ESD Floors - ESD Flooring Frequently Asked Questions
Most common question asked about Data Centers
Question:
We have an access floor in our computer room. Cold air flows across cables under the floor. Does the airflow create static electricity? If so, are personnel or hardware at risk?
Answer:
This is a common question with a straightforward answer. No, the airflow beneath an access floor poses no static threat whatsoever.
Static electricity is generated by contact and separation. Airflow causes static electricity only when the air is particulate-laden and the particulates are large, meaning numerous and visible. For example, in sand and dust storms that occur in dry climates, sand and dust particles are blown into and away from billboards and plastic signs. The contact and separation between the particulates and the charged surfaces generates static electricity, leaving high charges on the billboards and signs. In the these situations dust and particles will cling to the sign or billboard due to the static generated.
Remember: it is the particulates in the air, not the air itself, that causes static electricity. Normal air—even the air in a typical wind storm—does not contain enough particulates to charge up other surfaces. Like compressed air or the air circulated by a forced hot air system, the cold air (even if it is very dry) flowing under an access floor cannot generate static electricity: the air flowing across cables under an access floor poses no threat of static shock to personnel or hardware.
We are currently reviewing our workspace for potential ESD issues, and our facilities manager opined that ‘bare concrete’ is the best “anti-static” flooring there is. He offered no source for his information, and I didn’t find this question even asked on your [otherwise very informative] website.
So: What do you think of the ESD properties of bare concrete?
Believe it or not this is one of those questions that everyone should ask and as you noted I should have proactively answered. Bare concrete would certainly provide an inexpensive floor.
I am going to assume you are asking about bare unsealed concrete that is allowed to breathe.
Bare concrete often exhibits antistatic (and dissipative or conductive) tendencies depending on the time of year and the amount of moisture vapor permeating through it. The problem with designating concrete as “the ESD floor” is the uncertainty of its resistive properties. Since the dissipative tendency is drawn directly from the moisture levels in it, concrete has at best - unpredictable conductivity. This conductivity is not inherent like a carbon filled material. It is subject to changing environmental and geological conditions as well as weather and freeze/thaws.
Keep in mind that ANSI/ESD S 20-20 recommends a system resistance of less than 35 megohms from the person through the controlled footwear floor and on to ground. We know that as resistance increases, charge dissipation performance decreases. Just because something might exhibit antistatic tendencies does not mean that it will also discharge a human being properly. Discharge or dissipation is directly related to conductivity and not antistatic properties. Calling a floor “antistatic” only means that floor will not contribute to triboelctrification. It does not mean that it will also act as a ground.
I have measured the conductivity of some concrete that I found to be too conductive only to see that same concrete measure almost insulative during the span of the same year. This broad performance differential would be a hard sell to a knowledgeable auditor (or customer) as part of any ISO certification process. Bare concrete with high conductivity usually means a damp and often dusty building. On a similar note, I was once asked to show an engineer in Florida why he should use static dissipative table covering instead of old back issues of the Miami Herald. The Herald actually performed marginally better than the special table covering – on that beautiful but humid day. Fortunately, he didn’t have a dilemma over justifying special table covering since damp news print, while antistatic, is also unfit for a clean environment because it is corrosive.
What is the difference between static dissipative and conductive flooring?
First, it is important to understand that an ESD floor should never be purchased based upon whether it is called dissipative or conductive. These terms are inappropriate for specifying permanent static control flooring. (See article: Taking the Mystery Out of Selecting Static Control Flooring) Ideally, a floor should be specified based upon both its propensity to tribo-charge people and its electrical resistance to ground (measured in ohms or meg-ohms) when installed. Descriptions like dissipative and conductive do not adequately describe these properties. When evaluating an ESD floor for its ability to control static, ESD engineers verify that:
1) The floor will not generate more than 100V when someone walks on it;
2) The total system resistance of the person, footwear, walking surface and ground is less than or equal to 3.5 x 107 or 35 meg-ohms maximum.
Would I be better off with an antistatic or a conductive floor? [Back to top]
The answer to this question is similar to that of the previous question. The word antistatic does not designate some special electrical resistance range. Antistatic merely refers to a material's propensity to charge other materials during contact and separation. If a floor has antistatic properties, it means that under a particular set of circumstances—say, a person walking across the floor wearing Rockport walking shoes—a significant static charge does not build up. If that same person walked across that same antistatic floor wearing leather-soled or athletic footwear, however, a static event might occur. If we were to focus on a particular set of conditions, as just described, we could end up with a floor that works only under those conditions, creating a situation that would be difficult to monitor or control. For this reason, we look at antistatic properties as part of a much bigger picture that includes electrical resistance to ground and tribo-charging performance at low relative humidity.
How are floors made conductive? [Back to top]
Most ESD floors are rendered electrically conductive by adding, blending or weaving carbon and graphite into standard flooring materials. Vinyl tile is made conductive by adding conductive carbon chips or veins into the vinyl raw materials used in standard vinyl flooring. Carpets are made conductive by weaving in thousands of carbon-coated conductive fibers. Rubber is made conductive by adding either carbon powder or adding chemicals that reduce electrical resistance of regular rubber flooring. Epoxy coating manufacturers utilize several different methods for making the coatings conductive, including: fiber technology, conductive aggregate additives, carbon and graphite particulate blending and sometimes a combination of several in the same coating.
