How does conductive and static dissipative tile work?
Static dissipative and conductive tile attracts and routes static electricity charges away from valuable electronic equipment. Pathways in the tile drain the charge through it, into a conductive adhesive, and on into copper ground connectors where the charge dissipates to ground.
Note about grounding: Staticworx conductive adhesive takes the place of copper grids. The only copper required in any installation is our 24” copper ground strip. Copper strips bond the conductive adhesive to the designated ground connection. Once the adhesive is electrically bonded to ground, the entire tile installation becomes grounded.
Why is static dissipative and conductive tile essential?
In today’s high-tech world, all sectors (healthcare, education, public safety and business) are dependent on electronics. Static is created every time two things rub together, and influences accuracy. It can also severely damage electronics at voltages too small for humans to feel. While a human feels a “zap” at 3,000 volts, electronics can be effected by as low as 5 volts! Properly grounded static conductive flooring tiles prevent static charges from building up in the first place.
Which is better, conductive tile or static dissipative tile?
The short answer is – neither one is better. Some conductive floors are too conductive to be safe for personnel to work on them near electricity. Some static dissipative floors are not conductive enough because they are too resistive. Experts agree that static control flooring needs to be specified using an ohms range – not based on a broad resistance range. Most people do not realize it but the definition of a “conductive floor” is any floor measuring from zero (0) ohms to 1 million ohms. Specifying a “conductive floor” without stating the ohms range would allow the floor to be potentially dangerous. There is a similar problem with the word “static dissipative.” The static dissipative range runs from 1 million ohms all the way up to 1 billion ohms. A safe but effective ESD floor should measure below 100 million ohms which is the same as saying it should measure below 1.0 X 10 to the 8th.
These short videos might help you understand the reasons you should always define an ohms range using numerical terms – like < 100,000 ohms and < 10 to the 8th ohms rather than just calling out broad and imprecise terms like static dissipative and conductive.
The “Sweet Spot” encompasses part of the conductive range and part of the static dissipative range.
View a chart showing how Red Digital Camera in Irvine, CA demonstrated compliance to ANSI/ESD S20.20 to upper management. This graph shows how you can meet ANSI/ESD S20.20 using either static dissipative or conductive flooring. Toby Wilson, an engineer at Red Digital Camera in Irvine California, prepared this chart. The data reflects testing of a Staticworx seamless epoxy floor.
Did you know carpet is available in tiles with the same permanent electrical properties as ESD vinyl and ESD rubber tiles?
Visit our ShadowFX carpet tile page if you are looking for a static control floor that provide permanent static free environment and also reduce noise.
Specifications for static dissipative and conductive tile
Conductive tile is often called: Conductive flooring, ESD flooring ESD tile, Conductile, EDS Flooring, static resistant flooring. Static dissipative tile is referred to as SDT tile, SD flooring, dissipative flooring, Statmate tile. Conductive and dissipative flooring fall within CSI section 09660, static control flooring. By definition, conductive flooring resistive properties measure below 1,000,000 ohms per ANSI/ESD S 7.1-2005. By definition static dissipative flooring can fall anywhere from 1 million ohms all the way up to 1 billion ohms. Conductive carpet tile is often specified incorrectly for use around energized equipment in call centers, 911 dispatch areas, flight towers and server rooms. Static dissipative tile measuring less than 1.0 X 10 E8 should be used in these applications.
Explosives handling is a special case: Conductive tile is required in these areas. Static dissipative tile should not be used in explosives handling applications. DOD 4145 and NAVSEA OP 5 Volume 1 require conductive flooring for those because conductive floors discharge static 20 times faster than static dissipative flooring.
On this page you will find detailed information on static discharge and explosives handling to meet NAVSEA OP 5 and DOD 4145 safety standards
For further understanding about ESD flooring in the electronics industry here is a link to the ESD Association web site where you can obtain a copy of ANSI/ESD S7.1-2005 and ANSI/ESD S20.20-2007. ANSI/ESD S7.1 describes the method for measurement of the electrical resistance of various static control flooring materials, such as floor coverings, mats, runners and ESD waxes and floor finishes. It provides test methods for qualifying ESD flooring materials before installation or application and for evaluating and monitoring materials after installation or application. These measurements are performed using an ohmmeter that measures resistance using 10 volts and 100 volts with a range encompassing 25,000 ohms to at least 1,000,000,000 ohms.
What makes Staticworx® tile and sheet flooring an eco-friendly choice?
Staticworx® dissipative and conductive tile is a top choice for durability, reliability, and environmental responsibility. It is created using a low-impact manufacturing process that allows for lifetime conductivity. Staticworx® Eclipse rubber tile and Ameriworx vinyl tile have almost zero detectable VOC emissions based on California 1350 Indoor Air Quality Testing. Staticworx® Ameriworx vinyl tile contains over 10% recycled content. Eclipse rubber is plasticizer free and contains a percentage of rapidly renewable resources. All Staticworx flooring can contribute towards LEED credits.
Learn more
Reach Staticworx® by phone at 617-923-2000 .
ESD Flooring Terms & Definitions
Here are several terms you might find when researching esd flooring and static control floors.
ESD and Anti Static Flooring Terminology
The following are terms and definitions specific to ESD Flooring.
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Carpet Industry Terms and Glossary
For your convenience, the following are terms and definitions relating to carpet manufacturing.
