Testing ASTM F150 measures the electric conductivity and resistance of resilient flooring. For our purposes, electrostatic dissipation, otherwise known as ESD floor testing, is a characteristic of a flooring surface measured by its ability to dissipate static electricity so that the electronic machinery and other necessary equipment is protected. Similar flooring types may be conductive and grounded to provide a dissipation of static charge in this way. Installation requires the floor to be grounded first and then all machinery and equipment is grounded from there. Manufacturers often require testing of flooring following installation by third party inspectors to confirm its effectiveness, and doing so prevents costly repairs down the line.
There are numerous standards that we rely on that all inform each other, such as ANSI/ESD S7.1, ANSI/ESD S2020, and ANSI/ESD TR53.
Below are three types of tests when it pertains to electrostatic dissipation mitigation:
Acceptance testing: Verifies that the installation meets project specifications. Done onsite and important to conduct at early stages of the project.
Compliance testing: Routine testing that ensures the ESD control items that have been implemented in ESD control programs maintain their ongoing performance. This includes testing of all ESD control items which is necessary to verify long-term performance.
Qualification testing: Conducted in an environmentally controlled laboratory environment. This testing, done during product development, allows a product manufacturer to market a device that will perform as an ESD control item in all environments.
Of these tests, the methods to conduct them vary based on project and product specifications. Please contact us so we can help you determine your testing needs!
We are third party inspectors certified to conduct ESD testing with the necessary knowledge in implementing various ESD testing methods informed by industry standards. Project specifications require third party inspections, and we uphold that responsibility to provide thorough and honest results. Our Lead Technician is an ESDA Certified TR53 Technician via IRCI and is qualified to assist in numerous testing needs per your facility type and will travel all over the country to conduct testing.
We conduct acceptance testing of the flooring, which is either conductive or dissipative, to verify that the flooring meets product specifications. After that, we recommend ensuring all equipment and machinery in the facility is appropriately bonded to ensure that the ESD mitigation of the flooring works as intended. Without confirming this, and by not utilizing ESD control devices, such as footwear or wrist straps, static charges will still occur in the facility, which will make the ESD properties of the flooring null and void. That is why we encourage routine compliance testing (roughly twice a year) to ensure all ESD properties still meet necessary requirements.
Before testing, we require the project specifications and product specifications to determine the appropriate testing methods. Contact us for more information.
You may ask, why is ESD testing required? Most manufacturers of ESD flooring and similar materials require testing following installation by third party inspectors to ensure the product is working as intended, often for warranty coverage. The installation and maintenance of ESD flooring is done with the purpose of protecting the equipment, machinery, and personnel accessing the area to ensure electricity dissipates appropriately to prevent damage. When done correctly, the floor provides a path for the electric current between people and objects that won’t disrupt the sensitive machinery and equipment in the room. If a component is not grounded correctly, or if personnel do not wear appropriate ESD control items, then the facility is not maintained to meet ESD standards. Therefore, performance and acceptance testing quantifies the dissipation and conductivity characteristics necessary to receive the full value of the product installed.
Compliance testing, done routinely after the project is initially verified, is necessary to ensure ongoing performance, which includes testing ESD control items. Installation of ESD flooring materials is useless without proper use ESD control items (also known as ESD Protective Equipment) used to control static electricity. The following are identified in ESD TR53-01-18 as control items, but the list here is not all inclusive: Grounding/Bonding Systems, Wrist Straps, Footwear, Seating, Garments.
ESD flooring systems are expensive, and testing confirms that the installation was done correctly to prevent long term damage. Knowing and monitoring these results informs us of the ongoing effectiveness of the flooring and other grounded components and whether it provides adequate ESD protection or if a repair or replacement is necessary. When electrostatic discharge occurs without proper mitigation, it can slowly damage equipment within the room or cause more extreme risks depending on the material in use. Standards and test methods are the same regardless of the facility type.
Aerospace, electronics manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, data centers, telecommunications, and R&D labs are just some of the facilities that require grounded components for electrostatic discharge control.
Property owners and contractors should perform Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) testing via acceptance testing following installation as required by the manufacturer and project specifications. Usually, manufacturers require third party inspectors to conduct this testing because they have no stake in the project itself and will provide thorough and honest results. After initial testing, we recommend that the tenant or company operating the facility conduct compliance testing at regular intervals based on application, use, and manufacturer’s recommendations to confirm ongoing performance. By routinely testing, any issues can be dealt with immediately rather than the equipment failing without understanding why, or in extreme cases, unmitigated shock or explosions based on use and materials.
Standards in the industry have long defined the characteristics necessary for conductive flooring systems. Our quick and non-destructive ESD testing services utilizes ESD testing equipment with an AEMC Megohmmeter to place leads at least three feet apart for testing the voltage of current running through the flooring from negative to positive resistance points. ASTM F150 for Standard Test Method for Electrical Resistance of Conductive and Static Dissipative Resilient Flooring informs our testing and ANSI STM97.1 and STM97.2 further defines that there must be a grounded copper strip for every 1000 sq. ft of ESD flooring less than 1.0 x 109 ohms and the accumulation of body voltage must be less than 100 volts.
More recently is the update of ANSI/ESD STM7.1 for point-to-point and point-to-ground ESD testing and the ANSI/ESD STM97.2 walking test of the ability of the flooring and footwear to dissipate static electricity. We use the Prostat PGA-710 Walking Test System Kit that is comprised of all Prostat brand Electrostatic Field Meter (PFM-711B), Charge Plate Monitor Assembly (CPM-720B), and Autoanalysis System (PGA-710B). This new process connects via USB and involves a technician performing several six-step maneuvers that are recorded on the Prostat Autoanalysis software to determine if the footwear and flooring system are within the provided parameters or not. Testing does not damage the environment, and it provides thorough results necessary to keep your facility running smoothly.
Contact us below for a full overview of our ESD testing services!
Contact Us for ESD Testing
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