Questions & Answers
Question:
I am looking to strategically install ESD/SDT tile in all our computer rooms going forward. I am struggling to understand a best practice method for bonding the copper strip, which will come out of the floor and sneak behind the base trip, to a telecommunications ground bar that exists within the room.
More specifically - if I have a #6 AWG copper conductor and the copper strip/tape - how to I best MATE those together ?
Aetna Network Engineering
Answer:
What you're really asking is this: how do I ensure continued conductivity across the static control floor? The answer must involve your choice of static control flooring.
First, there are several different types of static control floor covering. All possess different properties and some of the floor coverings have limitations. For example, Armstrong manufactures a product called SDT. Armstrong SDT requires special waxes to make it perform. Some antistatic broadloom cannot be grounded at all because it is not conductive.
Staticworx® vinyl tile is a permanently conductive material that requires no special care to remain conductive. Waxes are not needed. Our vinyl tiles can be grounded using a simple 24 inch long, 2 inch wide, copper strip under one tile. We provide the strips as part of our package. The other end of the strip is attached to an electrical outlet using one of the screws in the outlet box.
Only one ground connection is needed per 1000 square feet. The other tiles are bonded via our conductive pressure sensitive adhesive-Groundtack-which contains conductive coated fibers.
How the Adhesive Works
Conductive adhesive provides electrical continuity by creating an electrical bond between ESD flooring tiles. So when a person walks across the floor or slides out of a chair, the built up static is discharged to the static control floor. The static charge follows a path from the floor to the adhesive and is safely and effectively discharged to ground. Staticworx® Conductive Adhesives are highly conductive and provide excellent continuity across the entire ESD floor. To meet relevant specifications, the conductive adhesive must be attached with copper strips to some form of ground-e.g. Electrical conduit, building steel or a dedicated grounding strip.
Other Common ESD Flooring Questions
- How do I ground materials and carts to a conductive tile floor?
- Does it do any good to have ESD chairs if the floor is not ESD?
- I have a #6 AWG copper conductor and the copper strip/tape - how to I best MATE those together ? Or how do I ensure conductivity across the floor?
- What do you think of the ESD properties of bare concrete?
- Can you explain the differences between low static and anti-static with grounding?
- Are there any scientific studies about the performance of anti static flooring or conductive flooring for mission critical environments or data centers?
- Is ESD epoxy appropriate for a small server room?
- Is static control floor finish appropriate for an MRI suite in a hospital?
- Glossary and industry terminology explained...
- What is the difference between static dissipative and conductive flooring?
- Would I be better off with an antistatic or a conductive floor?
- How are floors made conductive?
- How long do conductive properties last?
- Could a conductive floor endanger people working with electrical equipment?
- If something is antistatic, does that mean it will conduct electricity?
- Do ESD tiles need to touch in order to be grounded?
- How does relative humidity affect the performance of an ESD floor?
- Can new floors be installed over old?
- Why should I worry about moisture protection with ESD flooring?
- ESD Standards; What is the correct system resistance?
