EPA equipment, surfaces and furniture

Updated December 2023

Equipment used in an EPA should conform to the requirements over the full range of operational atmospheric humidity conditions.

It is not necessary to use all the items specified - however if any item is used, it must conform to the specification given.

Working surfaces and storage racks, trolleys, carts

Any surfaces on which ESDS are placed must be connected to EPA ground and resistance-to-ground between less than or equal to 1 GΩ. Surfaces are recommended to have point to point resistance over 10 kΩ where charged device ESD might be of concern.

Floors & footwear

Use of an EPA compliant floor is often to be recommended, particularly for new installations. However an EPA does not have to include a compliant floor for compliance with 61340-5-1. If the EPA does not include a floor, ESD protective packaging should be used when moving sensitive devices between EPA workstations - as in any situation where ESDS are transported outside an EPA. 

EPA floor surfaces must have a surface to EPA ground resistance less than 1 GΩ. A minimum resistance-to-ground is not specified by the standard but might be advisable for protection against electric shock risks where high voltages might be present. The personnel-to-ground resistance of a footwear-flooring combination (for grounding personnel) must be less than 1 GΩ.

The resistance from the wearer's body to ground via ESD control footear and floor should be less than 1 GΩ. In practice, the resistance through ESD control footwear is verified by measuring the resistance from hand to a metal plate under a foot. Each foot should be measured separately.

Seating

If seats are used, the resistance to groundable point, from any area of the seat which may have contact with personnel, must be less than 1 GΩ. It is advisable that at least two wheels or feet should provide a path to ground.

Garments

IEC 61340-5-1:2016 recognises two types of ESD control garments:

• static control garments
• groundable static control garment

Static control garments have point to point resistance over the outer surface must be less than 100 GΩ.

Groundable static control garments have point to point resistance over the outer surface less than 1 GΩ and can be grounded (e.g., via contact with the wearer's body). The resistance to ground should be less that 1 GΩ.

ESD control garments must be clearly marked and must completely cover all clothing in the arms & torso region. There must be electrical continuity between all parts.

Gloves and finger cots

No specification for these is given in 61340-5-1. Nevertheless, if they are used in the EPA it's advisable to consider using ESD control versions. The specification required should be documented in the ESD control program plan.

Ionisers

Ionisers must bring the potential due to charge (of either polarity) on items to be brought from 1000V to less than 100V in less than 20 seconds. The ioniser offset voltage must be < +/- 35 V.

Tools, machinery, dispensers and test equipment

No specification for tools is given in 61340-5-1. However it is often good practice that tools should not have insulating handles and soldering irons should have grounded tips. Any non-insulating part of a tool should be grounded. The specification required and related test methods should be documented in the ESD control program plans.