1.    What is electrostatic discharge (ESD)?
2.    What causes ESD?
3.    How is ESD able to damage a component?
4.    How can I prevent ESD damage?
5.    Is ESD damage going to remain a problem?
6.    How is static measured?
7.    What range is Conductive and what range is Dissipative?
8.    What are Insulators?
9.    What is the difference between static Shielding and anti-staic bags?
10.  What is the distance an Insulator must be away from ESD sensitive devices on the workstation?
11.  Are plastic squirt bottles, styrofoam, and regular tape allowed on the workstation?
12.  Why use antistatic tape?
13.  What instrumentation should be used to measure resistance, static fields, etc.?
14.  Have an ESD question that is not here? 

---

What is electrostatic discharge (ESD)?

It's the sudden transfer (discharge) of electricity from one object to another. ESD is commonly known as "static electricity." Here are some examples:

• Lightning
• The "shock" you sometimes feel in the winter when you walk across a carpet and touch a doorknob
• The crackling and sparks when you remove clothes from your dryer

ESD seems harmless, but it can damage electronic components (parts) and assemblies.

ESD usually results when two objects touch, rub or slide together, or are separated. Even two charged objects coming close together--without touching--can cause ESD.

ESD is often caused by people.

• Your body easily picks up charge (electrons)
• Your skin, hair and body can store relatively large amounts of static charge. 
• You can transfer (discharge) this electrical charge to components or assemblies - causing ESD Damage.

• Even a tiny charge of electricity -- one that you can't see, hear or feel -- is as damaging as a bolt of lightning to components and assemblies. 

• Today's components and assemblies are more efficient and smaller than ever before. They're also much more delicate and sensitive to static electricity! 

Three Rules to Follow 

• Assume that all components and assemblies are sensitive to ESD. If you have any questions, ask your ESD control coordinators.
• Handle ESD-sensitive items only when you are properly grounded at a static-safe work area. 
• Store and transport ESD-sensitive items in static shielding containers.

Unfortunately, yes. However, ESD damage can be significantly reduced if everyone follows proper ESD control procedures.

The amount of static is measured using an Electrostatic Field Meter.  Z-Mar has a variety of Field Meters available.

Silver Static Shielding bags offer a metalized layer called a Faraday cage that shields the contents from a static charge.  A Anti-Static bag is made of a neutral material that does not generate nor shield from static.

The ANSI S20.20 standard says that an insulator must be a minimum of 12".  An easy measurement to determine of a good distance is an arm's length.  

All of these products are insulators and really should not be present at an ESD-Safe workstation, however, if they MUST be there, then it is necessary they be kept a minimum of 12" away from ESD devices.  

Antistatic tape is made especially for use in controlling static around ESDS devices.  It does not generate a static charge unlike other tapes.  These tapes include Scotch and Kapton tapes.  As an FYI, there is a low static version of Kapton available.

If you are measuring surface resistivity of an object then use a Surface Resistivity Meter.  Some call it a Megger or a Megohmmeter.  Z-Mar offers these meters.