The grade we install

Conductive: 2.5 x 10^4 to 1.0 x 10^6 ohms

This is the tighter of the two static control bands and the one New Era installs. It moves a charge off the floor fastest, which is what gets specified when the discharge itself is the hazard rather than the part being handled^[5].

2.5 x 10^4 to 1.0 x 10^6ohmsANSI/ESD STM7.1 / ASTM D257 (as cited on manufacturer TDS)

under 1.0 x 10^9ohmsANSI/ESD STM97.1

under 100voltsANSI/ESD STM97.2

Get a quote Compare with dissipative

Conductive against dissipative

Same job, different speed. The ESD Association publishes both bands and is clear that neither one is universally correct^[5].

	Conductive	Static dissipative
Resistance band	2.5 x 10^4 to 1.0 x 10^6 ohms	1.0 x 10^6 to 1.0 x 10^9 ohms
Charge moves	Fastest	Slower, more gradual
Usual home	Explosives, energetics, munitions, hazardous processing	Electronics assembly, board handling, most ESD sensitive work
Specified by	DESR 6055.09 for arms and ammunition areas	ANSI/ESD S20.20 control programs
New Era installs	Yes, this is the grade we put down	Available if your spec calls for it

Where conductive is the requirement

The clearest case is US Department of Defense explosives work. DESR 6055.09 makes conductive flooring mandatory in ammunition load, assemble and pack areas, propellant casting, pyrotechnic assembly and energetics manufacturing^[10]. In those rooms a discharge is an ignition source, so the floor has to move the charge before it can build.

Historical note

Hospitals used to be on this list

NFPA 99 required conductive flooring at 2.5 x 10^4 to 1.0 x 10^6 ohms in operating rooms using flammable anesthetics. That requirement was removed in the 2015 edition and is still absent from the 2024 edition, because those anesthetics are essentially gone from US surgical practice^[9].

The full history ›

The opposite direction

FAA facilities go higher, not lower

FAA-STD-019 sets floor resistance between 1.0 x 10^6 to 1.0 x 10^9 ohms in rooms with energized equipment^[11]. That is deliberately above a typical manufacturing floor, for personnel safety around live power.

What FAA-STD-019 asks for ›

The system as published

Manufacturer technical data for the conductive system, verified against the data sheet^[7].

Property	Value	Source
Applied thickness	5 to 7 (6 typical) mils	manufacturer TDS, Kretus SELECT ESD Epoxy Conductive/Dis
Solids	100 percent solids	manufacturer TDS
Application temperature	50 to 90 degrees F	manufacturer TDS
Ambient humidity limit	under 90 percent RH	manufacturer TDS
Substrate above dew point	5 degrees F above dew point	manufacturer TDS
Foot traffic	24 hours	manufacturer TDS
Vehicle traffic	7 days	manufacturer TDS

Questions

Is conductive flooring safe to stand on?

Yes. The resistance band is chosen so the floor drains a charge without the person becoming the fastest path to ground. That is the whole reason the requirement is a band with a lower bound and not simply 'as conductive as possible'. In rooms with energized equipment the required band is deliberately raised, which is what FAA-STD-019 does^[11].

Do we need conductive or is dissipative enough?

Your program document decides. Dissipative is the default for most electronics work^[5]. Conductive is specified where a spark could ignite something, which in practice means explosives and energetics areas under DESR 6055.09^[10]. If you are unsure which applies, start with the standards page.

How is the finished floor checked against the band?

Floor materials are characterised under ANSI/ESD STM7.1^[2], and the person plus footwear plus floor system is measured under STM97.1^[3] with the walking voltage checked under STM97.2^[4]. Facilities already in service follow ESD TR53 for periodic reverification^[17].

Can conductive go over an existing floor?

Sometimes, and it depends entirely on what is down now and what state the slab is in. A previous coating, a sealer or wax will all sit between the new system and the ground path. How prep is decided, or send us the room.