What’s the Difference Between an ESD Dissipative and an ESD Conductive Floor?

What's the Right Resinous Floor for Me?

ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) Dissipative and ESD Conductive resinous floors are two types of flooring systems used to prevent electrostatic discharges that can damage sensitive electronic equipment or cause safety hazards in certain environments.


The main difference between ESD dissipative and ESD conductive resinous floors is their electrical resistance properties. ESD Dissipative floors have a higher level of resistance compared to ESD Conductive floors. ESD Dissipative floors have a resistance range of 1.0 x 106 to 1.0 x 109 ohms, while ESD Conductive floors have a resistance range of 25,000 to 1.0 x 106 ohms.


ESD Dissipative resinous floors are suitable for areas where electrostatic charge must be dissipated safely, such as laboratories, electronic manufacturing facilities, and pharmaceutical plants. They are used in environments where static electricity poses a hazard to personnel or equipment, and where spark discharges could cause explosions or fire hazards. ESD Dissipative resinous floors are also used in data centers, clean rooms, and hospitals to protect sensitive electronic equipment.


ESD Conductive resinous floors, on the other hand, are used in areas where electrostatic charges must be eliminated completely. They have a low resistance that allows the charges to flow through the flooring material and into the grounding system, minimizing the risk of damage to sensitive equipment or injury to personnel. ESD Conductive resinous floors are commonly used in areas where explosive materials are handled, such as munitions factories or petrochemical plants, where a spark discharge can ignite flammable vapors.


In summary, the choice of ESD flooring depends on the level of static electricity risk in the area of application. ESD Dissipative floors are used in environments where electrostatic charge must be dissipated safely, while ESD Conductive floors are used in areas where electrostatic charges must be eliminated completely.