What is ESD Matting?
ESD Matting is specialist matting designed to protect equipment which is sensitive to, or may become damaged by, static electricity.
Humans generate static electricity very easily by simply moving, walking or when sitting down on a chair for example. In the wrong environment, they can very easily create a spark which can damage sensitive equipment or ignite flammable and explosive materials.
Items and machinery can also carry static charges which may also need to be controlled.
ESD (Electro Static Discharge) Matting is used to disperse static electricity away from the body, item or machinery and into a ground and so protect the sensitive equipment.
The mats you should choose are dependent on the levels of static and equipment involved, hence the reason different classifications of ESD matting are available.
Classifications of ESD matting:
ESD matting is rated in ohms (Ω), the measure of resistance. The lower the ohm rating, the more quickly static is accepted by the matting.
- Electrically Conductive: This is the most popularly used ESD matting and conducts static electricity the fastest. Rated 10^1 – 10^5 ohms.
- Static Dissipative: Mid range ESD matting. Rated 10^6 – 10^9 ohms.
- Anti Static: Conducts static electricity the slowest out of all rated ESD matting. Rated 10^10 – 10^14 ohms.
How to use ESD matting:
The first and most common way ESD Mats are used is as floor mats. Workers should stand on ESD floor mats when operating sensitive machinery or when working with highly flammable liquids and materials for instance.
Secondly, ESD mats may be used on top of workstations or tables, so that they can drain static charge away from the item being worked on.
Finally, machinery and equipment can be placed on ESD floor matting to drain away static electricity the machinery or equipment generates.
Hog Heaven ESD Floor Matting used in an electronics factory
ESD matting construction:
ESD mats are usually made from rubber, vinyl or a mixture of the two. Some ESD mats also feature a metallic layer within the mat to improve conductivity and help drain static electricity away more quickly.
Vinyl mats tend to be lower cost, but are generally less durable. Vinyl ESD mats are often more suited for use on workstations where they will be subject to less wear and tear.
Rubber ESD mats tend to be more durable and are thus more suited for use as floor mats. Rubber mats often have additional benefits to the user, such as anti-fatigue properties and a high traction surface to prevent slips. They are also more likely to be resistant to chemicals, oil and grease that may be being used.
It is worth noting that there are many different qualities of ESD matting out there on the market. Just because a mat is made from rubber, does not necessarily mean it will be long lasting. You should check the warranties given with a mat and if possible ask to see a sample, so you can touch and see the quality of the mat for yourself.
ESD matting accessories:
Accessories that can be bought alongside ESD matting can help to increase the effectiveness of the mats.
Ground cords may be connected to any of the types of mats listed above. They are essentially a piece of wire connected to the mat at one end and to a ground point at the other end, such as a
ground found in an electrical socket. The cord provides an efficient and controlled path for the electricity to travel.
Heel Grounders are for use with ESD floor mats on which the worker is standing. They are fitted to a person's shoe with rubber soles, or other insulating material, and help the conduction of static electricity around the shoe and into the ESD matting.
Wrist straps work in a similar fashion to heel grounders. They are more suited for use with workstation / table top ESD mats due to the positioning of the hands in relation to the object.
What to do next:
We hope we have given you a good introduction into ESD matting with this article. If you’re ready to purchase an ESD mat, you can view our range of ESD mats on the Mats4U website here.
If you require any further information or would like to see samples of our ESD matting, simply call us on 0121 313 3748 or use the Contact Us links to submit an enquiry and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
