What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of ESD metal flooring solutions

Electrostatic Dissipative Coating Installation

Craftsman Concrete Floors specializes in the installation of commercial concrete coatings, including ESD epoxy floors designed to protect sensitive electronic equipment from static electricity buildup. These floors endure extreme conditions and require a long, uninterrupted service life. As one of the largest installers of specialized commercial concrete coatings in the nation, we have the expertise to provide coating systems that offer reliable, long-term static control solutions for builders and technology companies.

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Our team includes well-known veterans of the concrete industry with extensive experience in installation, materials manufacturing, and product development. As a testament to our expertise, we are proud to be a manufacturer-certified installer for renowned concrete brands such as MAPEI and Westcoat.

At Craftsman Concrete Floors, our commitment is to environmental sustainability. We know that our customers install concrete flooring to minimize waste and environmental impact. To support this commitment, we power our facilities with 100% renewable energy, use electric cars where possible, and purchase carbon credits to offset the greenhouse gases from our other vehicles.

Why is Static-Control Flooring Needed?

In industries like electronics manufacturing and repair, static electricity poses significant challenges. As employees move about, the friction between their rubber-soled shoes and the floor generates static charges. Since rubber soles create an insulating barrier, these charges remain on the worker until they touch a conductive surface. If that surface happens to be a sensitive electronic component, it can lead to internal circuit failures or irreversible damage. To combat this issue, static-control flooring is installed to effectively dissipate static charges and protect delicate electronic equipment.

How do ESD floors work?

ESD flooring features lower electrical resistance compared to standard flooring, enabling it to effectively conduct static buildup from workers. These materials are typically grounded to a structural piece of steel or a standard earth ground, like the third pin on a 110V electrical outlet. Workers also wear specialized footwear designed to create a grounding path around the rubber soles of their shoes.

ESD flooring serves two primary functions: dissipating electrostatic discharge and reducing the accumulation of static electricity. While some flooring types, such as carpet, can contribute to increased static buildup, others, like epoxy or vinyl ESD floors, help prevent it, making them ideal choices for environments sensitive to electrostatic discharge.

To learn more about ESD Floors, Visit 'ESD Floor Installation'

Our Clients

Hear What Our Customers Say About our Floors

Suzanne S

Where to begin . . . stellar customer service, unbeatable pricing, and exemplary knowledge! Jeremy and his crew where amazing collaborators on our small patio project and made sure we were pleased during and afterwards. Couldn't be happier and have recommended them to others. WELL DONE!!!

John W

Very happy with the service! Had these guys do maintenance on the stained concrete floors in our house in McKinney. The floors were originally installed by the builder 9 years ago and the sealer was starting to flake in the walkways. We also had some fading of the stain in the areas where the sealer was coming off of the floor. They suggested a more durable sealer than the one the builder installed and our floors look pretty much as good as when we moved into the house.

Skip M

I had Craftsman polish 550sqft in my barndominium. They were very responsive and quickly moved me into the schedule. The field crew was very professional and did an excellent job!

Melinda L

Call them first! Jeremy and his team came in to fix a previous companies' less-than-desirable handiwork and did a beautiful job fixing the floors and making this exactly what we wanted. They are gorgeous and perfect for our barn build.

Marion H

Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Responsiveness, Value My wife and I recently built a modern home and to do it right it became very overwhelming. The concrete cost portion of our home as part of the budget was in excess of 25%(8% or less in most homes). My wife and I became very knowledgeable about concrete. When we called on Jeremy we needed to polish a basement bedroom floor. We needed to polish a foundation grade concrete floor to a slightly less than museum quality grade, Craftsman did the job. Craftsman's crew showed up on time, did everything they said they would, did it for a good price and the quality of the job was outstanding. Unfortunately for Jeremy I was in a part of my construction job where most of the remaining work was extremely detailed and painstaking. I was so impressed with Jeremy I asked if he would GC the rest of my job. He declined but Craftsman did refer other subs to me that did outstanding work. Could not have been more impressed with Craftsman.

Chloe S

Jeremy and his team are wonderful to work with. If 10 starts were possible, I would give them! I am very thankful that we hired him for this job and would recommend him to anyone. He is very knowledgeable with concrete and answered all of my questions. Jeremy helped guide us to achieve the look we wanted in our new build with polished concrete. He worked seamlessly with us and our builder to complete work in a timely and respectful manner. We absolutely love our floors! We will use Jeremy in the future if we need any further concrete work completed.

