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ESD Control In Electronics – 7 Mistakes To Avoid

ESD Control MistakesESD Control Mistakes

ESD Control in electronics is not always as straightforward as it seems. Simple investments into static control products help protect your devices, but can be hampered by simple mistakes that can be easily avoided.

Therefore, when working in the electronics industry, there are certain rules that need to be followed when it comes to work hygiene with electronics.

In places where electronic devices and components are serviced or produced, electrostatic protected areas (EPAs) need to be created. Failing to do so will render the devices or components faulty or completely broken (more on this below).

So, we thought it would be a good idea to highlight some of the most important common practices that need to be upheld when working with static sensitive devices.

Here are solutions to 7 of the most common ESD errors that often occur in areas that are insufficiently equipped to shield from the damage of ESD.

1- Not Knowing The Difference Between Antistatic and ESD

With any kind of ESD product, you are looking for it to satisfy the following:

  • Allow a safe and effective route for the static charge to the ground (ESD qualities).
  • Prevent generation and accumulation of static charge as the user is moving around (antistatic qualities).

Understanding the distinct difference between the 2 stops damage caused through lack of awareness. Not all static control products offer grounding capabilities, which presents an issue if people in your EPA do not understand this.

Consider basic training for all operators within the static controlled area. Ensure they know the equipment required before entering.

 

2- ESD Clothing But No Grounding

We see this happen regularly across the electronics industry and beyond. Often once ESD lab coats or other items are worn, the wearer believes they are shielded completely from the implications associated with static discharge.

But alas, this is not the case. ESD clothing provides no means of grounding, and without the proper electrical bonds to a grounding system, the wearer is not grounded.

Every user, no matter their type of clothing, needs this grounding through either the appropriate flooring, wrist straps or hip to cuff grounding. Without this grounding, all components and devices that the operator comes into contact with are prone to ESD.

Ensure that all people in the EPA are kitted out in the appropriate clothing, footwear and grounding wrist straps.

You also must bear in mind that ESD clothing has a shelf life. Over time, the ESD properties degrade, which is why periodic testing needs to be conducted in your EPA. But more on that below…

 

3- No Appropriate Flooring

A common misconception is that ESD footwear makes the wearer completely exempt from the damage that ESD can cause.

Unfortunately, ESD footwear falls foul of the same issues held by ESD clothing. They lack a grounding path. So should the correct ESD matting not be under foot, the static charge will not dissipate.

Lots of ESD footwear still requires the wearer to be grounded, which is where your flooring choices can help greatly. A more expensive, but often more long-term solution to protecting an area from ESD.

With matting, there are 3 main types to choose from: solid sheets, multiple layers, or single layer polymer. You can choose between either a vinyl or rubber material, with each offering differing levels of ESD protection.

 

4- Packaging For Components & Devices

Transportation and storage of your static sensitive devices is a vital consideration for ESD control in electronics settings. For these processes, ESD Shielding Bags are the perfect solution.

They create a faraday cage effect. This leads to charges being conducted onto the outside of the bag, whilst the static sensitive components or devices on the inside are safe.

For this reason, it is vital that you ensure they remain undamaged and fully intact. Any holes, wrinkles or tears and the bags need to be thrown away and replaced.

Typically, you will be able to get around 6 uses out of a bag before it will need to be replaced. After this they will generally need replacing.

So ensure that you are careful when re-using any ESD bags. Throw away the bag rather than take the risk.

As a bonus tip, try to clearly label all of your bags that are in use with ESD warning labels. This can tamper-proof and clearly distinguish your devices whilst in transit or storage!

 

 

5- Poor Maintenance Of Ionisers

Ionisation can be an important workplace tool for ESD control in electronics manufacturing environments. But if they are poorly maintained and out of balance then they produce non neutralising charges (defeating the object of having an ioniser completely).

Eliminate this risk cleaning filters and emitter pins with the correct tools. Doing so at a regular interval can help to prolong the lifespan of your ioniser.

EIA-625 recommend that an interval of no longer than 6 months is left before maintaining your ioniser. Static sensitive environments with higher sensitivity will require a shorter interval.

Just like with any of your equipment, regular maintenance leads to optimal performance.

 

6- Cleaning Flooring & Clothing

Be careful when cleaning your static control flooring and clothing products. To prevent the degradation of your static control products you need to use special precautions and chemicals.

The use of household cleaners can put your electronic ESD control measures in jeopardy. This is due to many of these chemicals containing insulative contaminants (which often create the nice clean shine you seek). This has a negative effect however. It is an insulative layer that can get in the way of the grounding performance of your ESD floor in particular.

The solution to this is to purchase specific ESD surface cleaners. You can check out our range here.

The cleaning of your ESD clothes, also needs to have the same care and consideration afforded to them. You should only use non-ionic detergents and softeners to prolong their ESD property lifespan. Generally, they will keep their lifespan for between 50-60 washes, but always check the manufacturers guidance and test regularly.

 

7- Lack Of Testing

Testing regimes must to be upheld for optimal ESD control in electronics environments.

You can spend vast amounts of money trying to ESD proof your environment, but without proper testing procedures, your investment can be for nothing.

You must regularly check your static control products, testing your components and devices are always safe from static discharge. Wear and tear, along with loose connections of grounding cords and other problems can fly under the radar should you not periodically test your equipment.

To avoid this problem, make sure that you put in a compliance verification plan. The quickest solution is to invest in testing equipment, whether that be a surface resistivity kit or test station. Browse our site here for ESD testing equipment or call up our team should you need any further ESD testing advice.

 

To Conclude

Hopefully this article has helped to shed some light on some common mistakes you may have overlooked with static control.

Avoiding these mistakes can help both extend the life of your static protecting products and stop you from having an unexpected electrical fault from a component or device.

For any static control products or advice for protecting your workplace from ESD, give us a call on 023 8065 0065.