An electrostatic discharge (ESD) describes the transfer of electrostatic charge between two objects caused by contact. It can cause serious damage to static-sensitive objects, such as electronic components or intricate circuit boards. Coupled with grounding equipment such as grounding cords, ESD flooring and wrist straps, ESD footwear forms a vital part of ESD protection. When a person walks across a surface, a triboelectric charge builds up on the body. This static charge can be discharged onto surrounding objects of unequal electrical potential, such as electronic components within a service and repair workstation and could cause irreparable damage.
Greg Barron.
Types of ESD footwear
Antistatic shoes: Antistatic shoes allow very limited charge to flow through them, whereas conductive ESD shoes feature a more conductive sole that dissipates static charge into the ground so that a discharge by handling cannot occur.
Conductive ESD shoes: Conductive ESD shoes come in a wide variety, depending on the application and area. We offer ESD office shoes, rugged rubber safety boots, sandals and leather work shoes. Our ESD conductive shoes comply with EN 61340-5-1 standards.
Foot & heel grounders: Conductive foot or heel grounders are safe alternatives to ESD shoes and can be added onto normal shoes to make them conductive. Foot or heel grounders are used to ground operators standing or walking on ESD-safe flooring and provide constant contact with the floor. According to IEC 61340-5-1 standards, shoe grounders must always be worn on both shoes.
Through our static control division, Altico, Actum Group specialises in ESD control within the working environment.
Contact us on +27 11 608 3001 or [email protected] to enquire about our cleaning solutions.
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