TB-9000
Page 3 of 4
© 2018 DESCO INDUSTRIES INC
Employee Owned
SCS
- 926 JR Industrial Drive, Sanford, NC 27332
East: (919) 718-0000 | West: (909) 627-9634 • Website:
StaticControl.com
USING THE OPTIONAL TEST LEADS AND ONE OR
TWO 5 POUND ELECTRODES
General Guidelines
Use both 5-pound electrodes for Resistance
Point-to-Point (Rtt) measurements.
Use one 5-pound electrode, and connect one test
lead to ground for Resistance-to-Ground (Rtg)
measurements.
Ensure that the item being measured is electrically
isolated (placed on an insulative surface). The checker
will measure the lowest resistance path.
Minimize crossing the test leads when possible.
When using 5-pound electrodes:
• Place them no closer than 2” from the edge of the
surface being measured.
• Place them no closer than 3” to any groundable
point.
• Place them about 10” apart from each other for Rtt
measurements of a worksurface.
• Place them about 3’ apart from each other for Rtt
measurement of a floor.
Preferable electrode placements include:
• Most commonly used area of a surface
• Most worn area
• Center of surface
• Furthest area from a grounded point
If the surface to be measured has sections (i.e. floor
tiles, garment panels), place the 5-pound electrodes on
different sections for Rtt measurements.
Clean the material’s surface for test lab measurements,
but do not clean the surface for materials that are
already installed. Only clean and re-test the installed
material if failure occurs.
Frequency of Compliance Verification Testing
NOTE: “The frequency of periodic testing is normally
specified in corporate operating procedures. …The
frequency of testing is driven by the amount of risk
exposure that can occur between tests. For, example,
what is the quantity of product handled between test
periods?” (See ESD Handbook ESD TR20.20)
Per ANNEX A of Compliance Verification ESD TR53
“Test Frequency, The objective of the periodic test
procedures listed in this document is to identify if
significant changes in ESD equipment and materials
performance have occurred over time. Test frequency
limits are not listed in this document, as each user will
need to develop their own set of test frequencies based
on the critical nature of those ESD sensitive items
handled and the risk of failure for the ESD protective
equipment and materials.”
Additional information includes:
• Worksurface
- at least quarterly (see ESD TR20.20
section 5.3.1.13 Periodic Tests)
• Footwear
- “Incoming inspection on a lot sampling
basis should be performed for all static control
footwear.” (see ESD TR20.20 section 5.3.3.4
Testing)
• Floor
- “The types of monitoring and type
of equipment are considerations. In some
cases, a simple electrical resistance test with a
megohmmeter may suffice. In others, a static
charge generation test may be required.” (see ESD
TR20.20 section 5.3.4.13 Performance Monitoring)
• Seating
- “The recommended electrical resistance
range for seating is less than 1 x 10
9
ohms as
tested in accordance with ANSI/ESD STM 12.1.
This value should be during acceptance testing,
installation and periodically thereafter.” (see ESD
TR20.20 section 5.3.5.3 Testing)
• Garments
- “To maintain process control, it is
imperative that the garment be tested per ANSI/ESD
STM 2.1. The point-to-point and sleeve-to-sleeve
resistance test should be made.” (see ESD
TR20.20 section 5.3.13.3.1.8 Periodic Testing)