Rules for Using Wire Shelving in Conductive Applications
While wire shelving has many uses, it’s particularly useful for conductive applications, mainly in the electronics industry. This means that it is ideal for storing and displaying electronic equipment in the workplace. However, there are rules to avoid damage to sensitive devices.
In this post, we will explore the rules for using wire shelving in conductive applications, including how to make a wire shelving unit ESD-safe.
Let’s take a look.
What is ESD?
ESD stands for electrostatic discharge. It is the rapid movement of a charge from one object to another.
For example, dragging your feet along a carpet generates static electricity which can result in a “shock” when grabbing the doorknob. This shock, or release of energy, is known as an ESD Event.
While this sudden discharge of static electricity doesn’t cause any serious harm to you or me, it can be very damaging to electronic devices. Therefore, if you work in the electronics industry or work with circuit boards or other sensitive devices, workplace precautions should be put in place to protect your equipment.
How Does ESD Occur?
ESD can occur in a variety forms. However, one of the most common ways is through human contact with sensitive devices.
ESD damage to equipment is very likely to be the result when either:
- Troubleshooting electronic equipment or handling circuit boards without an electrostatic wrist strap.
- Or having a workplace or storage unit without proper grounding.
In the remainder of this article, we are going to focus on preventing ESD damage by creating compliant storage.
Creating ESD-Safe Storage
See, there are a few simple but necessary changes that must be made to convert a standard wire shelving unit. Chrome, stainless steel, and galvanized steel shelving all have conductive legs and need to be grounded. (Note that painted, plastic or powder coated metals are insulators and are difficult to make ESD safe)
Follow the steps below to ensure your metal shelving unit is ESD-safe.
Converting Standard Wire Shelving:
Step 1: First, a drag chain is needed to ground your wire shelving unit. Since electronics can be destroyed as the result of an ESD event, using a simple grounding chain will prevent damage to valuable inventory. The drag chain provides an electrical bond between the shelving unit and the grounded floor.
Step 2: Replace the plastic wire shelving clips with aluminum shelf clips. Unlike plastic, aluminum is a conductive metal. Please note this will not improve shelf capacity as some of our competitors note (however, they are useful in rough terrain with mobile wire shelving).
Mobile Shelving
If you are converting a wire shelf cart, you must also use specialized casters, or wheels, for conductive applications. Mobile conductive applications need the drag chain and aluminum clips as well as wheels that are resistant to electrostatic buildup and electromagnetic interference. ESD compliant casters allow static electricity to flow through the wheels and into conductive flooring. Therefore, it is vital all mobile shelving units in this case also have the proper wheels to achieve maximum contact with conductive flooring.
Bins
Plan on using bins to store your components? Better make sure they are ESD compliant too! You need to make sure you cover all possible vulnerabilities. If you have small, loose, or oddly shaped electrical parts that require additional storage from bins, you will need conductive bins. It is ideal to buy containers constructed with carbon filled copolymer polypropylene, which prevents the buildup of electrostatic charge and creates a barrier for static electricity and electromagnetic interference.
Now, don’t be confused if you have a microwave or a stereo on your wire shelving unit, you do not need to take these measures. This is meant for the manufacturing of sensitive components. If you want or need more information to make an informed decision of what exactly you may need for your application, please contact Omega at 1-800-221-8665 or message in on Live Chat.
We sell a variety of ESD-safe bins and even an ESD conversion kit to help convert your wire shelving.