ESD Systems - Questions And Answers

My company has a 3M conductive floor. Will conductive shoes be an acceptable substitute for heel straps? If so, do you have any suggested sources? - John, Tampa , FL

Yes, conductive shoes can be a good, but expensive substitute for Foot grounders. Assumption: that you are running an ESD Control program for ESDS electronic devices versus for munitions/explosives. Make sure though that the conductive shoes are have at least 800 kilohms of internal resistance for personal safety from an electrical hazard (ideal internal resistance would be 2 megohms). The ESD Floor should be less than 1x10^9 ohms (one billion ohms) to ground.

A pair of ESD shoes can cost over 10 times more than a pair of foot grounders, but may last twice as long. The 5:1 investment ratio of shoes to foot grounders may not be a very economical solution. Foot grounders are also a lot more forgiving in size, fit and flexibility for use.

Either way, ESD Shoes or Foot Grounders can be used with a properly installed ESD floor to complete the mobile grounding system.

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