Hello All,
We are using anti-fatigue ESD floor mats at most standing operation stations and are measuring Point-to-Point (P2P) and Point-to-Ground (P2G) resistance during initial qualification and compliance verification.
However, we have observed that the Point-to-Ground resistance goes out of specification after a certain period of use. When an external ground connection is provided to the mat, the resistance values meet the required specification, but this external grounding arrangement is not sustainable for long-term use with these mats.
Could you please review this issue and suggest a suitable solution to avoid scrapping the mats, especially since the Point-to-Point resistance readings are still within specification at approximately 10⁶ ohms?
PTP- 4.410^6Ohms
PTG-6.810^9ohms
Refer to the below image for ref…
Greeting of the day to all from India 
I want to make it clear for myself
- Whether you have done the PQ test as per standard test procedure subjecting the item for 48-72 hrs environmental conditioning at 12%+/-3 Rh before using this mat ?
- If so ,were the PQ test results satisfactory ?
You have shown in the photo that these mats are kept on the grounded ESD tiles flooring and failing ( >1 x 10e 9 ohms ) > This is level 2 grounding check
Since the surface is not a planar surface just apply your palm pressure on the 5 lb electrode while testing and check it once .
Since common point ground is an absolute requirement at all work stations , it is advisably good to connect these mats separately to that CPG which is definitely sustainable as long as the mat is in use . You have stated that it does work and that is good .
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Thank you for your valuable response.
Yes, the product qualification results meet the ESD 20.20 requirement.
However, we have validated the mats after applying a 5 lb electrode pressure, and the readings are still marginally failing. Observed values are STG (P2G) 2.1 × 10⁹ ohms and 1.9 × 10⁹ ohms.
We have a total of 55 lines, each line with ~40 mats. In this case, maintaining a CPG connection for all floor mats will be difficult to maintain and can create new audit findings related ground disconnected, open.
Could you please suggest any alternative solution to achieve the required point-to-ground values? The point-to-point readings are within 10⁶ ohms.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Greeting of the day to all from India
Sir,
Thank you for your kind response
For a floor it is always required to have an earth bus running all around the hall above the skirting level on the walls to ensure that the floor is well connected to the ESD safe earth which is further connected to the main equipment earth .( you may please see the ESD tiles floor grounding drawing I had shared in the group recently )
Thus, if you have provided such an arrangement , I would strongly suggest that you connect each anti skid ESD safe mat to the ESD earth bus bar directly …
In addition to the Rtg CV test , it is good to keep checking the Footwear -Flooring system resistance with personnel and walk test also on a routine basis per STM 97.1 /97.2 .
Thank you .