Why You Need Julie Industries StaticSmart™ ESD
Carpet
in the Networked Office Environment
|
|||||||||||
| 1. What is ESD? | |||||||||||
ESD is an acronym for ElectroStatic Discharge, commonly referred to as static electricity, is generated when two materials contact and separate. Repeated contact and separation, or friction, increases the accumulated static charge. When contact is made between an object that is charged with static and a conductive surface, electrostatic discharge, (ESD), occurs. One classic example of an ESD event is a lightning bolt striking an object. Another example of ESD is when you get a surprising shock as your hand touches a metal door handle. ESD is particularly prevalent in environments when humidity is low. Some common ways that static charges will accumulate on your body are:
|
|||||||||||
| 2. What is the unit of static measurement? | |||||||||||
The basic unit of measurement for static electricity is the volt. The numbers are often so high that the kilovolt (Kv) is a commonly used unit. Typical Electrostatic Voltages at 20% Relative Humidity
|
|||||||||||
| 3. Is there a difference between human and computer sensitivity to static? | |||||||||||
| Yes. Computers are much more sensitive to static electricity than people
are. Computer manufacturer's recommend that their equipment not be exposed to
voltage levels over 2.0 Kv, (see IBM user manual at www.IBM.com). ESD related
interference to computers is difficult to determine because people are not aware
that it is occurring. Human sensitivity generally begins at about 3.5 Kv. At
this level an ESD event may cause you to feel a very slight tingling on your
body. The startling ZAPS!, that you feel when you discharge into a door handle
or metal object generally measure in excess of 5-8 KV. One thing is for sure
- If you can feel static, then you have a great potential for electronic interference
in your environment. Computer engineers estimate that static electricity in
the user's environment is the cause of up to 60% of all equipment service calls.
(Source: ACL incorporated). |
|||||||||||
| 4. How does ESD cause computer downtime? | |||||||||||
| Most electronic equipment is programmed to function according to specific electronic
codes, a series of electrical pulses called binary code. Unfortunately, the
discharge of static electricity can also produce rogue electrical pulses, or
shock waves, which may influence the programmed electrical pulses in the computer.
This random and erratic ESD produces ElectroMagnetic Interference, or EMI, which
can cause false electronic signals, program interruptions, memory loss and alteration
of stored data. It is estimated that business losses in the billions of dollars
have resulted from daily systems interruptions caused by ESD and EMI. To prevent
your electronics from static interference and to keep static generation at safe
levels, you will need to design your facility with a built-in permanent static
control system. |
|||||||||||
| 5. What impact will new electronics technologies have in your workplace | |||||||||||
|
Currently, just about every commercial facility uses sensitive electronic equipment.
Whether it is desktop computers, network servers, data storage devices, telecom
switches and routers, wireless systems, communications equipment, etc., these
end-users are continually upgrading their electronics to keep pace with their
competitors in the Information Economy.In the future, as new electronics technologies
evolve, they will be even more advanced than they are today. New microchip designs
will be smaller, faster and run on less energy. They will be more easily influenced
by outside electronic interference. Optical storage technologies based on laser
light, like CD and DVD devices will be more susceptible to electronic interference
than the old floppy disks and magnetic disk drives we may have used.As new electronic
technologies are introduced, the facilities environments they are used in must
be designed protect them from any potential interference. One of the significant
changes we will see in the contemporary workplace will be how the facilities
and design departments will be required to work closely with the IT and engineering
departments. The integration of new building development trends with emerging
electronic technologies will present significant specification challenges for
both customer and vendor, as well. New "Smart Buildings" will be designed
to reduce and eliminate the threat of static interference to the electronics
they will surround. |
|||||||||||
| 6. Why is this change an important concern for the carpet specifier? | |||||||||||
|
Now, more than ever, flooring specifiers need to consider the static propensity
(Kv rating), and the electrical resistance, (ER rating), of commercial floor
coverings. Static propensity measures how much static charge a floor covering
will generate. Electrical resistance measures the floor's ability to safely
dissipate a potentially harmful static charge. Understanding the difference
between static propensity and electrical resistance is a fundamental requirement
for flooring specifiers. New generations of electronics are being introduced
that require floors to have extremely low Kv ratings and ER ratings in the static
dissipating and conductive ranges. |
|||||||||||
| 7. Why is conventional anti-static protection in carpets insufficient for today's workplace? | |||||||||||
|
Conventional anti-static carpet is designed to enhance human comfort only.
