ESD 20:20 STANDARDS: PREVENT PROBLEMS CAUSED BY STATIC DISCHARGES (DEMO)
People sometimes say that they can feel the electricity in the air. They’re probably being metaphorical, but they could just as well mean it literally. Static electricity builds up whether we know it or not and this can result in an electrostatic discharge, known as ESD, which can damage electronics.
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ESDs can send slight or powerful shocks through an object that can jolt someone touching it, or they can destroy unprotected electronic equipment. This worries electronic companies that have been looking for ways to protect both people and their equipment. Philip Havens and Chad Marak, in their article for Electronic Design, describe the ESD effects on smartphones, for instance:
ESDs can send slight or powerful shocks through an object that can jolt someone touching it, or they can destroy unprotected electronic equipment. This worries electronic companies that have been looking for ways to protect both people and their equipment. Philip Havens and Chad Marak, in their article for Electronic Design, describe the ESD effects on smartphones, for instance:
“ESD events may not be severe enough to blow up your cell phone. But if its keypad or buttons suddenly don’t work, it probably already has been damaged by an unprotected ESD occurrence. It’s just as likely that an interface port such as USB or Ethernet no longer works properly when it is connected to other devices—ESD is probably the culprit here, too.”To address this issue, the ESD Association has come up with an ESD Control Program with its ESD:20:20 standards. Companies that work with electronics, whether it is manufacturing, processing, assembling, or packaging, understand how exposure to discharges on the production floor or beyond it, can render the products defective, costing production time and money. The ESD 20:20 standards was set in place to maintain an electrostatic discharge control program to protect equipment and the parts therein especially susceptible to the shocks. The standards have three main foundations. First, personnel working with the products in the work area must be bonded or electrically grounded. Providing conductors rubber-soled shoes and anti-static wraps is part of the procedure. Second, electrical charges in non-conductors need to be neutralized by ionization. Air ionizers are used for this. Finally, static protective materials must be secured to transport items that are susceptible to ESD. An example of this is the use of anti-static bags to protect motherboards and CPUs. The principles of ESD 20:20 can be integrated into the company’s existing Quality Management System (QMS). The additional fulfillment of requirements for ISO certification shows commitment on the part of the company to maintain and even improve standards. The measures consequently provide several benefits. Complying with the ESD 20:20 will help prevent malfunctions caused by electrostatic discharges. Also, by meeting industry standards, the company is encouraged to improve on its product quality, which will assure and enhance customer satisfaction with the brand and the services. Business owners should consult with accrediting agencies like the International Standards Authority (ISA) on how to integrate ESD 20:20 into the current international standards certification schemes. (Source: ESD: A Smartphone’s Worst Enemy, Electronic Design, May 2, 2014)