Anti-Static Flooring Systems

Anti-Static Flooring Systems

For a wide range of industries, one critical consideration is whether a floor needs to be anti-static. Determining that answer is just the first step: if you need anti-static flooring, you also need to know the types available, the benefits and the options to consider when choosing an anti-static floor provider.

What is an Anti-Static Flooring?

Anti-static industrial floors inhibit the generation of electrostatic discharge or ESD , which is the pulse of static electricity that happens when a charged person or surface comes into contact with another object. The discharge may be visible as a spark or tiny blue bolt of electricity, although the majority of static electricity is not usually apparent.

We commonly refer to ESD as ‘getting a shock’ off an object or person, and in most instances, the static discharge is harmless, even if it hurts slightly when it occurs. In certain environments, however, an electrostatic discharge can be highly dangerous and potentially even catastrophic. In those cases, installing anti-static flooring is an essential step in creating a safe environment for workers and visitors.

Who Needs Anti-Static Floors?

While many organizations may consider anti-static flooring options for a variety of reasons, certain industries require anti-static floors as a most basic safety precaution. Chemical manufacturers and processors, as well as any businesses that may use flammable chemicals or materials in their operations, need to create static-free work environments to avoid igniting chemicals, fumes or even microscopic flammable particles. Electrostatic discharge can render sensitive electronic components useless, so organizations involved in the production or assembly of semiconductors or electronic goods need anti-static floors.

Additionally, any operations that rely on uninterrupted or guaranteed use of specialized electronic items, such as hospitals or air-traffic control rooms, should take precautions to avoid static. Other examples of industries that require anti-static flooring include military operations, pharmaceuticals, medical environments and even some food and beverage production environments.

How Does Anti-Static Flooring Help?

Anti-static floors help by taking the static electricity that builds up naturally in any environment and moving it through the floor to ground. By grounding the charge, anti-static flooring prevents the ESD from building up and discharging into the environment, where it could be destructive to goods or dangerous to people.

Almost any movement within an environment will contribute to the static electricity present, whether it’s the familiar walking across a carpet in an office, the everyday movement of vehicles or heavy equipment over a warehouse floor or the repetitive movement of parts of an automated machine in a factory. The majority of electrostatic discharges are below 3,500 volts and totally undetectable to people, so we’re not even aware of most of the potentially dangerous ESD happening all around us. Anti-static flooring, however, is capable of capturing all those charges and grounding them before they cause reactions.

How to Select Anti-Static Floors?

Just as there are many uses for anti-static flooring, there are also many choices to consider when choosing an anti-static floor. The first step is to understand the risks and requirements for your specific use case, including how electrostatic energy is generated in your location, the estimated strength of your average ESD and the potential consequences of electrostatic discharges in your facility.

Choosing a Solution and Provider:

Regardless of which anti-static flooring solution you choose, We at Venus Star have professional and knowledgeable installation which will make a big difference in the success and longevity of your floor. It is important to choose a provider or contractor based on their experience and reliability—not because of their lower price. The total cost of ownership of any industrial floor, whether anti-static, resin or concrete does not end with the installation. There are maintenance and repair to think of, which means warranties and quality work.