3 Main Principles of ANSI20.20

1) ESD sensitive devices must only be handled at a properly grounded dissipative work surface. The table matting must test within a window of 1 x 10 to the 6th and 1 x 10 to the 9th. The operator must also achieve ground potential and can do so with a wrist strap and/or two heel straps when used in conjunction with a conductive floor. The conductive floor needs to test equal to or below 3.5 x 10 to the 7th. It is imperative that the operator, work surface, and ESDS device be at the same electrical potential. Ground potential is always best.

2) ESDS devices must be stored and transported in a static shielding container, thus producing a faraday cage. Common faraday cages are static shielding bags and conductive boxes with a lid. The static shielding container must be closed if stored or transported off an ESD floor.

3) All unnecessary insulators (plastics, foam, tape, etc) should be removed from the ESD work surface. All necessary insulators require an ionization system to eliminate a harmful static field. Static field meters can be used to identify any harmful charges on the bench.