An overview of the core rules for designing, running and checking an EPA workplace. We explain in plain terms what an ESD program covers, what belongs in the workplace and what needs to be verified regularly.
ESD standards are not just about individual products. They are built on a complete system of measures covering work surfaces, personnel grounding, flooring, packaging, measurement, documentation and a compliance verification plan. In everyday practice the main framework is ČSN EN 61340-5-1, which sets out the requirements for creating, implementing and maintaining an electrostatic discharge protection program.
The ESD protection standard describes how to set up a working program for handling electrostatic sensitive components and products. It goes beyond the equipment itself and also covers how it is used, who is responsible, training and regular compliance checks.
In practice this means that buying an ESD workbench or a mat is not enough. What matters is that the whole workplace works as one connected system in which people, work surfaces, flooring, grounding, marking, packaging and verification are all handled correctly.
Setting up the program and assigning responsibility for each part of the protection.
Clear boundaries of the protected area and rules for entering it.
Grounding of staff and work surfaces, plus the movement of material.
Rules for moving and storing parts outside the protected area.
Regular verification, records of results and the follow-up steps.
The exact make-up of an EPA workplace depends on the type of operation, the sensitivity of the products and the way people work. The basis, however, is usually a grounded work surface, a personnel grounding system, suitable flooring or a flooring solution, EPA marking and the right means for handling and packaging.
A working workplace also tends to include measuring equipment, or at the very least a clearly defined system of regular checks. Verifying the actual condition is what keeps the operation compliant and safe in the long run.
The values below are meant as a quick reference. A full assessment always depends on the specific measurement method, the type of item and the overall set-up of the ESD program.
| Area | Indicative value |
|---|---|
| Wrist strap | less than 5 × 106 Ω |
| Person + wrist strap system | less than 3.5 × 107 Ω |
| Work surface, shelf or trolley | less than 1 × 109 Ω to ground |
| Flooring | less than 1 × 109 Ω to ground |
| Person–footwear system | less than 1 × 108 Ω |
| Charge dissipation | from 1000 V to 100 V within 20 s |
Compliance with the requirements of an ESD program is not a one-off state. For the protection to work over time, you need a defined inspection plan, clear responsibilities and regular verification of the key items in the EPA.
An inspection plan usually lists the items to be measured or checked, the verification intervals, the limits, the method used, the measuring equipment and the people responsible. It normally also covers how results are recorded and what happens when a deviation is found.
A well designed ESD workplace is not created simply by picking individual products. A solution works when the equipment, the way it is used, the marking, the measurement and the follow-up checks all fit together.
That is why it pays to look at the operation as a whole when designing or modifying an EPA. A new workplace calls for a different approach than adding the missing items, and an audit of an established operation calls for another one again.
We help assess the state of your workplace, propose suitable equipment and recommend the next steps in line with the requirements of an ESD program. Whether you are building a new EPA, extending an existing operation or auditing the current state, we build the solution around what your operation actually needs.
Tell us about the workplace you are building, extending or checking. We will assess its condition, recommend suitable equipment and propose the scope of measurement and the next steps.