Total ESD Floor Plan

Here are some tips to help you select the appropriate ESD flooring for your operational needs.

1. Review your static protective needs with a knowledgeable advisor.
2. Determine whether the floor will be temporary or permanent and how the floor will be installed.
3. Find out whether people who walk on the floor will be wearing regular or ESD protective footwear.
4. Learn the difference between computer grade and grounded flooring.
5. Learn what to look for on a spec sheet.
6. Decide what sort of walking surface you want – soft, hard, shiny, etc.
7. Determine peripheral considerations – do you need durability? Sound absorption? Anti-fatigue properties? Resistance to pallets or forklifts? Is cost a significant factor?
8. Determine you maintenance budget. Must the floor be low-maintenance or are you willing to buff, wax or perform other maintenance?
9. Always test for moisture, particularly if leaning toward vinyl, rubber or epoxy. Moisture can cause the outright failure of most resilient floors, with problems such as delamination, adhesive breakdown and adhesive oozing. High moisture can also lead to the development of molds and bacteria, which contribute to sick building syndrome. The test for moisture permeation is easy and inexpensive. Reputable contractors and suppliers will usually supply ASTM approved test kits for moisture evaluation.
10. When evaluating price, be sure to add all peripheral expenses, including moisture protection and vapor barriers, as well as the cost of maintenance and repair to the total cost of the floor.