ESD Glossary

Here you’ll find the most important information about the topic of ESD, EPA and electrostatic charge.

Antistatic:
"Charge-reducing quality" can be, for example, a special type of plastic.

Dissipative:
Surface resistance of materials which are between 105 and 1012 ohms.

EPA:
Stands for electrostatic protected area and is a work area in which you can handle assemblies that are sensitive to electrostatic influence without damaging them.

Grounding:
Dissipation of electrical currents into the ground.

Grounding point (EBP):
Central point (e.g. on a worktop) which is connected to the building's grounding.

ESD:
Stands for electrostatic discharge

ESDS:
Stands for electrostatic discharge sensitive devices and refers to electrostatically sensitive assemblies, such as ICs

IC:
Stands for integrated circuit and refers to integrated circuits and microchips, e.g. microprocessors

Ionising:
Removing charged particles (e.g. electrons) from a substance such as air. Ionisers can neutralise electrostatic charges by distributing ionised air.

Insulator:
Materials that have a high surface resistance of at least 1012 ohms. Static charges remain for a long time in one area of this material without flowing away (plastics, glass, air).

(El.) conductivity:
Property of a material, to conduct electrical current, e.g. metals

Standards:
IEC 61340-5-1 Protection of electronic devices from electrostatic phenomena – General requirements
IEC 61340-5-2 Protection of electronic devices from electrostatic phenomena – User guide
IEC 61340-4-1 Electrical resistance of floor coverings and installed floors
ANSI/ESD S20.20.-1999 Protection of Electrical and Electronic Parts, Assemblies and Equipment, USA (available free of charge on the internet)
ANSI/ESD S541-2003 Packaging Materials for ESD Sensitive Items, USA

Current:
Unit [A] ampere, symbol: I, flow of (usually negative) charge carriers.

Voltage:
Unit [V] volt, symbol: U, keeps the electrical current in a closed loop and therefore the cause of the current flow.

Resistance:
Unit [Ω] ohm, symbol: R, indicates the voltage required to allow a specific current flow through an electrical conductor.

Surface resistance:
Resistance between two points on a surface which can be measured using a megger and two electrodes.

Discharge resistance:
Measurement with a megger between a grounding point and the electrode on a surface.