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How can manufacturers stop ESD damage?

What do manufacturers do to stop this? Well, there are a range of measures they take all of which are covered in an international standard IEC 61340-5-1.

This standard specifies general requirements for the design, use and control of a protected area so that electrostatic sensitive devices (ESDS), can be handled with minimal risk of damage from procurement through to end of life. It covers:

  • Signs and markings

  • The Electrostatic Protected Area (EPA) including requirements for protective equipment, construction of the EPA, working practices, and field work

  • Protective packaging

  • Training requirements

  • Quality responsibilities

  • Periodic audit instructions

ESD and Precision Tools.

What is ESD?

For hand tools it means that in the Electrostatic protected area (EPA) the use of non-ESD hand tools is prohibited.

But what exactly are ESD hand tools?

ESD hand tools have handles constructed from a special polypropylene material.

This material allows the flow of electrical energy, but at a very controlled rate - A rate that will not let sparks develop.

The material used has to have been tested and certified before it can be claimed to be ESD compliant and naturally all C.K ESD compliant products use certified materials.

The sign for ESD compliant tools is:

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