For electrostatic discharge (ESD) flooring, a floor-resistance result does not establish walking body-voltage performance. ANSI/ESD STM7.1 measures electrical resistance; ANSI/ESD STM97.2 measures voltage on a person using footwear and flooring together. The ESD Association’s standard test methods (STM) cited here are approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Why floor resistance and body voltage need different measurements
Resistance is one property of the flooring system
ANSI/ESD STM7.1-2020 defines procedures for measuring electrical resistance. Its foreword explains that resistance is one property used to evaluate electrostatic performance and does not fully characterize the flooring system.
Voltage is measured on the person with footwear and flooring
For voltage-generation testing involving a person, the STM7.1-2020 foreword refers readers to ANSI/ESD STM97.2. ANSI/ESD STM97.2-2016 measures the voltage on a person with footwear and floor materials evaluated together as a system.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Floor resistance does not establish walking body-voltage performance. The ANSI/ESD STM7.1-2020 foreword explains that resistance is one property and does not fully characterize the flooring system; it directs person-voltage generation testing to ANSI/ESD STM97.2.
No. ANSI/ESD STM97.2-2016 measures voltage on a person with footwear and floor materials evaluated together as a system.