The term “conductive” refers to the ability of a material to conduct a charge to ground. Any floor with an electrical resistance measuring < 1.0 x 10E9 is capable of conducting static charges away from people and objects to ground.
When differentiating between “conductive” and “static-dissipative” flooring materials, materials with an electrical resistance < 1.0 x 10E6 (1 million ohms) are usually considered conductive. Flooring materials measuring between 1.0 x 10E6 and 1.0 x 10E9 are considered static dissipative.
While ANSI/ESD standards do not specify a minimum electrical resistance, for best practices the industry has historically set a minimum of 2.5 x 10E4.
Electrical resistance below 2.5 x 10E4 is considered a potential shock hazard. Floors reading below 1 x 10E6 are prohibited for use around energized equipment by telecom and Federal Aviation Administration standards: Motorola R56 and FAA 019f.
