Electrostatic Discharge Testing / ESD Testing
Electrostatic discharge testing, also known as ESD testing is an essential test for many product. Electrostatic discharge can cause a number of problems including but not limited to mechanical failures, coal dust explosions, fuel vapor explosions and bodily injury. ESD is the sudden transfer of electricity between to electrically charged objects. This electrostatic transfer can be caused by contact, dielectric breakdown or an electrical short. ESD testing simulates various electrostatic impacts that equipment might experience either during transit or operation. The impact of electrostatic discharge can be significant whether the ESD even is so slight that is undetectable by hearing or sight or as spectacular as electrical sparks or lightning. An electrostatic discharge test determines whether a product is in compliance with its ESD protective area and procedures. Electronics manufacturers must identify ESD-reducing measures when their products are either susceptible to ESD or likely to create ESD. These measures can include establishing electrostatic protective areas that are free of static, controlling humidity, using measures to eliminate charging such as avoiding highly charging materials and taking steps to remove static such as grounding human workers or requiring antistatic devices. An ESD test confirms that the equipment correctly operates per the test requirement and the manufacturer’s operating procedures.
