Choose the Right ESD Flooring
Compare by Category
| Category | ESD Carpet Tile |
ESD Solid Vinyl Tile (Conductive) |
ESD Multi-Layer
Poured Epoxy |
ESD Rubber |
| Cost | Moderate | Lowest | Moderate | Highest |
| Cost of Maintenance | Highest | Low-Moderate | Low Note: Shine cannot be restored once surface becomes dull |
Lowest |
| Durability | Not suitable for wet or motorized traffic |
Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Ease of Repair | Easiest | Easy | Most difficult | Moderate |
| Long Term Appearance | Fair: depending on frequency of cleaning |
Excellent: can be abraded and resurfaced by high speed buffing |
Difficult to hide micro scratches |
Excellent |
| Color Throughout Thickness (helps hide scratches) |
N/A | Yes (Ameriworx Precision Milled Vinyl Tile) |
No | Yes |
| Color Consistency for Projects of Any Size |
Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Handle/Withstand Rolling Loads |
Poor | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Ease of Rolling | Poor | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Maintenance | Vacuum, annual steam clean, and encapsulation cleaning |
Sweep, damp mop, and buff |
Sweep and damp mop |
Sweep, damp mop, and buff |
| Meets Standards ANSI/ESD S20.20 | Yes Must be conductive |
Yes Must be conductive |
Check body voltage generation with specified footwear |
Yes Must be conductive |
| Ease of Finding Small Parts | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Installation | Easiest | Average | Difficult | Average |
| Slip Resistance | > 0.6 | 0.5 - 0.6 | 0.4 - 0.6 (depends on texture) |
> 0.6 (meets ADA guidelines) |
| Chemical Resistance | Poor | Superior | Superior | Superior |
| Acid, Alkali, and Solvent Resistance | Poor | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Sound Absorption | Excellent | 4 dB | Not sound resistant | Excellent 5 - 19 dB |
| Anti-Fatiguing | Excellent | No | No | Good |
| PSI | N/A | 2500 | > 2500 | 600 - 850 |
| Plasticizer (Off-Gas) | N/A | None | None | None |
| Wear Layer | N/A | Total thickness | N/A | Total thickness |
| Halogen Free: No Chlorine or Other Corrosive Gases in Fire |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Contributes Toward LEED Credits | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Pdf versionHelpful links to compare / evaluate conductive floors:
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Static Control Floor Covering
Vinyl Info | Rubber Info | Carpet Info | Epoxy Info -
Library of articles, white papers, standards, and terminology
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ESD Floors 101:
Conductive Floor for Beginners (article by Dave Long) -
The Facilities Manager's Guide to ESD Flooring Materials
Published in the November 03 issue of Conformity Magazine
