Choosing the Right ESD Floor
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a well-documented, invisible threat to electronic parts, systems, and mission-critical operations. Risks include damage to equipment, product returns, facility downtime, communication errors, and liability.
Eliminating the risk of random ESD events requires “fault-tolerant” static-control flooring that performs consistently — regardless of variables such as footwear, maintenance, and humidity. Specifications for a static-control floor should address unique environmental conditions and meet the latest industry-approved ESD standards.
Using evidence-based design principles, you can match the right product to its post-installation environment.
What You’ll Find in This Section
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 — providing a scientific framework for finding customized flooring solutions.
Flooring Specification Checklist
Will the floor be installed in a stringently controlled ESD-protected area (EPA) — mandating special ESD footwear? In an environment where static-control footwear is required but not enforced? Or in an end-user environment with no static-control protocols?
□ Check to be sure the floor meets industry standards for static-control flooring.
- Reference ANSI/ESD S20.20 and IEC 61340- 5-1 for electronics manufacturing.
- Refer to Motorola R56 and ATIS- 0600321.2010 for mission-critical environments — e.g., data centers or 9-1-1 dispatch centers.
- Use FAA 019f for flight control applications.
□ Check which types of footwear will be used.
Footwear affects the performance of static-control floors. When evaluating static generation, test every type of footwear that may be used, both standard and static control.
□ Check body voltage generation.
Find out how much static will be generated when people walk across the floor, using the ANSI/ESD S97.2 charge generation test.
□ Check static-control terminology.
Pay special attention to terms like conductive; static dissipative; ohms; and static generation. Be aware that certain terms, such as ESD flooring, are generic, so mean very little.
□ Check conductivity.
Be sure the floor provides a safe path to ground. Find the “sweet spot” for conductivity.
□ Check for permanent static control.
The anti-static properties of some static-control floors come from the application of special waxes and sprays that wear off and must be continually reapplied.
□ Check durability requirements.
Will the floor be installed in a high- or low-traffic area? Will soldering equipment or solvents be used? Will heavy loads be moved across the floor? Will forklifts be in use?
□ Check aesthetics.
Will the floor maintain its appearance over time and within its environment?
□ Check short- and long-term budgets.
Consider the initial investment, maintenance, and repair, as well as total life-cycle costs.
□ Check ergonomics.
Factor anti-fatigue, sound attenuation, and slip resistance into your decision.
□ Check the time allotted for installation.
Some products require more extensive floor preparation and certain materials are easier to install than others.
□ Check the origin of the product.
Floor tiles produced offshore are often die cut and, as a result, have slight dimensional variations, causing unsightly gaps in the seams.
□ Check the warranty.
Select a manufacturer that warrants ESD performance over the life of the product.
□ Check the floor after it has been installed.
Request a free flooring audit — with written certification that the floor meets static-control parameters.
ESD Flooring Decision Tree
Footwear and static-control flooring work together to control charge generation. This decision tree can help you find the flooring options that are most compatible with your environment. Recommendations are based on electrical resistance, measured in ohms, and charge generation, measured in volts.
Static-control floors should meet ESD performance standards for both resistance and walking body voltage generation. The information presented in this chart assumes that the floor under consideration meets industry standards for electrical resistance—less than or equal to 1.0 x 109. All types of footwear—regular and ESD—affect the performance of a static- control floor. It is therefore recommended that you obtain a report from an independent ESD-flooring laboratory, showing performance results, tested with the subject wearing regular shoes (e.g., with rubber, leather, and/or plastic soles), as well as different types of ESD footwear (e.g., heel straps, toe straps, and static-control shoes).
Do You Need Static-control Flooring?
What is Body Voltage Static Generation
Walking — or the friction that occurs when a foot touches and separates from the floor — generates static. These static charges, called Walking Body Voltage, accumulate on the human body and discharge to the first object the person touches, potentially damaging electronic components or systems.
Walking body voltage tests evaluate the flooring system. Using a charge plate monitor, the test measures static generated when a person walks across the floor, wearing a particular type of footwear — regular shoes, or static-control heel straps, toe straps, or ESD shoes. Because different shoes generate different amounts of static, the test is typically repeated, with the subject wearing various types of regular shoes and static-control footwear.
Electrical resistance tests — which ESD flooring must also pass — evaluate only the floor’s path to ground.
Voltage Generated with Different Types of Footwear
Resistance Requirements by Environment
Resistance requirements, based on the latest ESD standards, depend upon your environment and footwear. Use the chart below to determine the most compatible flooring materials for your environment.
