PPE-5075.E
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© 2012 CHARLESWATER LTD.
Unit 17. Millbrook Business Park, Sybron Way • Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 3JZ United Kingdom
Phone: 00 44 (0) 1892-665313, Fax: 00 44 (0) 1892-668838 • Internet:
Cleaning
Clean the conductive pads of electrodes with a minimum 70%
isopropanol-water solution.” Make sure they are dry prior to use.
See specific product test standard for laboratory test specimen
cleaning instructions. Generally, the test specimens and electrodes
should be cleaned twice with a minimum 70% isopropanol-water
solution using a clean, low-linting cloth each time.” (Note: then
conditioned for 72 hours, minimum)
For installed product periodic audits, do not clean surfaces.
However, if any measurements lie outside the acceptable range,
clean the surface and re-test. (Note: for working surfaces, use
Reztore™ Antistatic Surface and Mat Cleaner (item 71021) or
other ESD cleaner not containing silicone. Be sure the surfaces dry
before testing.
Periodic maintenance - The area surrounding the cable jacks at the
top end of the meter should be wiped with a clean cloth moistened
with alcohol to remove skin oils that will accumulate and affect
the accuracy at high resistances. The frequency of cleaning will
depend on usage; once a month would be a good starting point.
Other items that should also be cleaned in this fashion are the
cable jackets and the resistivity attachment, if included.
Power Requirements
The Meter is powered by two replaceable alkaline AA batteries.
Test Procedure
General Guidelines:
• Use both 2.27 kg Electrodes for Rg
• Use one 2.27 kg Electrode with lead to grounded EPA
bonding point for Rp (note: EPA bonding points are usually
snaps installed on the material or workstation)
• Use optional Resistivity Attachment (removing leads &
Electrodes) for Resistivity measurements
• Ensure that item being measured is electrically isolated (i.e.
placed on an insulative surface) or Meter may measure lower
resistance path. Lay item on an insulating support (>10E12
ohms) avoiding contact with the table.
• Ensure that test leads are separated or Meter may measure
lower resistance path
• When using 2.27 kg Electrodes:
- Place no closer than 5 cm from edge of surface being
measured
- Place no closer than 7 cm to any EPA bonding point
- Place 2.3 kg electrodes about 25cm apart for Rp-p
- Preferred placements include: most commonly used
surface portion, most worn, center, furthest from EPA
bonding point.
- For Rg, connect the sensing lead with shielded plug to
grounded EPA bonding point
• If surface has sections (like floor tiles or garment panels), for
Rp place a 2.27 kilogram electrode on different sections
• Clean surface for Laboratory test, but do not initially clean
surface for installed products (if fails, clean and retest)
Laboratory Test Procedure Guideline
For laboratory test of ESD Working surfaces, Floor Materials,
Footwear, Garments, or Seating, best advice is to follow test
methods of Annex A of EN 63140-5-1.
• The test specimens and electrodes should be cleaned twice
with a minimum 70% isopropanol-water solution using a
clean, low-linting cloth each time)
• Environmental chamber (Control relative humidity to 12 ±3%
RH and 50 ±3% RH and temperature to 23 ±2° C)
• Specimen support surface (greater than 10E12 ohms such as
PMMA, PTFE or polycarbonate)
• Specimen Pre-Conditioning (23 ±2 degrees C; 3 specimens
at 12 ±3% relative humidity for up to 48 hours minimum, and
3 specimens at 50 ±3% relative humidity for up to 48 hours
minimum
• Measurement of point-to-point resistance shall be performed
according to 2.1.2.3 of IEC 61340-4-1 in a minimum of three
locations for point-to-point resistance, and a minimum of one
location per square metre for large areas for qualification
testing, for surface-to-EPA ground resistance. Care shall
be taken to include, when applicable, resistance between
separate tiles.
• Reporting Test Results
• Minimum, median and maximum readings for both
resistance-to-ground and point-to-point resistance in ohms
at low relative humidity
• Minimum, median and maximum readings for both
resistance-to-EPA bonding point and point-to-point
resistance in ohms at moderate relative humidity
• Temperature
• Relative humidity
• Actual duration of conditioning
• Test equipment used
Periodic Audit of Installed Product Test
Procedure Guideline
Measure Rg Resistance to Ground
Test Procedure:
• The material shall be tested without cleaning of the surface
with liquid cleaning agents. Loose dust may be removed by
gentle brushing or by blowing with clean, dry air.
• Remove from the surface only those items that might
interfere with the test.
• ESD sensitive devices shall also be removed
• Clip the sensing test lead with shielded plug to grounded
EPA bonding point
• Use one 2.27 kg Electrode on other test lead and place
Electrode the farthest convenient point on the surface
• Press button and hold Test Button until measurement is
displayed
• Perform additional measurements placing Electrode on the
most commonly used or most worn area
• Per EN 61340-5-1 paragraph 10.1 “All audit measurements
shall be carried out under the normal operating environment,
and the temperature and relative humidity shall be recorded”
If measurement is outside acceptable limits, clean surface &
retest to determine if cause of failure is insulative dirt layer
or the ESD protective product. Note: Use an ESD cleaner
containing no insulative silicone (i.e. Reztore™ Antistatic
Surface and Mat Cleaner)
