| Floor materials (and proper footwear) perform two primary static
control functions: they reduce the generation and accumulation
of electrostatic charges at the interface of the shoe with the
floor and they dissipate existing charges from personnel and
moving equipment that are in contact with the floor material. Various
studies, tests and practical experience have shown that
the combination of static control flooring
and footwear can reduce
static generation from several thousand volts to less than
a hundred volts. Also, the combination dissipates static
charges
from the body very rapidly when a person steps or wall<s
on the flooring material. Static control flooring and footwear can control static problems
throughout the work area, especially in areas where personnel
have to be quite mobile. Also, floor materials can help control
static on carts or other similar movable equipment, as well as
on people.
Because static
control flooring and appropriate footwear tend to be passive
control methods and require less frequent monitoring,
employees do not need to take any additional actions to assure
that the system is functioning properly.
Floor materials can be used in most areas, especially those
requiring high employee mobility. These include receiving and
inspection; stores and warehouses; clean rooms and assembly,
test and inspection; packaging; field service repair; offices
and laboratories.
Like all static control procedures, flooring
(and footwear) is part of a complete program that also may
include packaging and materials handling, ionization, wrist
straps, or garments. In combination with appropriate footwear
as part of an overall static control program, static control
floor coverings can significantly role reduce static control
problems resulting from personnel-generated static. |
