esd chairs - Grendene srl

13 July 2020

9 tips to work properly in the EPAs

In previous articles we understood the importance of the tools that must be used in controlled static electricity areas. But what other precautions must be taken when working in EPAs?

1. It is important to collect defective components in protective containers that are removed after repair

The components diagnosed as faulty and removed from the groups must be treated with the same care and precautions as the functioning components. Only in this way, avoiding further damages, the analysis of the failures that may be carried out will be meaningful.

2. How to handle products in EPA areas

Components and assemblies must only be removed from their packaging in protected workplaces

At the end of the work phase put the groups in the specific containers
Do not allow components or groups to be touched by unauthorized people
Periodically check workplaces and equipment

3. It is essential to put the groups back in the provided container

For each type of group a container must be provided

Overlaps / stacks of groups on the benches and shelves must be avoided
It is forbidden to place groups on equipment (oscilloscope, monitor, ..)

4. Components or assemblies must never be transported without the necessary protections

It is therefore necessary to use the containers to transport components and groups, for manual transports it will be sufficient to protect the groups and sticks of components with antistatic bags.

5. Rules to be observed in the repair and diagnostics phases of the products:

In case of powered product, it must be placed on a specific tool to avoid problems deriving from electric overstress, we recommend that the product must not be powered on surfaces that do not comply with the specifications.
Devices must not be removed from the circuits without first checking that the supply voltage is disconnected
Signals must not be applied to the inputs while the supply voltage is turned off.

You must use a special soldering iron at low voltage and controlled temperature (low voltage to avoid any dispersion of energy on the components, at controlled temperature to avoid excessive heat source on the components).

6. Precautions to be used for correct use of the soldering iron:

Avoid leaving the soldering iron on during rest or night hours, because overheating causes breakages and therefore incorrect temperature control. (+ -)

Periodically check the grounding of the soldering iron tip with a tester. The test is performed between the tip of the soldering iron and the earthing tab of the power plug.

If there is no continuity between the two points, the soldering iron tip must be cleaned with an iron brush. If no results are obtained, immediately discard the soldering iron.

7. It is forbidden to use radio equipment:

Radio equipment emits noise that can cause component damage.

8. Watch out for video terminals

Components, packages of components or groups must be kept away from video terminals or electrified equipment to avoid the influence of variable electrical disturbances harmful to sensitive devices.

9. Smoking is strictly forbidden in workplaces equipped for antistatic protection

The carbon monoxide that smoke generates causes oxidation of the groups contacts. When removing this oxidation, the rubbing movement (especially with unsuitable tools, e.g. brushes) produces static electricity which is due to a triboelectric effect.

Come and discover Gref, our esd chair line.

1 July 2020

How must the operator be dressed in the ESD workplace

In EPA areas the staff’s behavior is important, but also the clothing used is important, which must be in accordance with the basic rules in order to avoid the release of electrostatic discharges and damage the electronic components.

Therefore, the department staff is generally equipped with a series of antistatic clothing, made with approved fabrics, which avoids the formation of static charges. The ideal protection for a person who works sitting at a workplace is composed of:

Shoes

In some workstations such as in warehouses and in production, conductive shoes or grounding heel covers are used which must be worn on both feet in order to ensure contact with the floor or with the carpet, they do not work correctly if used on surfaces insulators.

Gowns

A high-necked apron, with long sleeves closed on the wrist in order to prevent other types of clothing from leaking out from the sleeve of the apron itself.

Thanks to them it is possible to suffocate the electrostatic fields created by the operator’s clothes. The conductive fibers immersed in the fabric form a Faraday’s cage that blocks the electrostatic fields preventing them from propagating outside going to damage the components. For this to happen the lab coat must be made of conductive material.

Gloves

Often some sensitive components are damaged due to electrostatic discharges even if the operator is connected to the ground. To slow down the path of the current to the ground, it is useful to check the discharge speed and a good system to achieve this is to wear static dissipative finger covers and gloves.

Bracelets

They are the most used device to effectively dissipate operator charges and we will better explain how it works in one of the next articles.

