ESD - ANTISTATIC SOLUTION

Why is antistatic protection important?

The abbreviation ESD stands for Electrostatic Discharge. ESD occurs when insulating materials are rubbed together or separated. This happens during everyday activities such as:

For a person to perceive an electrostatic discharge, its value must be above 3 000 V. However, a discharge as low as 35 V is enough to destroy the latest types of semiconductor components.

Although electrostatic discharge is usually harmless to humans, it is now one of the biggest challenges in electronics manufacturing. If this aspect is neglected, it can lead to serious quality issues, associated repair costs, damage to reputation, and loss of customers.

Terminology

ESD = Electrostatic Discharge
ESDS = Electrostatic Sensitive Device
EPA = Electrostatic Protected Area
Ionizer = Equipment for generating positive and negative ions. In electronics, most commonly to a value around ± 0V
C = Conductive = Conductive material with a surface resistivity of 1x10² to 1x10⁵ Ohms
D = Dissipative = Dissipative material with a surface resistivity of 1x10⁵ to 1x10¹¹ Ohms
S = Shielding = Shielding material with a barrier against ESD penetration
Rg = Groundingrezistance = Resistance measured between two points
Rp – Rp = Rezistance Point to Point

If you are implementing ESD measures, feel free to contact us:

Personal consultation, requirement assessment, and concept design
Design of suitable EPA equipment
Installation of supplied products
Creation of an ESD policy
Training of staff up to the level of ESD coordinator
Incoming and outgoing audits

INSTALLATION OD EPA (Electrostatic Protected Area)

Components of EPA Equipment

EPA (Electrostatic Protected Area) is an area designated for handling sensitive components.

What should an EPA area contain, and how should the personnel be grounded?

An EPA area can range from a single workbench to a room or even an entire production hall, depending on the scope of operations. According to the ČSN 61340 standard, the foundation for eliminating electrostatic discharge is a grounded work surface, grounded personnel, and antistatic packaging.

Key Elements of an EPA:

Clear Signage at the Entrance

The entrance to the EPA must be clearly marked. Visible EPA signage alerts personnel that they are entering a zone designated for handling sensitive components. Before entering the zone, there is often a wrist strap and shoe tester, sometimes combined with a turnstile for daily verification of wrist straps and antistatic shoes.

Grounded Work Surface

A grounded work surface is any surface where electrostatic discharge-sensitive components are handled or placed. This could include a workbench, shelf, or storage rack.

Personnel Grounding

Personnel can be grounded in two ways:

Seated Work: Grounding is done through an antistatic wrist strap.

Standing Work: Grounding can be achieved by wearing high-quality ESD footwear or using an antistatic wrist strap.

ESD Flooring

ESD flooring is crucial for grounding additional equipment, such as ESD carts used for material transport and ESD chairs.

These measures are essential for creating an effective EPA environment, ensuring that sensitive electronic components are protected from electrostatic discharge, and preventing damage that can lead to product failure or increased costs.

Supplementary Equipment for EPA

For the safe storage of sensitive components, we use ESD packaging, which is divided into categories based on use inside and outside the EPA (Electrostatic Protected Area). Sensitive components are stored in ESD-safe containers, bins, and cabinets to protect them from electrostatic discharge. Among the most common packaging materials used inside the EPA are antistatic dissipative bags. Outside the EPA, shielding bags can be used, which have a barrier that prevents electrostatic discharge from penetrating.

An essential part of supplementary equipment includes ESD clothing, which is made from high-quality antistatic materials and is reinforced with conductive fibers.

Another indispensable component of proper EPA workstation equipment includes tools such as brushes, tweezers, screwdrivers, and others. Office supplies, such as antistatic binders, films, and other ESD materials, meet the more demanding requirements for high-quality materials.

EPA spaces need to be kept clean and properly maintained with suitable cleaning agents, such as ESD dustpans and brushes, vacuum cleaners, trash cans, and specialized cleaning chemicals.

How We Ensure ESD Protection

In areas where plastic materials are used, such as plastic covers or components, and it is not possible to ground the charge using standard grounding methods, we use ionizers to neutralize the charge. Ionizers balance the positive and negative ions in the electrostatic environment to a value close to 0 V, effectively eliminating static buildup.

The areas used for handling sensitive components must be regularly monitored with measuring instruments. We check the grounding of personnel, work surfaces, floors, chairs, clothing, and all other necessary equipment that can be grounded using standard grounding methods through the building's grounding system. This is done using a resistance meter and an electrostatic field meter (fieldmeter), ensuring that all grounding systems are functioning correctly and maintaining a safe, controlled environment.

