ANSI/ESD STM97.1-2025 requires the test footwear to be worn on both feet for at least 10 minutes before resistance measurement to establish moisture equilibrium.
ANSI/ESD STM97.2-2016 also specifies ten minutes of footwear wear before its walking-body-voltage test. That instruction does not state a reason; the moisture-equilibrium explanation comes from STM97.1.
What does STM97.1 require?
Wear the test footwear before resistance measurement
The ten-minute minimum appears in all three STM97.1-2025 person-footwear-floor resistance procedures:
- Pre-installation evaluation to a groundable point, section 6.1.4.
- New footwear evaluated on an existing floor, section 6.2.3.
- Installed-floor evaluation, section 6.3.3.
The STM97.1 procedure-selection guide explains which procedure applies.
Moisture can form part of the contact with the wearer
STM97.1’s definition of footwear includes a personal grounding device worn on the shoe. That device contacts the walking surface and makes electrical contact with the wearer through direct skin contact or moisture inside the shoe.
What does STM97.2 require?
Ten minutes before the walking test
STM97.2-2016 requires the static-control footwear under test, including shoes or other devices, to be worn on both feet for ten minutes. The tester then stands on the flooring sample (step 5.2.3.5).
That step does not give a reason for the wear period. The walking-body-voltage testing guide places it within the preparation and measurement sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The cited methods also address personal grounding devices worn on the shoes. STM97.2 expressly describes the static-control footwear under test as shoes or other devices.
No. STM97.1-2025 explicitly gives that reason. STM97.2-2016 requires ten minutes of wear in step 5.2.3.5 but does not state the reason in that instruction.