Almost everyone\u2019s familiar with the image of a white \u201ccleanroom\u201d or \u201cbunny suit.\u201d They show up in just about every depiction of people working in computer facilities in popular entertainment, and it\u2019s a highly sought after specialty \u2018armor\u2019 in the video game Fallout 4.<\/p>\n
What most people may not know is that the suits are designed not to protect the person inside, but the delicate circuitry they\u2019re working on. \u00a0But not everyone who works with small, sensitive electronics needs to spend money for\u00a0a full-on, disposable suit.<\/p>\n
If you work with a lot of small electronics, a more affordable solution is to put together an electrostatic protected area (or EPA).\u00a0 This doesn\u2019t have to take up a lot of space and can actually be quite portable.\u00a0 It just needs to be done properly.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with the basics and work our way up to the safest and most expensive options.<\/p>\n
At a bare minimum, all personnel working within an EPA should have a personal grounding wrist strap<\/a>.\u00a0 These make sure any excess energy is grounded \u2013 forced away \u2013 from the electronic devices and circuit boards being handled.<\/p>\n Connected to that grounding strap is a dissipative mat<\/a>. Dissipative means quite simply to disperse or disappear.\u00a0 A properly designed and implemented dissipative mat does for the surface what the grounding wrist strap does for the person \u2013 protects sensitive electronics from electrical discharges.<\/p>\n Mats can be purchased pre-cut or in rolls, depending on what your needs are.<\/p>\n Attached to both of these is a common point cord<\/a>, also referred to as a grounding cord.\u00a0 These cords are fully insulated and take any electrostatic charges away from the person and the ESD mat to be grounded safely.<\/p>\n Often these simple options are packaged together as a field service or workstation kit<\/a> that can be purchased as one unit to avoid forgetting any key elements.<\/p>\n Now that we\u2019ve established the minimum requirements for an EPA, let\u2019s look at additional options that can be easily implemented within your system to further insure the safety of the components and reduce the risk and excess cost of replacement.<\/p>\n For more permanent EPA installations, there are a variety of flooring options that can be integrated.\u00a0 Everything from conductive and dissipative vinyl tiles<\/a> to anti-static carpeting <\/a>that can be utilized in the work area or just in the area surrounding your EPA system.\u00a0 You can even add flooring with a high-end moisture barrier<\/a> as well as anti-static protection.<\/p>\n One of the most obvious ways we build up a potentially dangerous electrostatic discharge is just by walking.\u00a0 Static charges build up naturally.\u00a0 While a personal grounding wrist strap<\/a> will help dissipate the charge, there are additional options for your feet.<\/p>\n Shoe covers<\/a> with conductive strips are a quick, low cost addition to an existing EPA system and great for alleviating the risk of allowing visitors into the EPA area.<\/p>\n For employees whose duties mean they spend substantial time in the EPA area, you can add foot and heel grounders, toe grounders and sole grounders<\/a>.<\/p>\n For even more protection, grounders can be upgraded to ESD shoes<\/a>.\u00a0 These come in a variety of styles for your business setting \u2013 even weatherproof boots and hiking models<\/a>.<\/p>\n Adding isolation protocols<\/a> and ESD protective containers<\/a> can also complement your EPA system and reduce the chance of any accidental charges building up or discharging into your electronic components.<\/p>\n Of course grounding should be a consideration with any additions to your EPA system.\u00a0 Whether it\u2019s flooring or matting, grounding cords with a built in resistor<\/a> add that much more protection to your area. \u00a0And the more working parts you have, the more grounding capability you require.<\/p>\n There are simple options to increase the grounding ability of any size EPA system, as well as monitors that can be added to the system<\/a> \u2013 at the personal or system-wide level.<\/p>\n And if you really feel the need to cover yourself top to bottom, there are more workable clothing options<\/a> as well.<\/p>\nFrom the Ground Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Sole Protection<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Additional Considerations<\/strong><\/h2>\n