Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
Electrostatic charges or discharges (ESD) are a common occurrence in daily life. Activities as mundane as emptying clothing from a tumble dryer, walking across a carpet, or shaking hands with someone can result in a sudden shock or a crinkling sensation. In these situations, ESD may not seem that important or much of a problem, however in certain industries like data centers, automotive/aerospace manufacturing, and electronic manufacturing, ESD occurrences can be disastrous.
What is ESD?
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a brief, sudden surge of electric current between two objects that have different electrical charges. Often accompanied by a visible spark, ESD happens when one object becomes positively charged and the other becomes negatively charged. The positively charged object then carries an electrostatic charge, which can be transferred when it comes into contact with another material, resulting in an ESD event.
What causes Electrostatic Discharge?
Electrostatic discharge is usually caused by material contact. This is why it happens in everyday occurrences such as walking on carpet and coming into contact with someone. Rapid air movements or circulating fans near electronic equipment can also increase the risk of ESD.
The leading cause of ESD is dust, and keeping critical areas clean can help reduce incidents.
Dangers of ESD in Industrial Environments
ESD can be dangerous for work environments such as data centers, manufacturing and electronics, causing issues such as:
- Damaging exposed electronic componentsÂ
- Causing data corruption or loss in electronics
- Acting as an ignition source, leading to fires or explosions
- Interfering with the normal operation of electronic equipment
- Causing physical harm to staff if the discharge comes from a high-voltage environment
Proper training and awareness of ESD is crucial in these environments, alongside an effective ESD control and prevention plan.
How to Prevent Electrostatic Discharge
- Use ESD-safe flooring and mats to cover the floor in critical areas
- Ensure all equipment and furniture are ESD-safe
- Place antistatic mats on desks to protect equipment from ESD
- Remove anything unnecessary from critical areas
- Wear ESD-safe shoes
- Use static-reducing packaging where needed
How does Dycem help to prevent ESD?
Dycem flooring and mats are designed to attract, collect, and retain up to 99.9% of foot and wheel-borne contamination and 75% of airborne contamination, creating a particle- and dust-free environment that inhibits static buildup. Dycem’s flooring has a surface resistivity that effectively dissipates static at 108 ohms, reducing the risk of damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD). By allowing charges to flow to ground slowly and in a controlled manner, static dissipative materials prevent discharge to or from human contact.