Avoid ESD Flooring Pitfalls special

In our ultra-short Static Bursts podcast episodes, we talk about all aspects of static-control (ESD) flooring and provide brief answers to the questions we hear most often from clients, architects and contractors. Static Bursts is hosted by Dave Long, founder and president of Staticworx, Inc. For more in-depth information, try our Static Talks podcasts. If you need help or would like to talk with Dave or one of our technical reps, give us a call: 617-923-2000.

Static Bursts

Moisture problems are the #1 cause of failed flooring installations. Often the result of aquifers or other environmental conditions, moisture may be invisible. So how do you know if you have a moisture problem? How do you fix the problem? What happens if you choose to ignore moisture readings? If you’re in a 24/7 operational facility, such as a call or data center, a police station, a flight tower or other critical space, how do you solve a moisture problem – adhesive breakdown, for example – without shutting down or compromising your core mission?

Dave Long, president of Staticworx, Inc., discusses these and other issues related to mitigating moisture in new construction, renovations, and occupied workspaces.

For more information and to view show notes, useful links, and episode transcript, visit the Staticworx Knowledge Base: https://kb.staticworx.com/episode/static-talks-avoid-failures-esd-flooring-over-concrete/.

Static Bursts (Ep 1): Avoid Flooring Failure: What To Know Before Installing Flooring Over Concrete

Have you ever wondered why we recommend static-dissipative flooring for some applications and conductive for others? Shouldn’t both types of flooring work for any application? No, because electrical standards vary by industry.

In episode 2 of Static Bursts, Dave and Rick discuss the technical difference between static-dissipative and conductive floors. Standards for flight towers, communications facilities and other end-user applications require flooring with electrical resistance measuring between 1.0 x 10E6 and 1.0 x 10E9. Standards for electronics manufacturing, however, allow for any floor measuring below 1.0 x 109E. Dave explains why it’s important to know and follow industry standards for the specific application where the ESD floor will be installed.

For more information and to view show notes, useful links, and episode transcript, visit the Staticworx Knowledge Base: https://kb.staticworx.com/episode/static-talks-static-dissipative-versus-conductive-flooring/

Static Bursts (Ep 2): Static-Dissipative vs Conductive Flooring

Prior to 2014, the standard for qualifying an ESD floor, based on ANSI/ESD S20.20, required testing electrical resistance to ground and system resistance, which includes the floor, adhesive, and test subject wearing ESD footwear. If the floor measured below 1.0 x 10E9 ohms and below 3.5 x 10E7 ohms for system resistance, it passed the qualification testing. If the floor passed both types of resistance tests, it was assumed to meet the standard for static generation - ≥ 100 volts. (Testing for static generation was required only if the floor failed these tests.)

However, certain types of conductive flooring passed both tests and still generated significant static charges on people wearing certain types of ESD footwear. In 2014, changes to S20.20 acknowledged this flaw and qualification requirements were modified to include tests for body voltage (charge generation).

Today, to properly qualify an ESD floor, you must test resistance to ground, point to ground resistance, and system resistance. You must also test for walking body voltage. Tests must be performed in a controlled environment at 12% RH +/- 3%.

System resistance and charge generation tests must be conducted with the test subject wearing ESD footwear.

Because some flooring materials perform differently with different types of shoes, qualification tests must be conducted with every type of footwear allowed in the space. If employees will be required to wear ESD shoes and visitors will be given conductive heel straps, for example, the floor must be tested with ESD shoes and heel straps.

For more information and to view show notes, useful links, and episode transcript, visit the Staticworx Knowledge Base: https://kb.staticworx.com/episode/resistance-tests-insufficient-qualify-esd-floor/

Static Bursts (Ep 3): Why Resistance Tests Alone Are Not Enough To Properly Qualify An ESD Floor

New floors are typically installed over the following pre-existing surfaces: VCT (vinyl composition tile), VAT (vinyl asbestos tile), or coatings over concrete. While it is possible and sometimes preferable to install a new floor directly over an old surface, a number of steps should be taken to ensure that the new floor does not fail. The steps including destructive testing to determine whether the bond between the existing surface and subfloor (or existing surfaces) is intact and exactly what lies below the current surface - subfloor? Old tile or coating? Layers of tiles? – as well as testing for asbestos and other regulated chemicals. 

Dave Long and Rick Frauton discuss situations in which companies have run into trouble, installing new flooring over old, and explain the steps necessary to avoid similar problems.

For more information and to view show notes, useful links, and episode transcript, visit the Staticworx Knowledge Base: https://kb.staticworx.com/episode/installing-esd-flooring-existing-surfaces/

Static Bursts (Ep 4): How to Avoid Problems When Installing ESD Flooring Over Existing Surfaces

Moisture or vapor in the concrete subfloor can cause your floor to fail, resulting in serious costs down the line – in some cases, vacating the premises and installing a new floor. 

People often assume, falsely, that in arid climates, moisture is non-existent. In this podcast, Dave and Rick discuss what happens when people fail to do their due diligence (perform moisture tests or ignore readings), and offers advice on how to avoid costly problems.

For more information and to view show notes, useful links, and episode transcript, visit the Staticworx Knowledge Base: https://kb.staticworx.com/episode/hidden-costs-flooring-installations-vapor-concrete

Static Bursts (Ep 5): Hidden Costs of Flooring Installations (Part I): Vapor in the Concrete

Three fundamental mistakes account for a majority of ESD flooring failures: selecting the wrong floor for the application: failure to consider total cost of ownership; failing to test the floor after it’s been installed. Avoiding these mistakes helps ensure success. This first of a two-part series on avoiding ESD flooring failures explains why it’s important to select a floor based on the specific application and details the primary considerations that should be taken into account: assessing the type of footwear people will wear in the space and considering goals and objectives, including how the space will be used.

Static Bursts (Ep 20): The Pitfalls of ESD Flooring Selection: Avoid Flooring Failure (Part 1)

The cost of flooring materials is only part of the total cost of ownership. To calculate the long-term cost of owning a floor, consider installation, maintenance, repairs, and downtime required for maintenance and repair. Aesthetics are another consideration. this podcast, Dave and Rick describe scenarios that occur when people base flooring decisions solely on the cost of the material. Dave also explains why it’s crucial to test an ESD floor immediately after it’s been installed.

For more information and to view show notes, useful links, and episode transcript, visit the Staticworx Learning Center: https://kb.staticworx.com/static_bursts/installing-esd-flooring-avoiding-pitfalls/

Static Bursts (Ep 21): Installing ESD Flooring: Avoiding Pitfalls (Part 2)

StaticWorx produces design-centric ESD flooring that prevents static discharge from harming sensitive electronic components.

In our Static Bursts podcast – hosted by StaticWorx president, Dave Long – we discuss pertinent issues related to static control flooring as well as how to minimize damage to electronic equipment due to static discharge in the workplace.