Anton N

Jeremy and his crew were head and shoulders above the average subbie level in terms of quality, reliability and value for money. The process started with careful and intelligent discussion of our options and then proceeded through the actual work where the crews always showed up on time, were extremely respectful and kept the work area tidy and clean. Whenever, there was an issue, Jeremy and his crew patiently worked through it, offering several different options for us to choose. The end result was exactly what we wanted and Craftsman gained another satisfied customer.

Different types of ESD flooring

There are many different types of ESD flooring. In general, the more expensive options will provide better static control performance and durability.

ESD Epoxy and Polyurethane

ESD epoxy and polyurethane are the premier solutions for electrostatic discharge flooring in commercial settings. These coatings are infused with copper and carbon to create a continuous, conductive surface. They also feature embedded copper strip conductive elements with multiple grounding points, providing additional safety for users. Both ESD epoxy and polyurethane boast high chemical resistance, a long service life, and exceptional protection against static electricity. If you seek the highest level of ESD protection, these coatings are your best solution.

Pros:

• High durability
• Excellent electrostatic discharge performance

Cons:

• Higher upfront cost
• Requires specialized installation by a commercial contractor

ESD Rubber Tiles

ESD rubber tiles are another industry standard for electrostatic discharge protection. They resemble vinyl composition tile (VCT) but do not require waxing, making them a low-maintenance option. These tiles feature a common conductive copper rail installed beneath them to ensure redundant grounding. For applications needing a seamless, monolithic surface, ESD rubber tiles can be heat-welded for a better finish.

Pros:

• High electrostatic discharge performance
• Impact resistant
• Incorporates common conductive elements

Cons:

• Higher upfront cost
• Requires specialized installation by a commercial contractor

ESD Floor Wax

ESD floor wax is a budget-friendly solution for converting non-ESD flooring into ESD-compatible surfaces. It can be applied over concrete and various types of tile, and some ESD flooring tiles may also benefit from its use. However, it's important to note that ESD floor wax does not create a true conductive floor; it falls into the category of higher resistance, 'dissipative' floors. Without an embedded ground strip, it relies on the overall surface area of the material to dissipate static charges, resulting in lower performance compared to other ESD flooring options.

Pros:

• Easy to install
• Readily available from vendors such as Uline
• Can convert traditional flooring materials to ESD-compatible surfaces

Cons:

• Low ESD performance
• Requires frequent maintenance

ESD Vinyl Tile

ESD vinyl tiles offer a mid-level solution that strikes a balance between price and performance in various applications. With a low upfront cost, they are easier to install than many other preferred static control flooring options. However, it's important to note that these tiles are not weldable, which means they do not create a seamless, monolithic floor. This characteristic introduces potential failure points that may be difficult to detect after installation, posing risks in sensitive environments like data centers.

Pros:

• Low upfront cost
• Easier installation than many other ESD flooring options
• Suitable for various applications

Cons:

• Not weldable, leading to a non-monolithic surface
• Potential for undetectable failure points after installation
• May not provide adequate protection in high-stakes environments, such as data centers

ESD Carpet

ESD carpet is an excellent choice for environments where high-frequency sound dampening is essential, such as broadcasting studios, air traffic control centers, and office spaces. These carpets come in various conductivity grades and can be either grounded or ungrounded. Ungrounded systems are often preferred for comfort, as they help minimize the risk of electrical discharge when touching doorknobs in colder months. Grounded systems provide performance comparable to ESD epoxy or rubber tiles but often at a higher cost.

Pros:

• Excellent sound dampening properties
• Familiar and comfortable aesthetic for workplace environments
• Available in various conductivity grades

Cons:

• High upfront cost compared to other ESD flooring options
• Shorter service life compared to more durable flooring materials
• Less tolerant to heavy traffic and loads, which may lead to quicker wear and tear

Which type of ESD flooring is right for my project

To choose the right ESD flooring, consider the required level of protection, expected traffic volume, and desired service life. At Craftsman Concrete Floors, we specialize in installing ESD flooring tailored to your needs. Contact us for a free consultation!

