ANSI/ESD STM 97.1 Test 6.2 vs 6.3

[SantiagoE]

Hello Team,

The 97.1 basically splits in 3 parts:

6.1 Test Procedures – Qualification Testing Using a Flooring Sample With Footwear
6.2 Test Procedures – Qualification Testing for New Footwear on a Previously Qualified
Flooring System
6.3 Test Procedures – Qualification Testing for Newly Installed or Existing Installed Static
Control Flooring

So, we have a case where we have a location (old location) with an existing “ESD” flooring. So for this case 6.1 doesn’t apply since this one has to be executed prior to the flooring system installation.

Our options are 6.2 and 6.3. For 6.2 we have to qualify new footwear on a “…previously qualified flooring system” which we don’t have yet. and for 6.3 we have that “…a set of footwear intended to
be used with the flooring system shall be used in the evaluation. Once the first set of footwear is
evaluated using the procedure in this section, additional types of footwear can be evaluated using
the procedure in Section 6.2”

Question: Based on that information, is it first 6.3 and then 6.2? because based on the standard, I can’t execute 6.2 because I don’t have a “…previously qualified flooring system”. Could you guys explain me this please?

Note: To me in 6.2 is weird that in the title it calls out for the word “qualified” when in the explanation it doesn’t call out that word “qualified” but “installed”.

I do appreciate your always help and clarification

[AndyN]

Santiago,

Section 6.3 is to qualify the flooring only. It does not qualify the footwear as only one sample of footwear is used whereas 6.2 uses 3 pairs of footwear to qualify the footwear with the flooring. Section 6.2 is to qualify footwear on previously qualified flooring (from either sections 6.3 or 6.1).

I agree the word “installed” in the text of section 6.2 should probably be “installed and qualified”.

[SantiagoE]

Andy,

Totally, I understand that section 6.2 is to qualify footwear (With 3 pairs) and section 6.3 is to qualify flooring. My question is why every section is requiring the complement being qualified? (i.g. 6.2. requires using a qualified flooring, and 6.3 requires at least 1 pair of footwear qualified, this is an egg-chicken type-of-problem, what’s first?).

But I understand, I will just use qualified from the vendor, not necessarily installed at the floor level.

Thank you!!

[AndyN]

Santiago,

Section 6.3 requires “a set of footwear intended to be used with the flooring system” So the footwear would not be qualified at this point, only intended to be qualified using section 6.2.

[SantiagoE]

Andy, thank you as always!

Last recommendation I guess:

• 6.2 should remove the word “Qualified” from its title.

• Being that so, this part is just creating confusion, that should be in 6.2.

[AndyN]

Santiago,

I’m not sure why you would want “Qualified” removed from the title of section 6.2. It implies that the flooring was already qualified by either section 6.1 or 6.3 and you only want to add additional footwear types.

[SantiagoE]

Andy,

Thanks for answering,
So, my position is that for an existing location (with floor already installed, I have to do first 6.3 (flooring), and then do the footwear), since footwear requires a qualified flooring.

[AndyN]

Santiago,

I think that is a safe bet although the sentence you highlighted seems to indicate the footwear used to qualify the floor is also qualified although the 3 samples of footwear is not required as in section 6.1 and 6.3. I asked the WG97 chair about this and will get back to you with his response.

[SantiagoE]

Correct, thanks in advance @AndyN.

[AndyN]

Here is what I got back from the working group chair:

"Section 6.3 Test Procedures – Qualification Testing for Newly Installed or Existing Installed Static Control Flooring.

This section is for newly installed flooring (which has already been qualified using STM7.1, Section 6.1 of this STM and STM97.2 and using footwear that has already been qualified using STM9.1, Sections 6.1 and 6.2. of this STM and STM97.2) or existing installed static control flooring which is already installed in a newly purchased / leased building that has an unknown history.

As stated in the 1st paragraph, 4th sentence in this section: “As with Section 6.1, a set of footwear intended to be used with the flooring system shall be used in the evaluation. Once the first set of footwear is evaluated using the procedure in this section, additional types of footwear can be evaluated using the procedure in Section 6.2.”

It is stating a “set” of footwear not one sample (pair). Looking at Section 6.1.1, it states, “… a minimum of pairs to be tested shall be three (3) pairs, labeled from 1 to 3.” Therefore, the requirement in Section 6.3 is a minimum of 3 pairs of footwear to be used for the procedure outlined in this section using the flooring sample points outlined in Section 6.3.1.

The 4th sentence also states “… additional types of footwear can be evaluated using the procedure in Section 6.2.” Therefore, instead of testing the additional footwear at all the test points outlined in Section 6.3.1 that testing can be performed at only one location as outlined in Section 6.2. for these additional types of footwear.

Regarding the second question (which was: "the opening paragraph of section 6.2 says “The procedure in this section shall be used when a new type of footwear is being evaluated for use on a previously installed flooring system…”. Shouldn’t it say “previously installed and qualified flooring system”? “

The title of this Section 6.2 does state Previously Qualified Flooring systems. Therefore, it is not required to restate."

He did mention that we are currently reviewing ANSI/ESD STM 97.2 and will be opening discussions on ANSI/ESD STM97.1 this summer, so we may be able to update them to clarify these issues.

[SantiagoE]

Thanks for the clarification @AndyN!