Staticworx™ ESD Carpet in the Networked Office Environment

1. What is ESD?

ESD is an acronym for ElectroStatic Discharge, commonly referred to as static electricity, is generated when two materials contact and separate. Repeated contact and separation, or friction, increases the accumulated static charge. When contact is made between an object that is charged with static and a conductive surface, electrostatic discharge, (ESD), occurs. One classic example of an ESD event is a lightning bolt striking an object. Another example of ESD is when you get a surprising shock as your hand touches a metal door handle. ESD is particularly prevalent in environments when humidity is low. Some common ways that static charges will accumulate on your body are:

1. Rubbing a balloon on your head.
2. Shoe soles walking on nylon carpet.
3. Clothing moving on furniture fabrics or plastic surfaces.
4. Clothing moving on human skin, (nylon stockings)
5. Two clear plastic bags separating from each other.

2. What is the unit of static measurement?

The basic unit of measurement for static electricity is the volt. The numbers are often so high that the kilovolt (Kv) is a commonly used unit.

Typical Electrostatic Voltages at 20% Relative Humidity

1. Sliding across a foam cushion                              10-14 Kv
2. Walking across a vinyl floor                                      8-12 Kv
3. Walking across nylon carpet                                      2-4 Kv
4. Walking across computer grade carpet                    <2 Kv
5. Walking across Staticworx™ ESD carpet
   with ESD footwear                                                      <0.1 Kv

3. Is there a difference between human and computer sensitivity to static?

Yes. Computers are much more sensitive to static electricity than people are. Computer manufacturer's recommend that their equipment not be exposed to voltage levels over 2.0 Kv, (see IBM user manual at www.IBM.com). ESD related interference to computers is difficult to determine because people are not aware that it is occurring. Human sensitivity generally begins at about 3.5 Kv. At this level an ESD event may cause you to feel a very slight tingling on your body. The startling ZAPS!, that you feel when you discharge into a door handle or metal object generally measure in excess of 5-8 KV. One thing is for sure - If you can feel static, then you have a great potential for electronic interference in your environment. Computer engineers estimate that static electricity in the user's environment is the cause of up to 60% of all equipment service calls. (Source: ACL incorporated).

4. How does ESD cause computer downtime?

Most electronic equipment is programmed to function according to specific electronic codes, a series of electrical pulses called binary code. Unfortunately, the discharge of static electricity can also produce rogue electrical pulses, or shock waves, which may influence the programmed electrical pulses in the computer. This random and erratic ESD produces ElectroMagnetic Interference, or EMI, which can cause false electronic signals, program interruptions, memory loss and alteration of stored data. It is estimated that business losses in the billions of dollars have resulted from daily systems interruptions caused by ESD and EMI. To prevent your electronics from static interference and to keep static generation at safe levels, you will need to design your facility with a built-in permanent static control system.

< top >

5. What impact will new electronics technologies have in your workplace

Currently, just about every commercial facility uses sensitive electronic equipment. Whether it is desktop computers, network servers, data storage devices, telecom switches and routers, wireless systems, communications equipment, etc., these end-users are continually upgrading their electronics to keep pace with their competitors in the Information Economy.In the future, as new electronics technologies evolve, they will be even more advanced than they are today. New microchip designs will be smaller, faster and run on less energy. They will be more easily influenced by outside electronic interference. Optical storage technologies based on laser light, like CD and DVD devices will be more susceptible to electronic interference than the old floppy disks and magnetic disk drives we may have used.As new electronic technologies are introduced, the facilities environments they are used in must be designed protect them from any potential interference. One of the significant changes we will see in the contemporary workplace will be how the facilities and design departments will be required to work closely with the IT and engineering departments. The integration of new building development trends with emerging electronic technologies will present significant specification challenges for both customer and vendor, as well. New "Smart Buildings" will be designed to reduce and eliminate the threat of static interference to the electronics they will surround.

6. Why is this change an important concern for the carpet specifier?

Now, more than ever, flooring specifiers need to consider the static propensity (Kv rating), and the electrical resistance, (ER rating), of commercial floor coverings. Static propensity measures how much static charge a floor covering will generate. Electrical resistance measures the floor's ability to safely dissipate a potentially harmful static charge. Understanding the difference between static propensity and electrical resistance is a fundamental requirement for flooring specifiers. New generations of electronics are being introduced that require floors to have extremely low Kv ratings and ER ratings in the static dissipating and conductive ranges.

< top >

7. Why is conventional anti-static protection in carpets insufficient for today's workplace?

Conventional anti-static carpet is designed to enhance human comfort only. Conversely, Staticworx™ ESD Carpet is designed to enhance human comfort and improve the performance of electronic equipment. Static electricity in the workplace is generated from many sources other than the carpeted floor, such as clothing, the interaction of clothing and furniture, plastic, etc. Anti-static carpet only ensures that the carpet itself does not generate harmful static charges. Staticworx™ ESD Carpet ensures that the carpet and the people do not generate harmful static charges.

