In today's high-tech industries, electrostatic discharge (ESD) can cause significant damage to sensitive electronic components, leading to costly production delays and even safety hazards. That's why it's crucial to have the right flooring solutions in place to prevent ESD and ensure safety in your workspace. At Sika, we offer a range of ESD and conductive flooring options to meet the specific needs of your facility, whether you require protection for assembly areas, laboratories, or cleanrooms. Our flooring systems are designed to provide long-lasting durability, easy maintenance, and compliance with industry standards.
What is ESD?
Controlling electrostatic discharge begins with understanding how an electrostatic charge occurs in the first place.
An electrical charging process begins with a charge which is generated by the contact and separation of two surfaces. These surfaces can be in the form of solids, liquids or particles, such as gasses, dust or powder.
What are the Risks?
If ESD protection and control is not taken into consideration:
- Fire and explosions can happen in places where there are explosive atmospheres and substances (gas, vapor, spray, liquids, dust, explosives, fireworks)
- Devices could be damaged or completely destroyed in places where there are electrostatic sensitive devices
It is this potentially unseen, unfelt or unheard ‘micro lightning’ spark that can occur without warning, which must be prevented or controlled.
When it comes to flooring, a person who walks over a normal floor stores a negative charge, which may in turn lead to static electroshock. This spark may damage microelectronic parts or even trigger an explosion.
