NPT-1020 Installation and Maintenance Manual
Before You Start
ECI Telecom Ltd. Proprietary
3-18
Static electrical charges appear as a result of friction between surfaces of insulating materials or separation
of two such surfaces, and may also be induced by electrical fields. Routine activities such as walking across
an insulating floor, friction between garment parts, friction between objects, and so on, can easily build up
charges to levels that may cause damage, especially when humidity is low.
In many cases, the build-up of charge can be avoided by using special materials, for example, garments and
packaging of antistatic materials or materials that have high resistance, but yet are not insulators.
The best way to avoid damage by ESD is a combination of means and procedures that achieves the
following goals:
Avoids build-up of electrostatic charges
Creates a protected work environment that helps prevent ESD
Provides means for controlled discharge of any accumulated electrostatic charges when entering the
protected work environment
N
OTE
: An area in which ESDS can be handled with minimum risk of damage as a result of ESD
or fields, and in which the operator is not exposed to additional risks, is called an ESD
Protected Area (EPA).
3.7.1
Personnel Training
During production and assembly, equipment is handled in workspaces especially prepared and certified to
serve as a permanent EPA. However, in many cases, the environment in which the same equipment is
installed or maintained cannot be assumed to form an EPA with a permanently controlled boundary.
Therefore, all the work involving handling of unprotected ESD must be considered as
field work
.
Field work in this context includes such activities as service and maintenance, installation, site inspections,
and commissioning of components and assemblies classified as ESDS, together with associated packing and
unpacking activities.
All the staff involved in field work must be trained to perform their work in the same way as that performed
in permanent EPAs with respect to the material quality, personal responsibilities, training, labeling, and
packing.
3.7.2
Use of a Temporary EPA
Where necessary, use a temporary EPA. The EPA toolkit includes:
Wrist strap with 1 M
Ω
series resistor
Bonding strap with 1 M
Ω
series resistor
ESD carpet (work surface), 0.25 m
2
minimum
The temporary EPA must include temporary controlled work surfaces and/or flooring capable of providing
protection against ESD.