Walking test

Generally, before working in the EPA area and in order to ensure that antistatic protective clothing works properly, the “walking test” is performed. This test allows to check the charge levels on the human body. To choose the correct floor, you must both measure the resistance to the ground and carry out the walkway test to analyze the loadability of the human body. This test is performed by generating voltage on the operator due to triboelectric effect. The operator, holding a metal electrode, transfers the force of the charges to an electrostatic voltmeter, which is measured in volts

In this way, the suitability of a coating is checked. However, keep in mind that all anti-static protection means are ineffective if they are not accompanied by a correct way of behaving and operating of the staff, who must necessarily be educated and be aware of the damage that can result from the lack of attention to static electricity problems.

26 June 2020

How to set-up the perfect antistatic workstation

ESD (Electro Static Discharge) is the phenomenon of electrostatic discharge which due to electrostatically charged objects or people that release electrons. Electrostatic discharge can cause considerable damage, especially in electronic components.

To protect components such as electronic or microelectronic it is essential to use an ESD protection, in this way during their production, processing and shipping they will not be damaged.

For this reason, ESD workstations are subject to special requirements both as regards the tools that are used and as regards the objects that are part of the set-up.

Particular attention must be paid to chairs which must also comply with ESD requirements in order to guarantee the reliability of ESD protection throughout the workplace. In fact, every traditional chair is a typical source of electric charges since the movement (on wheels) of the chair on the floor and also the simple movement of the person sitting on the chair can cause high electrostatic charges.

But what should the perfect antistatic chair be like?

In order to be so it must meet the European standards EN 61340-5-1, this is an essential prerequisite.

For example, this regulation establishes that the resistance of all the seating surfaces of an ESD chair, which come into contact with the human body, must be equipped with a point of contact with the 1010 O floor. Consequently, all the components of which the chair is made up of: the padding, the plastic parts, the steel wheels or skates must be made of conductive materials.

However, the materials musrt not be conductive but should be combined together in an appropriate way to in order to allow the charges to be discharged to the ground safely. Usually, operators working in the ESD position sit for a long time in fixed or semi-fixed positions.

So, to ensure them the ideal comfort and reach the correct ergonomic level, it is essential that the ESD chair can be adjusted both in height and in the angle of the seat and in the height of the backrest.

The chair must also be adjustable with regard to the user’s body weight and also the armrests must be adjustable and the backrest in permanent contact. In this way, from our product, the user can benefit, as it allows him to feel supported and protected even in the event of accidental movement.

The materials of which the Grendene ESD chairs are usually upholstered in are of 3 types:

Faux leather, a highly technical soft material, completely washable and sanitizable. In addition to these characteristics, they are distinguished by their high electrical conductivity and fire resistance.
Integral polyurethane: it is resistant and water-repellent, the seats are designed according to hygiene and health standards and can be inserted in contexts and environments such as clean rooms.
Antistatic fabric, a special certified ESD fabric capable of both preventing and dissipating electrostatic charges in an optimal way but, at the same time, also being sanitizable and fireproof

Not to be underestimated, is the simple design of the Gref chairs and the shape of the seat that facilitate the user in moving the chair and allowing him to grasp it quickly and easily in case of need.

Gref products are optimal to use in the hospital sector, in laboratories and in the industrial sector in general. Come and discover the Gref series.

Gref 211 - Antistatic swivel chair, with glides.

15 June 2020

Why is static electricity a problem in the electronics industry ?

Static electricity must be managed within the electronics industry laboratories as it
electronic components are sensitive to electrostatic discharge.
These can, in effect permanently damage or partially damage the electronic components.

Each type of electronic component has a susceptibility threshold and its susceptibility field is measured in volts.
In general, the greater the degree of integration of the component, the greater the sensitivity to electrostatic discharge.

