ESD Smocks: Compliance to ANSI/ESD S20.20-2021

Frequently asked questions on ESD Smock Compliance to help in selecting the perfect garment for your needs!

 

A Technician's clothing can generate and hold a substantial static charge! There are THREE types of Static Control Garments that are compliant to the new ANSI/ESD S20.20-2021 Standards. For compliance testing (this is what is done in the field and required by S20.20-2021's TR-53-01-15) all three are measured using electrical resistance equipment like our RT-1000. All three have differing levels of maximum electrical conductivity.  And, this conductivity is what shields the technician and their clothing from the ESD sensitive products OR shields the Technician AND takes the static charge to ground!

 

1) Static Control Garment: These smocks are primarily designed to shield the technician's static laden clothing from the ESD Sensitive product. They DO NOT come with a ground snap and DO NOT require a cumbersome ground cord. When these static control garments come into contact with the user's skin (the user's skin is about as electrically conductive as the garment) the static charge is equalized and goes to ground via the technician's primary ground source (normally an ESD wrist strap and or ESD heel grounders). This style of smock is the very popular. For more on how a static control garment shields static please see this brief 2 minute YouTube Video Our ElectraWear Lab Coat, ElectraWear Jacket and our ElectraWear Vest are all compliant to Static Control Garment.

 

2) Groundable Static Control Garment: These smocks are primarily designed to shield the technician's static laden clothing from the ESD Sensitive product AND they provide redundant protection in the unusual event the smock does not make contact with the user's skin. As a general rule of thumb if a smock has a snap it MUST be attached to a ground cord and to an electrical ground. A Groundable Static Control Garment is NOT recommended as the technician's primary ground source (an ESD wrist strap and or ESD heel straps are still required). Our EWA, EWCC and EWFLC are compliant to Groundable Static Control Garment.

 

3) Groundable Static Control Garment System: These smocks are designed to act as a primary ground source for the technician (they can act as a replacement for a wrist strap). In addition to grounding the technician, they will also help to shield the technician's clothing from the ESD sensitive product. They are reliant on good skin to smock contact. Hence, they may come with ESD cuffs (like our Ultimate Cotton Poly), snap style cuffs that fit snugly around the users wrist or even cuffs with an internally mounted stud that allows a wrist strap to be attached to the cuff of the smock. Our EWUCP, EWA and EWFLC are all compliant to Groundable Static Control Garment System.

 

How smocks are typically tested in an end user environment:  Per TR-53 (PTP Method) the smock is placed on a highly insulative substrate like our 206-AS and tested using a megohmmeter and 2 ea. 5 pound electrodes. An electrode is placed on each sleeve. The megohmmeter measures the sleeve to sleeve electrical resistance ohms. For a Static Control Garment to pass it must provide a sleeve to sleeve resistance of less than 1.0E11

 

Groundable static control garments are measured in the same fashion but the resistance of the smock in combination with the termination of the ground cord is also measured. For a Groundable Static Control Garment to pass it must provide a resistance of all items (sleeve to sleeve and smock to ground cord termination) of less than 1.0E09.

 

Groundable Static Control Garment Systems are also tested using PTP however the electrical resistance of the technician, the smock and the termination of the ground cord is also measured. For a Groundable Static Control Garment SYSTEM to pass it must provide a resistance of all items (sleeve to sleeve and technician to ground cord termination) of less than 3.5E07. Note: Please Visit esda.org for full specifics on testing to TR-53.

 

Why United for ESD Garments? Our materials and manufacturing techniques are known for quality and durability NATION WIDE! We continually subject our garments to rigorous testing for quality, performance and Value. ElectraWear smocks look great, fit well, provide unparalleled static control protection and save your ESD program a substantial amount of money.

 

Contact UNITED Static Control Products Inc

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Revision History:

Initially written and posted by Stephen R Cooter on 12/06/16

This webpage is frequently plagiarized and copied without permission

Page last reviewed for accuracy

07/14/2022

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