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We have regularly been on-site when a surface resistivity meter has been placed on the concrete factory floor and the reading indicates the floor is within the range to be classed as static dissipative. Static problem solved ' yes?

Unfortunately, no. Bare concrete floors can exhibit anti-static (dissipative or conductive) properties. Whilst a concrete floor has the tendency to avoid building up a static charge, it does nothing to dissipate an existing charge. A person walking across a concrete floor who is already charged will remain charged until they transfer that charge by touch ' ouch! The concrete floor will not remove the charge or ground the person.

Concrete floors are normally sufficiently conductive, anti-static or will allow Electro-Static Discharge (known as ESD events), due to their pore water dissipating any electrostatic charges on the surface. However, all normal resin flooring used to provide a harder wearing, hygienic, easily cleaned, decontaminable or chemically resistant floor finish, is an effective natural insulator applied over this 'conductive' surface.

What is ESD Flooring?

ESD Flooring stands for Electrostatic Discharge. ESD is a grounded, static dissipative floor or conductive floor covering having an electrical resistance between 2.5 x 104 to 1.0 x 109 Ohms.

ESD flooring is created from a combination of materials, including carbon fibres that transfer the electrostatic charge from a person to the flooring. Thus, reducing the chance of someone creating a static discharge through physical contact. Electrostatic discharge can cause significant injury, damage, and financial loss. Failure of components used in solid-state electronics, like integrated circuits, affects an array of industries. With damage to critical parts comes major financial loss. These floors come in several styles, including carpet, vinyl, and rubber.

ESD Floorings serve as a conduit for an electrical static charge. The static charge that accumulates in the body when walking on an insulated floor was always a concern for designers especially if the plant handles sensitive electronic equipment or potentially explosive chemicals. Thus, it becomes very important not to allow static charge to accumulate and thus ESD floorings provide the best protection by providing conductive/dissipative properties along with seamless, jointless, chemical resistant floorings. The application areas of ESD floorings include electronics, ordnance factories, solvent-handling areas, operation theatres etc.

The science behind ESD

Static builds when you rub two materials together (in scientific terms this is when electrons on the surface of one object pass to another object). This caused the object to become positively charged. This charge will then pass through your body and escape when it can. Hence why we experience what we refer to as 'electric shocks'. This is an ESD event.

The 'electric shocks' we experience in our day to day lives do not have a large voltage, so you are unlikely to see the electricity pass. However, on occasions, you can see large jolts of ESD. It can create a spark visible to the naked eye in these instances. An example of this is lightning which is a large-scale ESD event.

For more information, please visit ESD metal flooring solutions.

We experience occurrences of static electricity every day. While this sudden discharge of static electricity does not harm the human body, it can be very damaging to electronic devices that are sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD). Electronic devices can be damaged by ESD which is imperceptible to the human body. This document is intended to shed some light on ESD sources and provide guidelines on the prevention and control of ESD.

One of the causes of ESD events is static electricity. Static electricity is often generated through Tribocharging, the separation of electric charges that occurs when two materials are brought into contact and then separated. Examples of Tribocharging include walking on a rug, rubbing a plastic comb against dry hair, rubbing a balloon against a sweater, ascending from a fabric car seat, or removing some types of plastic packaging. In all these cases, the breaking of contact between two materials results in Tribocharging, thus creating a difference in electrical potential that can lead to an ESD event.

Another cause of ESD damage is electrostatic induction. This occurs when an electrically charged object is placed near a conductive object isolated from the ground. The presence of the charged object creates an electrostatic field that causes electrical charges on the surface of the other object to redistribute. Even though the net electrostatic charge of the object has not changed, it now has regions of excess positive and negative charges. An ESD event may occur when the object encounters a conductive path. For example, charged regions on the surfaces of Styrofoam cups or bags can induce potential on nearby ESD sensitive components via electrostatic induction and an ESD event may occur if the component is touched with a metallic tool.