Resistance Requirements by Environment
| Category | Class-0 | Controlled Environments (ANSI/ESD S20.20) | End-User/Real-World |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum allowable resistance | 0 - ≤ 10E9 | 0 - ≤ 10E9 | 10E6 - 10E9 |
| Environment | Controlled/manufacturing ESD-protected areas (EPA) that handle ultra-sensitive devices or will in the future | Controlled/manufacturing ESD-protected areas (EPA) that are not Class-0 | Mission-critical areas that require ESD protection regardless of footwear |
| Applications | -electronics manufacturing service (EMS) facilities -cleanrooms -R&D environments | -microelectronics fabrication -circuit board assembly -manufacturing test and repair of electronics | -9-1-1 dispatch areas -data centers -fight command centers -networked offices -hospital/imaging -control rooms -labs -government offices -server rooms |
| Flooring options with regular footwear | N/A: Regular footwear prohibited; must use ESD footwear | N/A: Regular footwear prohibited; must use ESD footwear | -EC Rubber -ESD Carpet |
| Flooring options with ESD footwear or heel straps | -EC Rubber -ESD Carpet -Conductive Vinyl | -EC Rubber -ESD Carpet -Conductive Vinyl -Some Conductive Epoxy Coatings -Plastic Interlocking Conductive Flooring | -EC Rubber -ESD Carpet -Conductive Vinyl -Static-dissipative Vinyl Tile -Conductive Epoxy Coatings -Static-dissipative Epoxy Coatings -Plastic Interlocking Conductive Flooring -Plastic Interlocking Dissipative Flooring -Conductive High-pressure Laminate |
Testing a Floor’s Electrical Resistance
Electrical resistance tests use an ohm meter to predict the speed at which an ESD floor will discharge electricity, allowing the charge to pass from the floor’s surface to ground. If resistance is too low, electrical currents can cut across the floor, posing a safety hazard. If it’s too high, static will discharge too slowly, rendering the floor ineffective.
Comparing Types of Flooring
Static-control Properties
| Category | ESD Carpet Tile | ESD Solid Vinyl Tile (conductive) | ESD Multi-layer Poured Epoxy | Interlocking Plastic Flooring | ESD Rubber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inhibits static with ordinary footwear; per ASHRAE, the upper limit for the environment is 500 V maximum | Yes: < 400 V maximum | No: > 3500 V | No: > 3500 V | No: > 3500 V | Yes: < 400 V maximum |
| Meets standard ANSI/ESD S20.20 for electrical resistance | Yes, when using any ESD footwear | Yes, when using any ESD footwear | Yes, depending on type of ESD footwear | Yes, depending on type of ESD footwear | Yes, when using any ESD footwear |
| Class-0 qualified | Yes, depending on type of ESD footwear | Yes, depending on type of ESD footwear | No | No | Yes, when using any ESD footwear |
Caution
Static-control interlocking flooring, vinyl, high pressure laminate, and some epoxy will not inhibit static charges without the use of ESD footwear. Persons wearing standard footwear—depending upon shoes, humidity and other factors—can generate over 3.5 kV while walking on these four materials (see chart on walking body voltage). For more comprehensive product information, visit Staticworx: Static-control Flooring Products
Life Cycle Costs
| Category | ESD Carpet Tile | ESD Solid Vinyl Tile (Conductive) | ESD Multi-layer Poured Epoxy | Interlocking Plastic Flooring | ESD Rubber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total cost of ownership (includes material, installation, and ongoing maintenance) | Low | Moderate | Low to moderate | Highest | Lowest |
| Cost of material | Low to moderate | Lowest | Low | Highest | Moderate to high |
| Installation | Easiest and fastest | Easy and fast | Difficult | Time consuming | Moderate and fast |
| Cost of maintenance | Low to moderate | Moderate | Low Note: shine cannot be restored once surface is scratched | Moderate | Lowest |
Physical Properties and Maintenance
| Category | ESD Carpet Tile | ESD Solid Vinyl Tile (Conductive) | ESD Multi-layer Poured Epoxy | Interlocking Plastic Flooring | ESD Rubber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term appearance | Good to excellent | Excellent: surface scratches can be removed by abrasive buffing | Fair: degrades over time, scratches cannot be removed | Excellent: surface scratches can be removed by abrasive buffing | Excellent |
| Wear layer | n/a | No: wear is consistent throughout the thickness of the floor | Yes: minimal | No: wear is consistent throughout the thickness of the floor | No: wear is consistent throughout the thickness of the floor |