8. What is conductivity?

Ohms are a measure of electrical resistance. Electrical Resistance measures the ability of a material to conduct an electrical charge to ground. Ground is a point in an electrical circuit or building infrastructure that has zero electrical potential. Ground provides a path to neutralize all electrical charges.

A Conductor is a material with low electrical resistance that will safely attract an electrical charge to ground. Examples of conductors are water, copper, aluminum and carbon. A practical example of a conductor is a lightning rod, or Staticworx™ ESD Carpet.

An Insulator is a material with high electrical resistance that will not conduct a charge to safely ground. Examples of insulators are plastic, rubber, vinyl, wood and most commercial and residential anti-static carpets. A practical example of an insulator is the rubber or vinyl casings around common electrical wires, or a commercial carpet tile with a low Kv rating.

Anti-Static refers to the ability to suppress charge generation or the prevention of static build up. Anti-static materials will not safely attract or decay a static charge before it randomly discharges. Anti-static material is usually indicated by an electrical resistance range, measured in ohms, of a minimum of 1.0 x 1010, (10 billion ohms), to a maximum of 1.0 x 1012, (1 trillion ohms).

Static Dissipative refers to the ability of a material to conduct a charge to ground and is usually indicated by an electrical resistance range, measured in ohms, of a minimum of 1.0 x 106, (1 million ohms), to a maximum of 1.0 x 109, (1 billion ohms).

Note: Many ESD flooring manufacturers will recommend electrical resistance measurements as high as 1.0 x 109, (1 billion ohms or "One Thousand Meg"). However, Staticworx™ feels that the gap between 100 million ohms to a 1 billion ohms is too large, (900 million ohms), of a jump in electrical resistance. If the material's electrical resistance happens to deteriorate over time, beginning at 1.0 x 109, it may not provide adequate ESD protection over the useful life of the product.Conductive refers to the ability of a material to conduct a charge to ground and is usually indicated by an electrical resistance range measured in ohms of a minimum of 2.5 x 104, (25,000 ohms), to maximum of 1.0 x 106, (1 million ohms)

9. Why is conductive carpet better than anti-static carpet?

Obviously, the lower the electrical resistance, the more conductive a material is. Naturally, since conductive materials measure lower electrical resistance ratings, they will attract and decay static faster than Static Dissipative materials. Likewise, Static Dissipative materials will attract and decay static faster than Anti-Static or Insulation materials. Anti-Static or Insulating materials will never attract or decay static charges. Most commercial grade anti-static carpets are insulating range materials.

Staticworx™ ESD Carpet is conductive. Staticworx™ ESD Carpet has the ability to attract and remove harmful static charges before they can be randomly discharged, keeping the total environment free from costly static interference. It is specifically engineered to prevent the problem of static interruptions in an electronics environment. Staticworx™ ESD Carpet contains an exclusive conductive carbon monofilament nylon, which inhibits the generation of static on carpet while simultaneously conducting static charges safely to a ground source. The patented engineering of Staticworx™' conductive carpet system links these conductive fibers to a specially formulated conductive pre-coat and a unique conductive vinyl backing. Applied with a full spread of conductive adhesive and strategically positioned copper grounding strips, Staticworx™ ESD Carpet provides a safe route to ground for random ESD. This is an inimitably advanced carpet technology that is simply not found in standard commercial and residential anti-static carpets.

10. Does conductive carpet look different from other carpet?

No. Staticworx™ ESD Carpet is available in many attractive styles. All Staticworx™ ESD Carpet products maintain the important features of contemporary color and design, appearance retention, noise reduction, ease of maintenance and performance warrantees. Staticworx™ offers both running line and flexible custom design options.

11. When should Staticworx™ ESD Carpet be specified?

Whenever you are selecting carpet for a facility that uses computers or sensitive electronic equipment you will want to consider using Staticworx™ ESD Carpet. These days almost every commercial facility has areas that use computers and sensitive electronics. You will want to consider Staticworx™ ESD Carpet in areas like networked offices, network server rooms, control rooms, telecom rooms, switch and router facilities, call centers, data storage centers, financial area, trading floors, disaster recovery centers, media, communications, radar, medical monitoring, networked classrooms and dormitories, and gaming and entertainment floors.

12. Does Staticworx™ offer an ESD performance warranty on Staticworx™ ESD Carpet?

Yes. Staticworx™ warrants that Staticworx™ ESD Carpet, when installed and maintained as recommended by Staticworx™, will not generate static above 2000 volts, (2.0 Kv), as measured by AATCC #134, that the face of the carpet will have a minimum resistance level of 2.5 x 104 ohms and a maximum electrical resistance of 1.0 x 108 ohms, as measured according to NFPA-99 and EOS-ESD S7.1.