Cicero Epoxy Flooring installs ESD flooring in Cicero, IL, serving surrounding cities including Forest Park, Lyons, River Forest, Brookfield and Summit. Static-control floors demand more than a standard coating does, because the floor has to perform electrically as well as hold up to traffic, and in 20+ years of coating concrete we have learned that both depend on careful preparation and a properly grounded system.
Electrostatic discharge can damage sensitive electronic components long before anyone feels a spark. ESD flooring gives static a controlled path to ground, working together with ESD footwear, grounded workstations and the rest of a facility’s static-control program.
We install static-dissipative and conductive epoxy systems for electronics assembly, repair benches, laboratories, server rooms and other spaces where static matters. The specification, including the resistance range and test methods, should come from your ESD program or customer requirements, and our written proposal states the system, coat count, thickness and grounding layout before work begins.
Understanding ESD Floor Requirements
Conductive and Static-Dissipative Ranges
ESD floors fall into two classes. Under ANSI/ESD STM7.1, conductive flooring measures at or below 1.0 x 10^6 ohms, and static-dissipative flooring measures above 1.0 x 10^6 and below 1.0 x 10^9 ohms. Many contractor sites blur the two, but they are distinct choices with different uses.
Conductive floors drain charge faster and are common where very sensitive devices or certain hazardous materials are handled. Dissipative floors drain charge more slowly and are widely used in general electronics work, and your program determines which range the floor must meet.
What ANSI/ESD S20.20 Asks of a Floor
When flooring is used as part of a person’s grounding path, ANSI/ESD S20.20 sets two requirements. The resistance of the person, footwear and floor together must measure below 1.0 x 10^9 ohms, and the body voltage generated while walking must stay below 100 volts peak, measured under ANSI/ESD STM97.2.
The body voltage test is the harder of the two, and it depends on the footwear as much as on the floor. That is why we ask what footwear your staff use before choosing a system, and why the floor and footwear should be qualified together.
Footwear and the Rest of the Program
An ESD floor is one element of a larger program that includes footwear, heel straps, wrist straps, grounded benches and regular testing. A floor that measures perfectly on its own can still fail the system test if footwear is worn out or the wrong type. We coordinate with your ESD coordinator or quality team, so the floor is specified to fit the program rather than chosen in isolation.
How an ESD Epoxy Floor Is Built
Grinding and Slab Preparation
ESD systems are installed over concrete that has been diamond ground or shot blasted to the profile the manufacturer requires. Old coatings, sealers and adhesives are removed so they cannot interfere with the bond or the electrical path through the system.
The slab is tested for moisture before pricing, because moisture problems cause blistering and can also affect resistance readings. Where readings run high, a moisture-mitigation primer goes down first, compatible with the ESD layers above it.
Conductive Primer and Grounding Points
Most ESD epoxy systems use a conductive primer, often with copper grounding strips laid on the slab, tied to building ground at set intervals. This network carries static from the surface coat down to ground.
Ground connections are planned with the facility’s electrician, since they must connect to a verified building ground. We map their locations in the proposal so everyone knows where they are before the floor is installed.
Static-Dissipative or Conductive Topcoat
The surface layer contains conductive materials distributed evenly through the coating, so resistance stays consistent across the floor. Application thickness matters, because too thick or too thin a coat can shift readings out of range.
We apply to the thickness the system requires, timed by slab temperature and dew point spread. Standard topcoats or waxes should not be added over an ESD floor afterward, because they can insulate the surface and push readings out of range.
Carts, Chairs and Rolling Equipment
People are not the only source of static in an electronics area. Carts, chairs and rolling racks moving across the floor can build charge too, and they need conductive or dissipative casters or drag chains to use the floor as their path to ground.
We ask about the equipment that will roll across the new floor during planning. Heavy carts also concentrate load on small wheels, so busy routes may need a thicker build to keep the ESD surface intact for years rather than months.
Testing, Use and Upkeep
Resistance Testing After Installation
After the system cures, we measure resistance at multiple points across the floor and from the surface to the ground points, using the methods your specification names. Readings are recorded and handed over as part of the job.
If an area reads outside the range, we investigate before handing the floor over. Recorded results give your quality team a baseline for future periodic testing.
Where ESD Floors Are Used
Electronics assembly and repair areas, cleanrooms, test labs, data and server rooms and some warehouse zones storing sensitive components all use ESD floors. Industrial and manufacturing buildings in the Cicero area that add electronics work often need only part of a floor converted to ESD. We can install ESD flooring in defined zones within a larger coated floor, with color changes or borders that make the static-controlled area obvious to staff.
Cleaning and Maintaining an ESD Floor
ESD floors should be cleaned with cleaners approved by the coating manufacturer, because some products leave residues that insulate the surface. Waxes and finishes intended for ordinary floors should never be used.
Regular resistance checks, as your program requires, confirm the floor is still performing. Heavy wear areas can be recoated with the same ESD topcoat to restore both appearance and electrical performance.
- 20+ Years on Concrete
- Moisture Tested Before Pricing
- Written Coat-by-Coat Proposals