Re: Laminate flooring and ESD?

Tim Wescott wrote:

Joerg wrote:

Gentlemen,

My office and lab carpets are nearly shot. The office from all those roller chairs, the lab from, well, a few kablouies and stuff. Here in the US I can't find the foam-backed short-loop carpet I had in Germany which never created any ESD issues. Contemplated wood flooring such as bamboo but a friend advised against that. Occasionally the dogs are here and when the Fedex truck pulls up they perform a Fred Flintstone start -> big scratches. He suggested laminate.

Not that I like laminate but does anyone know how ESD-prone it is? Any recommended brands? I mean the regular stuff, not top-Dollar specialty products.

If by "laminate" you mean "fake linoleum", the regular stuff is not considered ESD safe. You can either buy conductive wax, which seems to be pretty good, or you can buy conductive laminate which is probably that "top dollar specialty" item that you mentioned, and is ***-ugly to boot.


I meant more the "laminate hardwood" stuff, looks like wood flooring but just not quite as good (too shiny). Some people call it engineered wood. Among homeowners it is frowned upon for lack of "poshness" but that picture changes for people who have large dogs or small children.


Were I going to go that route I'd pencil out the cost of keeping the floor waxed (including my own labor costs) vs. conductive laminate.


That I'd definitely want to avoid.


You can also get a spray-on ESD treatment for carpets, so you can use the regular "corporate" short-pile carpeting.


The only short loop stuff I've seen is the kind that must be glued down with some stinky heavy duty goo. In Europe they have this carpet with a foam back. Spread a dose of milky odorless fluid, lay the carpet, done. When you need a new carpet you wet it all real good, pick it up and there is barely any residue to clean. Glued down office carpet needs a serious body builder to pull that up.

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Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com
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