Steps for Complete EPA Implementation:

Consultation with the Customer and Site Inspection
Design of Solutions for Structural Modifications, Grounding of Personnel, Work Surfaces, Packaging, Personnel Testing, etc.
Design of EPA, Creation of Project and Price Proposal
Project and Proposal Confirmation
Communication with the Customer During Construction Modifications and Design of Grounding Preparation for Floors and Work Surfaces
Installation of ESD Equipment
ESD Audit and Issuance of Protocol

In addition to the complete implementation of EPA, we also install:

ESD TRAINING AND AUDITS

ESD training

We offer professional training courses on electrostatics according to the ČSN EN 61340 and ANSI/ESD 20.20 standards

For ESD operators

The training for ESD operators includes both theoretical and practical demonstrations to help production workers better understand the issue of ESD. After completing the training, they will be able to follow basic rules when working with components to prevent electrostatic discharge and move safely within the EPA workspace. The duration of the training is approximately 2 hours.

For ESD coordinators

The training for ESD coordinators is a comprehensive guide to understanding ESD terminology, knowledge of standards, and EPA equipment. This training is also suitable for management, technologists, production managers, quality control departments, and more. The training for ESD coordinators includes practical measurement of EPA equipment (ESD audit). The usual duration of the training is 4-6 hours, but it can be adjusted to meet specific needs and extended to a 1-2 day course if additional education is required.

Location and Price of Training

We conduct ESD operator and coordinator training either at our company's headquarters or directly at your location. However, for the practical part of the training, it is preferable to use your own EPA workspace.

We would be happy to prepare a personalized quote, which will depend on the scope of the training, the number of participants, and travel expenses.

ESD audit

This means the inspection of areas for handling sensitive components. The EPA area must be regularly checked to ensure compliance with the ČSN EN 61340-5-1 ed.2 standard. If you are unsure about regulations and standards, we can assist you. We conduct initial audits for EPA design and equipment supplementation.

All measurements are carried out using calibrated measuring devices, according to the ČSN EN 61340 series standards. These measurements are documented and subsequently evaluated. Additionally, an audit report on electrostatic protection is issued.

We would be happy to prepare a personalized quote, which will depend on the size of the EPA and travel expenses.

During the ESD audit, we verify:

Legislation and Directives: Ensuring compliance with relevant legal requirements, such as directives and standards like ČSN EN 61340-5-1 ed.2, and ensuring that ESD policies are properly implemented.
ESD Flooring ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) floors are essential in areas where sensitive electronic components are handled, as they help prevent electrostatic discharge that can damage these components. The purpose of ESD flooring is to dissipate static electricity and safely ground it, protecting both the equipment and personnel.
Person-Shoe-Floor System (PSF System) The Person-Shoe-Floor (PSF) system is an essential concept in the management of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection within sensitive areas, such as electronics manufacturing environments. It ensures that static charges are safely dissipated from individuals and their surroundings, thus protecting electronic components and equipment from damage due to electrostatic discharge.
A Walking Test is an important procedure in Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) control programs, primarily used to evaluate the effectiveness of ESD footwear and ESD flooring in dissipating static charges.

The ESD wrist strap-person system is an essential component of any Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection strategy, particularly in environments where sensitive electronic components are handled. The wrist strap is designed to safely discharge any static electricity accumulated on the person, preventing electrostatic discharge (ESD) from damaging delicate components.
Work surfaces, shelves, racks, carts, and chairs
Grounding elements refer to components or devices used to establish a safe path for electrical charges to flow from potentially charged objects or areas to the ground. These elements are essential for preventing static electricity buildup, ensuring the safety of sensitive electronic components, and protecting personnel in environments like Electrostatic Protected Areas (EPA).
ESD clothing refers to garments designed to protect sensitive electronic components and prevent the buildup of static electricity on a person’s body. These garments are made from special conductive or dissipative fabrics that help to control electrostatic discharge (ESD) in environments where sensitive components are handled.
ESD (electrostatic discharge) tools are devices and equipment designed to help handle sensitive electronic components without causing damage due to electrostatic discharge. These tools are designed to minimize the risk of static electricity generation and ensure safe and efficient work procedures.
Ionizers are devices used to neutralize static charges in an environment by generating positive and negative ions. They are particularly useful in areas where it is difficult to manage static electricity with traditional grounding methods, such as when handling plastic materials or working with sensitive electronic components.
Electrostatic Field An electrostatic field is a field produced by static electric charges. It exists in regions where there are either positive or negative charges, or a combination of both. The electrostatic field is created by charged objects, and its strength and direction are determined by the amount and distribution of those charges.

Our trainers and auditors have many years of experience and expertise in the field of ESD. Their qualifications and competence are certified by the ESD Control for Electronics Assembly certificate, issued by IPC Training Center | Member of the ESD Association for Central Europe.