S20.20 and IEC 61340-5-1:2016*
    • Lifetime warranty for static control.
  • Static dissipative – meets standards for electronics manufacturing, telecom and government spaces**

Vermont Planx™

ShadowFX™ Planx offer a more expressive visual vocabulary.


Our 25cm x 1m Shadow FX ESD Planx bring new proportion and scale to carpet tile, giving you power to create fresh, exciting floor designs. The scale and directionality of Shadow FX ESD Planx creates floors that better reflect the geometry and flow of the surrounding space.


Planx or squares, our tiles all work together.


Use square tiles with contrasting Skinny Planks for large-scale tile patterns, provide wayfinding cues, or for work and activity zones. And this is just the beginning!


StaticWorx modular carpet tile and Planx work together in any combination, giving you a carpet tile design platform with unparalleled options.


A shape that’s better at hiding seams.


Want the benefits of carpet tile without the look of carpet tile? Use Shadow FX ESD Planx, same style and color, laid in an ashlar pattern. They’ll blend near seamlessly across the floor, giving you the benefits of modularity and the continuous look of broadloom.


A soft hard surface.


Love the look of wood plank flooring? Think luxury vinyl plank flooring is stunning? Patterns—like herringbone or ashlar—give ShadowFX Planx the visual appeal of other plank floors, with the patterning possibilities. You also get a floor covering that’s soft, quiet and much more economical than hard surfaces.


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

Visit our privacy policy to find out how we process data.

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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.

Get in Touch

East Coast: 617-923-2000
Email: [email protected]

“I’m so glad we were able to find an attractive solution that didn’t leave us with some run-of-the-mill ugly disaster.”

Unless otherwise stated, standards referenced are the most up-to-date versions.

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The FAA has updated its standard for facilities and electronic equipment. StaticWorx meets all requirements for ESD flooring.

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“I’m so glad we were able to find an attractive solution that didn’t leave us with some run-of-the-mill ugly disaster.”

Share This

Get in Touch

East Coast: 617-923-2000
Email: [email protected]

subscribe to newsletter

Sign up for our newsletter and occasional updates.

The FAA has updated its standard for facilities and electronic equipment. StaticWorx meets all requirements for ESD flooring.

Unless otherwise stated, standards referenced are the most up-to-date versions.

Get in Touch

East Coast: 617-923-2000
Email: [email protected]

“I’m so glad we were able to find an attractive solution that didn’t leave us with some run-of-the-mill ugly disaster.”

Share This

subscribe to newsletter

Sign up for our newsletter and occasional updates.

The FAA has updated its standard for facilities and electronic equipment. StaticWorx meets all requirements for ESD flooring.

Unless otherwise stated, standards referenced are the most up-to-date versions.

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