What are antistatic floors?
They are a multi-layered system that, through special additives and design solutions, provides controlled dissipation or removal of static electricity. They are especially important in environments where ESD-sensitive equipment is used, as well as in facilities with high fire safety requirements.
The key tasks that such coatings address include:
- Preventing damage to electronics during assembly, testing, and operation.
- Minimizing the risk of sparking and ignition in rooms with combustible gases, vapors, and dust.
- Compliance with ESD protection standards for safe equipment operation and personnel protection.
Where are antistatic floors used
They are in demand in a wide variety of industries where it is important to ensure a safe and stable working environment. Below are the main types of facilities where their installation is particularly relevant:
- Electronics and chip manufacturing enterprises.
- Data centers, server rooms, and hardware rooms.
- Laboratories, pharmaceutical production facilities, and operating rooms.
- Warehouses of combustible substances, service stations, and areas for storing paint and varnish materials.
- Enterprises with explosive dust or gases.
In each of these cases, the floors must not only serve as a flooring surface, but also be part of a comprehensive system for protecting against electrostatic discharge.
How antistatic floors are arranged
An anti-static coating is not just a decorative layer. It is a carefully designed system of several technological stages, each of which is critical to the final result. Here's how it works:
- Base preparation — concrete is cleaned from dust, dirt, oils, and leveled. The base must be solid and dry. At this stage, special primers are applied to improve the adhesion.
- Conductive layer — conductive soils or pastes with the addition of graphite, carbon, or copper are used. Often additionally mounted copper strips or mesh, which are connected to the grounding circuit.
- The finish layer is an anti-static coating, such as epoxy, polyurethane, or others. It can be smooth, matte, glossy, or have anti-slip additives.
- Control and testing — After the floor is installed, resistance measurements are taken to ensure that the coating meets international standards (EN 61340, ANSI/ESD S20.20, etc.).
Types of antistatic coatings
The choice of a specific type of anti-static floor depends on the tasks, the type of room, and the requirements for the level of protection. Let's consider the main options:
- Conductive coatings (Conductive) — provide maximum protection — resistance up to 10⁶ ohms.
- Electric dispersing coatings (Dissipative) — distributes charges over the entire area — resistance from 10⁶ to 10⁹ ohms. They are used in server rooms, laboratories, pharmaceutical production.
- Anti-static coatings without grounding connection — They can be used where a soft level of protection is acceptable, and ESD requirements are lower.
Contact us to discuss the type of self-leveling floor for your project, get a cost estimate, and a technological plan.