| Color throughout thickness (helps hide scratches) | n/a | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Color consistency for projects of any size | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Durability | Good to excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Handles/withstands heavy rolling loads | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good |
| PSI | n/a | 2500 - < 3000 | > 3000 | n/a | 600 - 800 |
| Ease of rolling | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Good to excellent | Good to excellent |
| Maintenance | Vacuum and wet extraction | Sweep, damp mop, and buff | Sweep and damp mop | Sweep, damp mop, and buff | Sweep, damp mop, and buff |
| Chemical Resistance | Fair | Superior | Superior | Superior | Superior |
| Ease of repair | Easiest | Easy | Most difficult | Easy | Moderate |
Ergonomics and Environmental Factors
| Category | ESD Carpet Tile | ESD Solid Vinyl Tile (Conductive) | ESD Multi-layer Poured Epoxy | Interlocking Plastic Flooring | ESD Rubber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of finding small parts | Fair | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Slip resistance | < 0.6 Meets or exceeds ADA guidelines | < 0.6 Meets or exceeds ADA guidelines | 0.4 – 0.6 Depending on texture | 0.5 – 0.6 | < 0.6 Meets or exceeds ADA guidelines |
| Sound absorption | Excellent | Poor to fair 4 dB | Not sound resistant | Poor to fair | Excellent 5 – 19 dB |
| Anti-fatiguing | Excellent | No | No | No | Good |
| VOC compliant | Yes | Yes FloorScore certified | Yes | Yes | Yes GREENGUARD certified |
| Halogen free – no chlorine or other corrosive gases in fire | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Contributes toward LEED credits | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Industry Standards and Test Methods
Industry standards and test methods provide verifiable metrics to help manufacturers, suppliers, and customers objectively determine the quality and performance of ESD flooring materials. Adherence ensures that everyone uses the same parameters to manufacture and evaluate static-control products, reducing confusion in the marketplace.
ESD Standards
ANSI/ESD S20.20-2014 ESD Association Standard for the Development of an Electrostatic Discharge Control Program for Protection of Electrical and Electronic Parts, Assemblies and Equipment (Excluding Electrically Initiated Explosive Devices).
IEC 61340-5-1:2007 IECEE.ORG: Electrostatics — Part 5-1: Protection of electronic devices from electrostatic phenomena. The European equivalent to ANSI/ESD S20.20.
DOD 4145.26-M Safety standards for DoD and private industry ammunition and explosives (AE) operations; and facilities performing AE work or AE services under DoD contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders, or other procurement methods.
Mil STD 1686 (converted to ANSI/ESD S20.20) is the parent document for all ESD Association standards and is the main reference for Auditing an ESD Control Program.
FAA STD 019f Standard for Lightning Protection, Grounding, Bonding and Shielding Requirements.
Motorola R56 Public Safety and Telecommunications standards and guidelines for the installation of equipment, infrastructure, and facilities for communications centers. Commercial standard for network-operated dispatch operations—e.g., 9-1-1 call centers.
ATIS-0600321 Telecommunications industry standard for installations where personnel are required to access a computer terminal keyboard while continually wearing a headset.
IBM Data Center Recommendations IBM-recommended guidelines to minimize static-electricity buildup in a data center.
NFPA 99 establishes criteria for health care services or systems based on risk to patients, staff, or visitors in health care facilities to minimize the hazards of fire, explosion, and electricity.
ESDA Electronics Industry Standard Test Methods (STM)
ANSI/ESD STM7.1-2013 Tests resistive characterization of flooring materials.
ANSI/ESD STM97.1-2015 Measures the electrical system resistance of floor materials in combination with persons wearing static-control footwear.
ANSI/ESD STM97.2-2016 Measures the voltage on a person in combination with floor materials and static control footwear, shoes or other devices.
ASTM F150-06(2013) Tests electrical resistance of resilient flooring.
AATCC 134 Electrostatic Propensity of Carpets. Standard carpet industry test, uses laboratory simulation to assess static generation when a person walks across the carpet.
Visit our glossary for a comprehensive list of the most common ESD terms.
With Staticworx ESD flooring, you never have to choose between performance and aesthetics. Our beautiful, high quality ESD carpet tile, vinyl, EC rubber tile and sheet goods, and ESD epoxy floors are as beautiful as they are functional.
