Flooring FAQ

What is the difference between Conductive and Static Dissipative Tile ?

Both Conductive and Static Dissipative tiles are ESD Control floor tiles that meet ESDA S20.20 standard for ESD Protected Area to have floor resistance of less than 1.0 x 109 ohms. The difference between conductive and static dissipative tile lies in their respective electrical resistance. Conductive tile resistance range is from 2.5 x 104 to 1.0 x 106 ohms. Whereas most static dissipative tile has resistance ranging from 1.0 x 106 to 1.0 x 109 ohms although some static dissipative tile stays between 1.0 x 106 to 1.0 x 108. Compared to static dissipative tile, conductive tile has relatively lower resistance and more direct path to ground ; a fact that makes conductive tile of better ESD control performance than Static Dissipative tile.

Is There Any Cost Difference Between Conductive / Static Dissipative Tiles ?

With the latest tiles manufacturing technology, there is no cost difference between conductive tiles and static dissipative tiles. This means price for conductive and dissipative tiles are same.

Is There Any Maintenance Procedure Difference For Conductive / Static Dissipative Floor Tiles ?

There is no difference in terms maintenance between conductive / dissipative tiles. Both need the same maintenance procedure.

Where Should Conductive Tile Be Used And Where Should Dissipative Tile Be Used ?

You can never go wrong by using conductive floor tile for ESD Control purpose although there is a perceived understanding that dissipative tile has its own advantageous value (see more explanation in next section of this technical notes). Because conductive tile has the least electrical resistance and best path to ground, it will also have the best decay time eliminating unwanted static charges. Conductive floor tile is recommended for IC chip manufacturing plant, semiconductors assembly and test facility, PCB / SMT processes, and other production areas where semi finished electronic products are exposed to risk of ESD damage. Conductive tile should also be used in any explosive arenas to prevent sparking due to ESD event. Dissipative floor tile on the other hand can be used in computer rooms, training areas, switching stations, finished electronic product packing area, pharmaceuticals and other areas where no semi finished electronic parts are exposed to ESD risk. Just remember, if conductive tile is specified by design team for a particular electronic device manufacturing process, do not try to break the rule.