Circuit & System Protection


Clearing the Static: The importance of quality, tested ESD flooring

28 July 2021 Circuit & System Protection

Many people think that when testing an ESD floor you only need to perform a test from point to point to ensure the material is static dissipative or conductive.

ESD flooring contains antistatic chemicals that enable static to dissipate through the floor to a ground point. A vital consideration when choosing a floor covering is its resistance to earth, which indicates how strongly the material will resist the flow of electricity through it (measured in ohms).


Greg Barron, Actum Group director

With a few ESD flooring options to choose from, always ensure that floor coverings are homogeneous in construction to ensure that the properties are present throughout the product, guaranteeing a consistent and effective appearance and performance.

ESD flooring must have excellent abrasion and chemical resistance, where it is welded to create a completely impervious floor offering no sanctuary to dirt and bacteria. It is not recommended to seal an ESD floor upon installation and it may negate the electrostatic properties of the floor coverings.

Many people think that when testing an ESD floor you only need to perform a test from point to point to ensure the material is static dissipative or conductive. But there is a second test that must be performed which ensures that the floor has been earthed and this is done by testing continuity from the ESD floor to earth. That is why an aluminium or copper grid and the use of a conductive adhesive, are so important when performing the floor installation. ESD floors should be installed in accordance with IEC 61340-5-1 and DIN 51953 standards.

All Altico ESD floor installations and products are ISO 140001 and ISO 9001:2000 certified. Altico Static Control Solutions, a division of Actum Group, focuses exclusively on static control in the workplace, offering a complete range of static control solutions and products. Visit www.actum.co.za or call +27 11 608 3001 to speak to a technical consultant.


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