Advantages of ESD Flooring

Many businesses and industries are involved in projects and product creation that require an environment free from additional electrical activity. From biomedical research to electronics manufacturing, you need to do everything possible to prevent any electrostatic discharge or build-up as your workforce moves around. The advantages of ESD flooring are:

• Controls Electrostatic Discharge by eliminating catastrophic failure
• ESD flooring reduces the risk to your components effectively. Without the right kind of anti-static flooring, the money, time, and energy you put into producing electrical components can be wasted.
• Not all damage is immediately apparent. ESD can cause after-market failures, which translate into disgruntled 'ex-customers'. The hidden damage of latent failure is a nerve-wracking experience for a factory manager.
• The most versatile static control flooring is highly reflective. A big advantage of ESD Control Flooring is the high gloss it produces.
• You can choose from a vast swatch of vivid, bright tones. And it can be applied as a transparent topcoat over quartz and flake floors.
• ESD floors require much less care than regular flooring, and its maintenance is very simple but requires expert knowledge to prevent damage.
• ESD flooring reduces electrostatic discharge preventing interference and damage to electronic equipment and keeping all information safe.

Selection of ESD Flooring standards

The principal cause of static electricity is frequently cited as the movement of people and materials in the work environment. This routine movement, particularly the contact and separation of the shoe from the floor, generates charges as high as several thousand volts. Similarly, the movement of mobile carts or other equipment will generate an electrostatic charge.

When choosing an ESD floor, always test for both electrical resistance and charge generation. A floor can be conductive and still generate enough static to damage electronics.

• To be sure you choose the right ESD floor for your application, always evaluate:

-  The relevant electrical code

-  Industry standards for electrical resistance and charge generation (body voltage, or BVG)

-  Independent test results: resistance; charge generation

-  Footwear used in the space: ESD-protective footwear or regular street shoes

-  Any specific requirements for the application

-  The demands and constraints of the environment

-  Buyer goals and objectives

• A static discharge as small as 20 volts, can damage or destroy microelectronics.
• Static-control floors create a traceable path from the walking surface to the ground.
•  Measure the resistance of flooring material (according to BS IEC -5-1):

-  Electrical resistance to measure below 1x 10E9 ohms.

• If people wear street shoes in the space, the floor must also prevent charge generation.
• An ESD floor can be conductive and still generate static (fail to prevent body voltage):

-  Evaluate the potential for charge generation.

Applications for ESD Resin Flooring

In certain industrial environments, the presence or attraction/adhesion of dust may also present an explosive risk or other static electricity problems. In areas where volatile substances, gases, powders, or liquids are processed, stray electric currents are equally undesirable and potentially dangerous. All these areas and environments will have requirements for Antistatic / Conductive / ESD resin flooring systems.

These specific industries include high-tech electronics, semi-conductor production and processing, computer rooms, automotive manufacturing, aerospace, fireworks and munitions, high-performance laser and optical systems, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, oil and chemicals, medical environments, powdered foodstuffs, and many other specific industries requirements.

The specific areas within these industries and facilities that require some level of conductive resin flooring include production and assembly areas, paint shops, storage and handling facilities, clean rooms, computer rooms and many others, such as:

• Static controlled environments
• Chemical processing and storage
• Food processing and manufacturing
• Wet and dry processing
• Pharmaceutical
• Printing
• Engineering
• Production
• Warehousing
• Laboratories
• Computer suites
• Electronic assembly
• Automotive
• Aeronautical
• Medical
• Manufacturing
• Oil and Chemical Processing

Conclusion...

Fortunately, there is an easy way to accomplish this: flooring systems with Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection. ESD flooring can be engineered to prevent static from generating and compromising the integrity of a floor system and creating hazards in the workplace.

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Bibliography:

1. DIN EN : Resilient floor coverings ' Determination of the electrical resistance, April
2. BS EN -4-1: Electrostatics ' Standard test methods for specific applications; Electrostatic behaviour of floor coverings and installed floors.
3. BS EN -4-5: Electrostatics. Standard test methods for specific applications. Methods for characterizing the electrostatic protection of footwear and flooring in combination with a person
4. BS EN -5-1: Electrostatics. Protection of electronic devices from electrostatic phenomena. General requirements
5. BS -1: Code of practice for control of undesirable static electricity. General considerations
6. BS -2: Code of practice for control of undesirable static electricity. Recommendations for particular industrial situations
7. PD CLC/TR : Electrostatics. Code of practice for the avoidance of hazards due to static electricity; Conductive Coatings for Industrial Floors ' Deutsche Bauchemie . ISBN 3--12-0
8. FeRFA Guidance Note No. 4 Static Controlled Flooring.

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