ESD Flooring, Options and Expertise

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The new ANSI/ESD S 20.20-2007 criteria for  testing of esd flooring now clearly favors esd flooring that falls in the static conductive <1.0E06 versus the static dissipative (>1.0E06 and <1.0E09) range of electrical conductivity. Due to these recent changes, testing of anti-static (static dissipative) esd flooring has become more cumbersome and time consuming. Slightly compromised (dirty) anti-static esd flooring often fails combination resistance testing of technician / heel grounders and flooring.  And (due to the high resistance levels of some anti-static floors) carts, chairs and trolleys (in conjunction with static dissipative flooring) are in many cases not conductive enough to pass many of the new requirements.  Quantum Corporation anticipated these changes over a year ago and began evaluation of esd flooring options as a replacement for their static dissipative esd rubber flooring. In addition to conductivity, Quantum's needs dictated a flooring material that was economical, easy to clean and could handle rolling loads without mechanical failure (something that ESD rubber flooring just can't tolerate).  Their choice: 62,000 square feet of ElectraGuard ESD Flooring Epoxy (3 coats) top coated with ElectraThane Metal Enhanced Sealant (3 coats) top coated with  ElectraGlaze ESD floor finish (2 coats). This robust esd flooring is much more resilient than mere floor paints although application and preparation are similar. It's warranted for lifetime conductivity. It's economical, long lasting, fully ROHS compliant and very resistant to wear from rolling and other mechanical loading.  The ElectraGuard System can be high speed polished for a mirror like shine or left "as applied" (as was this floor) producing slightly less shine (with increased slip resistance). This ESD Flooring system typically falls in the static conductive range (<1.0E06 depending on the substrate).

 

ElectraGuard  ESD flooring System: Pre testing

 

NOTE from Engineering:) Click: To Expand photos!

 

Outstanding Wear Resistance, Easy Clean Up!

Newly installed: ElectraGuard ESD Epoxy top coated with ElectraGlaze ESD Floor finish, two coats of each.

6 Months: well bonded, easy to clean, excellent conductivity, no deformation from heavy loads

1 Year: Well bonded but floor finish has worn off sample (purposely not maintained).  Much harder to clean but still excellent conductivity. No wear evident on Epoxy

Before and After: In this brutal testing procedure the ElectraGuard ESD flooring sample was tested for cleanability, structural integrity, bond strength, conductivity and wear resistance in the busiest portal of Quantum. This sample is subjected to about 200 forklift loads (about 1,500 lbs ea) per day minimum. After 6 months The System stayed well bonded, no release from the concrete slab, the light gray area has been cleaned with ElectraClean and a rag.  "It was like removing dirt from Teflon." Conductivity: RTG 2.3E05.  After a year the ElectraGlaze ESD floor finish has worn off (the sample has purposely not been maintained).  This has made the sample much harder to clean.  However conductivity remains excellent as does structural integrity and bond to concrete.

 

ElectraGuard  ESD flooring System: Installation,

Phase One, Quantum Hard Drive, Colorado Springs CO.

ElectraGuard  ESD flooring System: Installation,

Phase Two, Quantum Hard Drive, Colorado Springs CO.

1

Preparation of concrete.  We've removed the failed esd rubber flooring and adhesive.  Filled, sanded and vacuumed the slabs.  This is the most time consuming portion of the project

2

The Initial coat of ElectraGuard Epoxy will exhibit slight light and dark areas. After 3 coats the color is pretty consistent but the Guard is still a dull "matt" type  finish

3

We've allowed the ElectraGuard 3 days to cure and now applied 2 coats of ElectraThane metal enhanced sealant.  ElectraThane fills minor deviations and provides a nice gloss.

4

ElectraThane metal enhanced polymeric sealant is extremely resilient and hard to remove with floor stripping liquids BUT doesn't produce the ultimate high shine so often desirable in today's high tech environments.  To provide this high shine we've coated the sealer with our ElectraGlaze floor finish.  The results: ESD flooring that provides superb conductivity, wear performance that rivals thick set (hard to apply and expensive) epoxy and even that of esd vinyl tile all at a fraction of the associated cost.  The system is fully reparable if scratched (light sanding with a vibratory sander works well followed by a re coat of ElectraGlaze).  The ElectraGuard System is easy to maintain (typical; dust mop daily, damp mop weekly and polish off scuff marks as needed) similar to maintenance of ANY ESD flooring. The ElectraGuard System meets stringent new specifications for conductivity as issued in EOS ESD 2020. Since it typically falls in the ESD conductive range it can easily be tested via standard resistivity test equipment such as our RT1000 (unlike static dissipative flooring that now must be tested for electrostatic generation potential with very specialized equipment).

 

Meets latest standard of S2020:  ANSI/ESD STM97.1-2006

Resistance to ground in combination with Operator / Heel Grounders / ESD Flooring

Click to Expand!

 

United ESD.com INC, 

P.O.B. 19252, 4878 Lake View Circle

Colorado City, CO 81019

United States of America

Direct: 719.676.3928         Fax: 719.676.3929

 

24/7 Tech Support / Emergency Hotline: 719 331 0656