Confusion of Static Control Terminology

There are a number of terms sellers use to describe static control flooring. Although these terms are often used as if they were synonymous, they are not interchangeable. These terms are sometimes used incorrectly in marketing materials. When terms such as conductive, dissipative, ESD and antistatic are used indiscriminately, buyers and sellers become confused.

For example, a conductive floor is not the same thing as a static dissipative floor; each term describes a floor with appreciably different electrical properties. Designating a flooring material as antistatic does not necessarily mean that that floor can be grounded; many (but not all) antistatic materials (such as low Kv carpet) inhibit static generation but lack the necessary conductivity for actual grounding.

These are just two of the more obvious abuses of technical terms. A fundamental understanding of these terms is absolutely necessary before any specification electronic assembly should be written. Referencing one of the numerous ESD industry glossaries should eliminate most of the confusion regarding simple terminology.

In general, most experts agree that conductive flooring offers distinct advantages over static dissipative flooring. This fact should become obvious through a careful reading of the ESD Associations’ document ANSI/ESD S20.20, which can be downloaded for free at www.esda.org. S20.20 recommends a flooring footwear total system resistance of no greater than 35 megohms. This total resistance would be difficult to achieve if the flooring material, by itself, measured in the upper range of static dissipative (a material can measure as high as 1000 megohms and still be characterized as static dissipative).

Additionally, if a conductive floor also exhibits antistatic properties, it will usually meet or exceed almost any static control requirement for body voltage generation. An expanded explanation of these terms can be found in a previously published article in the Conformity archives, “Taking the Mystery Out of Selecting Static Control Flooring.”