Now we will see the elements that can generate electrostatic charges in a work environment
Among the elements that can generate electrostatic charges in an electronic industry laboratory we find:
1. the work surfaces and types are varied, just think of treated wood, synthetic mats, metal not connected to the ground, glass or fiberglass;
2. clothes such as clothing for clean environments, finger sleeves, gloves, wool, synthetic materials, shoes and boots;
3. chairs and stools, which are often made of fiberglass, vinyl, other plastic materials, ungrounded metal, treated wood.
4. Furthermore, floors covered with unsuitable vinyl or waxed carpets can generate electrostatic charges; packaging materials such as polyethylene bags, in plastic material for packaging with bubbles, foam, plastic balls for packaging, trays and plastic boxes.
5. Even the manufacturing processes contribute to the growth electrostatic discharge, the managers may be conveyors, transmission belts, machinery, nylon brushes to wash and clean, non-conductive liquids, air flows at high speed, temperature-controlled rooms or environmental ovens.

What should be done to eliminate the damage caused by static electricity?
To prevent the generation of charges it is necessary
– Create environments (departments) with controlled static electricity, that is: arrange suitable floors and use desks, ESD chairs, shelves, etc. made with dissipative antistatic materials.
– Always use protective containers for components, groups, etc.
– Ensure that the means of transport (belts, trolleys, etc.) do not generate static charges.
– Have personnel wear suitable protective clothing
– Raise awareness and educate staff on the problem and behavior to be followed in the departments.

When setting up an ESD laboratory or an EPA, the choice of suitable seats is not only a recommended action but indispensable. The ESD antistatic chair, in fact, is a dissipative vehicle of electrostatic charges and is essential and irreplaceable compared to all antistatic equipment in the development of an anti ESD system.

Gref antistatic seats play an essential and irreplaceable role with a dual function:
• They prevent the formation of electrostatic charges on the body of the seated person
• They guarantee the earth connection through the floor by discharging the static nature that may have accumulated on the person’s body.

Come and discover our line of Gref esd chairs and stools specifically designed to dissipate electrostatic charges.

Call us without obligation, we will help you step by step in choosing the antistatic chairs that meet your needs.

Gref 211 – Antistatic swivel chair, with glides.

Gref 260 - Antistatic office chair with high backrest and adjustable armrests.

9 March 2020

What is static electricity and why do we take the “shocks”?

Why do we take and give shocks every time we touch something?

Did it ever happen you were sitting at your desk, a person you don’t know comes up, you get up, hold out your hand and when you touch yourself you get shocked? Do you touch your hair and get shocked? Did it ever happen you were working in the factory, touched metal objects and got shocked?
There are many examples, but the question remains the same: why do we take the shock from the objects and people we touch?
The cause is static electricity, let’s see what it is, and how we can stop taking the shock.
Static electricity is the superficial and localized accumulation of electric charges on a body. It can occur both in a conductive material and in an insulating material. It is a natural phenomenon or rather it is the “form” that electricity takes in nature.

How is static electricity produced?

Static electricity is produced due to a transfer of electrons from the body of one object to another.
The way in which static electricity is produced is by “rubbing” two objects on each other.
In technical language, static electricity is also called triboelectricity.

How does static electricity occur?

Static electricity occurs through electrostatic discharge.
The most common manifestations of static electricity are: the lightning or spark that occurs when, for example, a person touches metal objects such as cars or locks.

What is electrostatic discharge?

Electrostatic discharge is the phenomenon by which the electrostatic charge possessed by a body is neutralized.
Discharge occurs when an electrified body comes into contact with another body with a different electrical potential.

But how can you avoid taking the shock?

The main advice is to humidify the environment in which we find ourselves, in this way, thanks to humidity, energy dissipates from our body faster and does not accumulate it does not discharge when we touch, for example, a handle, or any other ‘conductor’ object or person.

But the best way to solve this problem is to choose an antistatic chair from Gref.

Gref is Grendene’s department that has been created with the strong mission to promote and guarantee safety for people who are exposed to electrostatic discharges in EPA areas.

In effect the chair is a dissipative vehicle for the electrostatic charges and it is essential and irreplaceable within the antistatic equipment, in the implementation of an anti-E.S.D. system, because it performs a dual function:
1. It prevents the generation of electrostatic charges on the sitting person’s body, despite one’s movements.
2. It guarantees the connection to the ground, discharging the static electricity that may accumulate on the person’s body.

Discover all of our antistatic chairs.

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