Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage sensitive electronic components, making this potential hazard a primary concern in environments where those items are manufactured, stored, or used. ESD occurs when items with differing electrical charges come into close proximity—similar to the shock you feel after shuffling your feet on a carpeted floor and touching a metal doorknob. In this guide, we’ll cover how to use floor marking tape, floor signs, and other visual cues to identify and restrict ESD control areas, preventing damage to important goods and ensuring the safety of employees.
What Are ESD Control Areas & Why Are They Important?
There are several steps to control electrostatic discharge, whether you’re manufacturing sensitive components or organizing a data center. A top priority is establishing ESD control areas and electrostatic protection areas (or EPAs) in locations where awareness and precautions are most important. ESD control can be a concern in a variety of industries and applications:
- Data Centers: ESD control is essential in data centers that house sensitive servers and storage devices that could be damaged by static discharge.
- Electronics Manufacturing: ESD control areas can protect electronics during the manufacturing process, especially during the assembly and testing stages.
- Healthcare Facilities: Pacemakers, defibrillators, and other sensitive medical devices can be affected by ESD, making control important in certain healthcare settings.
ESD Sensitive Areas vs. Static Protection Areas
ESD sensitive or control areas are spaces where measures are implemented to control and minimize electrostatic discharge. In contrast, EPAs or static protection areas are specific zones within ESD sensitive areas where extra precautions are required: All surfaces, objects, people, and components are kept at the same electrical potential to prevent damaging static discharge. Specific gear and equipment, such as grounding apparatus, may be necessary to prevent the presence of different charges.
Identifying ESD Control Areas with Floor Signs & Tape
Whether you’re working in a data center or electrical manufacturing plant, controlling ESD with adequate visual communication is important to the safety of your products and employees. Visual cues are a key part of any 5S or Lean workplace, as they decrease confusion, increase safety, and improve productivity.
Understanding ESD Symbols
Most ESD markings will contain a signal word, such as “Caution,” along with one of two standard symbols. Many may also feature the language “ESD Control Area.” Which symbol to use often comes down to facility preference.
- The ESD Susceptibility Symbol is the standard visual cue for ESD control areas. Consisting of a hand reaching inside of a triangle with a line through it, this symbol identifies items that are susceptible to damage from ESD and alerts personnel that they should be grounding when handling that item.
- The Three Arrows in a Circle symbol originated in military applications and has been used historically, but has been mostly replaced by the susceptibility symbol for modern markings.
Using Visual Cues to Identify ESD Control Areas
Clearly identifying static sensitive and static protection areas is central to the success of an ESD control plan. ESD warning tape, signage, and other facility safety products indicate areas where precautions are necessary and help prevent differently charged items from entering the space.
- Signage: Place clearly visible signs at entrances with the standard ESD susceptibility symbol and in a color that’s consistent with OSHA guidance and your facility’s standard—typically yellow or orange. Industrial floor signs made from vinyl or Superior Mark® floor tape strips are durable options for high-traffic areas, while wall signs and door signs provide visual cues at eye-level.
- Floor Tape: Define the entire protected zone with heavy-duty ESD floor tape in hazard-indicating yellow. ESD warning tape typically includes a signal word (often “Caution”) or standard ESD symbol along with the language “ESD Control Area.”
- Custom Messaging: Our Superior Mark® repeating message floor tape and floor signs can be custom-printed with additional instructions, for example, reminding employees to wear PPE or of proper grounding practices required to enter the area.
- Safety Labels: Apply safety labels in important static control areas to communicate where signs and floor tape cannot. Customized safety labels can include your specific caution messaging and multiple lines.
Implementing visual cues and other protective measures can prevent unintended electrostatic discharge in sensitive areas, safeguarding your equipment, machinery, parts, or goods. Use floor tape and signs—marked with the appropriate language and symbols—to identify static sensitive and static protection areas, and implement awareness and grounding practices into employee training to ensure compliance throughout your facility. For more on using warehouse and manufacturing floor marking tape and products across a variety of industries, explore our Resource Center.