Conversely, Julie Industries' StaticSmart ESD Carpet is designed to enhance
human comfort and improve the performance of electronic equipment. Static electricity
in the workplace is generated from many sources other than the carpeted floor,
such as clothing, the interaction of clothing and furniture, plastic, etc. Anti-static
carpet only ensures that the carpet itself does not generate harmful static
charges. StaticSmart ESD Carpet ensures that the carpet and the people do not
generate harmful static charges. |
|||||||||||
| 8. What is conductivity? | |||||||||||
Ohms are a measure of electrical resistance. Electrical Resistance measures the ability of a material to conduct an electrical charge to ground. Ground is a point in an electrical circuit or building infrastructure that has zero electrical potential. Ground provides a path to neutralize all electrical charges. A Conductor is a material with low electrical resistance that will safely attract an electrical charge to ground. Examples of conductors are water, copper, aluminum and carbon. A practical example of a conductor is a lightning rod, or Julie Industries' StaticSmart ESD Carpet. An Insulator is a material with high electrical resistance that will not conduct a charge to safely ground. Examples of insulators are plastic, rubber, vinyl, wood and most commercial and residential anti-static carpets. A practical example of an insulator is the rubber or vinyl casings around common electrical wires, or a commercial carpet tile with a low Kv rating. Anti-Static refers to the ability to suppress charge generation or the prevention of static build up. Anti-static materials will not safely attract or decay a static charge before it randomly discharges. Anti-static material is usually indicated by an electrical resistance range, measured in ohms, of a minimum of 1.0 x 1010, (10 billion ohms), to a maximum of 1.0 x 1012, (1 trillion ohms). Static Dissipative refers to the ability of a material to conduct a charge to ground and is usually indicated by an electrical resistance range, measured in ohms, of a minimum of 1.0 x 106, (1 million ohms), to a maximum of 1.0 x 109, (1 billion ohms). Note: Many ESD flooring manufacturers will recommend electrical resistance
measurements as high as 1.0 x 109, (1 billion ohms or "One Thousand
Meg"). However, Julie Industries feels that the gap between 100 million
ohms to a 1 billion ohms is too large, (900 million ohms), of a jump in electrical
resistance. If the material's electrical resistance happens to deteriorate over
time, beginning at 1.0 x 109, it may not provide adequate ESD protection
over the useful life of the product. Conductive refers to the ability of a material
to conduct a charge to ground and is usually indicated by an electrical resistance
range measured in ohms of a minimum of 2.5 x 104, (25,000 ohms),
to maximum of 1.0 x 106, (1 million ohms) |
|||||||||||
| 9. Why is conductive carpet better than anti-static carpet? | |||||||||||
Obviously, the lower the electrical resistance, the more conductive a material is. Naturally, since conductive materials measure lower electrical resistance ratings, they will attract and decay static faster than Static Dissipative materials. Likewise, Static Dissipative materials will attract and decay static faster than Anti-Static or Insulation materials. Anti-Static or Insulating materials will never attract or decay static charges. Most commercial grade anti-static carpets are insulating range materials. Julie Industries' StaticSmart ESD Carpet is conductive. StaticSmart ESD Carpet
has the ability to attract and remove harmful static charges before they can
be randomly discharged, keeping the total environment free from costly static
interference. It is specifically engineered to prevent the problem of static
interruptions in an electronics environment. StaticSmart ESD Carpet contains
an exclusive conductive carbon monofilament nylon, which inhibits the generation
of static on carpet while simultaneously conducting static charges safely to
a ground source. The patented engineering of Julie Industries' conductive carpet
system links these conductive fibers to a specially formulated conductive pre-coat
and a unique conductive vinyl backing. Applied with a full spread of conductive
adhesive and strategically positioned copper grounding strips, StaticSmart ESD
Carpet provides a safe route to ground for random ESD. This is an inimitably
advanced carpet technology that is simply not found in standard commercial and
residential anti-static carpets. |
|||||||||||
| 10. Does conductive carpet look different from other carpet? | |||||||||||
|
No. Julie Industries' StaticSmart ESD Carpet is available in many attractive
styles. All StaticSmart ESD Carpet products maintain the important features
of contemporary color and design, appearance retention, noise reduction, ease
of maintenance and performance warrantees. Julie Industries offers both running
line and flexible custom design options. |
|||||||||||
| 11. When should Julie Industries' StaticSmart ESD Carpet be specified? | |||||||||||
|
Whenever you are selecting carpet for a facility that uses computers or
sensitive electronic equipment you will want to consider using StaticSmart ESD
Carpet. These days almost every commercial facility has areas that use computers
and sensitive electronics. You will want to consider StaticSmart ESD Carpet
in areas like networked offices, network server rooms, control rooms, telecom
rooms, switch and router facilities, call centers, data storage centers, financial
area, trading floors, disaster recovery centers, media, communications, radar,
medical monitoring, networked classrooms and dormitories, and gaming and entertainment
floors. |
|||||||||||
| 12. Does Julie Industries offer an ESD performance warranty on StaticSmart ESD Carpet? | |||||||||||
|
Yes. Julie Industries warrants that StaicSmart ESD Carpet, when installed
and maintained as recommended by Julie Industries, will not generate static
above 2000 volts, (2.0 Kv), as measured by AATCC #134, that the face of the
carpet will have a minimum resistance level of 2.5 x 104 ohms and a maximum
electrical resistance of 1.0 x 108 ohms, as measured according to
NFPA-99 and EOS-ESD S7.1. |
|||||||||||
Call 978-276-0820
 |
 |
|
||||||
