Leading mobile provider, Cell C, recently moved into new headquarters in the Waterfall Business Estate in Midrand, Gauteng. Actum Electronics was selected to install SD (static dissipative) flooring in the new premises’ world class repair centre.
Leading mobile provider, Cell C, recently moved into new headquarters in the Waterfall Business Estate in Midrand, Gauteng. Actum Electronics was selected to install SD (static dissipative) flooring in the new premises’ world class repair centre.
Electrostatic discharge is a problem that cannot be ignored. Something as minor as the scuff of a shoe or the scrape of a chair creates an electron imbalance and, although the resulting discharge may be so small that the human body cannot feel it, it can nevertheless have serious consequences. In telecommunication repair centres, ESD (electrostatic discharge) incidents can often cause material, component or system failures, which prove costly and are ultimately unnecessary.
SD flooring is a hard wearing homogenous contact sheet or tile floor coverings engineered for ESD protection. This type of flooring has been engineered for use where static control is required, but the resistance level of the floor does not need to be as low as that provided by a conductive floor.
SD floor coverings are chemically treated to discharge static electricity and must be used in a controlled environment with a relative humidity of more than 40%. Typical areas of use would be operating theatres, computer areas, instrument control rooms, repair centres and production areas.
The flooring was installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions governing such flooring, as well as standard BS 8203:1996. An aluminium strip was placed on the cement sub-floor, in a grid of the recommended shape. Since concrete is a poor conductor of electricity, this type of floor covering needs to be laid using a conductive carbon-based adhesive to glue down the vinyl sheeting, and then earthed in order to drain the discharge.
The Polyflor ESD range of flooring used in this installation has been specifically engineered to combat this problem at the source, by facilitating a uniform flow of static electricity directly to a ground point. The range covers all major applications, and includes SD, EC and conductive ROF floorings, each of which combines static control properties with hard wearing and decorative qualities.
With installation being of critical importance, Polyflor has partnered with the Altico division of Actum Electronics as its ESD flooring installer of choice. Actum offers a comprehensive range of static control solutions and can be enlisted to conduct audits of premises prior to specification, install flooring and finally test the flooring and provide certification. Actum also offers ESD training, which enables employees to gain a better understanding of the basics of ESD, ESD standards, procedures and handling.
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