How long do conductive properties last? [Back to top]
This is an interesting question. A quality product should provide a lifetime of service. Likewise, conductive properties should last for the life of the product. Some "dissipative' vinyl products, however, require regular recoating with antistatic floor finish in order to maintain acceptable electrical properties. These should be avoided unless the solution does not need to be a long-term one. Some ESD carpets require periodic applications of a topical treatment containing antistat. The problem with applying the antistat is that the maintenance crew doesn't always know when it is time to reapply the antistat or when the humidity conditions might be too low for adequate performance from a surface additive. Fortunately, there are many products that will provide unlimited electrical performance without any use of maintenance additives. Make sure you read the fine print.
If something is antistatic, does that mean it will conduct electricity? [Back to top]
As stated in the earlier question, antistatic and conductive are mutually exclusive terms. Antistatic has to do with properties involved in charging of materials when they contact and separate. Conductive properties refer to the ability of a material to conduct an electrical charge.
Could a conductive floor endanger people working with electrical equipment? [Back to top]
As long as the ESD flooring has a resistance to ground of over 25,000 ohms, the floor can be used in most factory and hospital situations. Operating rooms, which often house electrical defibrillation equipment, require floors to have resistance to ground ratings of over 25k ohms. A simple calculation that takes into consideration the highest voltage and current of electrical equipment used in a particular application will determine what is and what is not safe. But most standards recognize the 25k ohm number as a safe lower parameter.
Do ESD tiles need to touch in order to be grounded? [Back to top]
Electrical bonding between ESD floor tiles is achieved from the conductive adhesive and not as a result of individual tile to tile contact. The adhesives used in conductive installations is highly conductive and provides excellent continuity across the entire floor. Conductive adhesives take the place of so-called copper grounding grids beneath the floor. The conductive adhesive must be attached to some form of ground to meet relevant specifications.
How does relative humidity affect the performance of an ESD floor? [Back to top]
Static generation occurs more easily when the climate is dry. Static also stores better on surfaces when the air is dry. Sometimes an ESD floor will appear to perform when the humidity is over 40 percent. This is quite normal with carpet. Any ESD carpet should be tested at least as low as 12 percent relative humidity. Unless the carpet is loaded with carbon fibers, most carpets will fail below 20 percent RH.
Can new floors be installed over old? [Back to top]
This is one of those questions that should be answered only by a qualified flooring professional, based upon either a site inspection or a lengthy conversation. Almost any floor can be installed over an old floor as long as the old floor is in good condition and well-bonded to the sub floor. Some floors are much easier and less risky to install over old floors. Vinyl, for example, can be installed over existing vinyl. However, vinyl is stiff and unforgiving—it could delaminate if the adhesive does not cure well or if the surface is slightly uneven. The possibility of failure is much greater installing vinyl over vinyl than it would be if ESD carpet were installed over old vinyl. Carpet tiles are flexible and the release adhesive bonds extremely well to old vinyl and epoxy. Many installers prefer installing carpet tiles over old vinyl rather than over new concrete. Often, the choice of installing over old floors involves a decision to avoid removing old vinyl because it contains asbestos and the cost of removal might be a budget buster.
Why should I worry about moisture protection with ESD flooring? [Back to top]
Moisture permeation through concrete slabs can wreak havoc with all types of flooring. Several years ago, the Rubber Association determined that levels exceeding 3 pounds of moisture per 1000 square feet per 24 hour period caused serious problems, such as delamination, adhesive breakdown and adhesive oozing. High moisture can also lead to the development of bacteria and molds, which, in addition to causing foul odors, contribute to sick building syndrome. The industry standard test for moisture permeation is the calcium chloride test. The test is simple and accurate. For the reasons stated above, high readings must not be ignored.
Other Common ESD Flooring Questions
- Does it do any good to have ESD chairs if the floor is not ESD?
- I have a #6 AWG copper conductor and the copper strip/tape - how to I best MATE those together ? Or how do I ensure conductivity across the floor?
- What do you think of the ESD properties of bare concrete?
- Can you explain the differences between low static and anti-static with grounding?
- Mission Critical Data Center Flooring
- Is ESD epoxy appropriate for a small server room?
- Is static control floor finish appropriate for an MRI suite in a hospital?
- Glossary and industry terminology explained...
- What is the difference between static dissipative and conductive flooring?
- Would I be better off with an antistatic or a conductive floor?
- How are floors made conductive?
- How long do conductive properties last?
- Could a conductive floor endanger people working with electrical equipment?
- If something is antistatic, does that mean it will conduct electricity?
- Do ESD tiles need to touch in order to be grounded?
- How does relative humidity affect the performance of an ESD floor?
- Can new floors be installed over old?
- Why should I worry about moisture protection with ESD flooring?
- ESD Standards; What is the correct system resistance?