Why Your Business May Need Anti-Static Flooring

When you cross the carpet in your stocking feet at home, you may get a shocking little surprise when you touch a metal lamp or reach to hug your partner. Static electricity is annoying in the home, but in some businesses, it can be disastrous. Learn why your business may need anti-static flooring.

Types of Anti-Static Flooring

Manufacturers of anti-static flooring may use vinyl, concrete, rubber, or other specialized materials or floor coatings. Anti-static flooring reduces the buildup of static electricity. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) flooring serves as grounding for static electricity, discharging it safely into the ground. Industrial flooring suppliers can explain why your business may need anti-static flooring. They can work with you to determine the level of protection your operation may need.

Electrostatic Discharge Can Fry Electronics

Electronics manufacturers are keenly aware of how an electrostatic discharge (ESD) can wreak havoc with microprocessors and other sensitive electronic components. But many organizations rely on highly sensitive or specialized electronics that are at risk if interrupted by the sudden discharge of an electrical current—it’s why you use surge protectors. In essential areas like air-traffic control, hospitals, and laboratories, reliable, consistent, uninterrupted electric current is critical to operations.

Static Electricity Can Cause Explosions

Manufacturing, munitions, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and many other types of industries create, use, or store explosive or flammable materials. In work environments where such materials are present, anti-static or ESD flooring is essential.

In industries that routinely work with flammable or explosive materials, ESD flooring is just the beginning. Workers themselves may need to be “grounded” by wearing specialized footwear and apparel. Workers building or repairing equipment should use non-sparking tools.

Static electricity is no joke, even if it’s fun to make balloons stick to the wall or watch hair stand on end. In business, it can be a real threat. Knowing why your business may need anti-static flooring will help you keep your operations and your employees safe.