ANSI/ESD 20.20-2014

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is the common occurrence of a momentary electrical shock given off by a person or virtually any ‘charged’ object. ANSI/ESD S20.20 is the multi-industry standard for the development of ESD control programs that protect today’s increasingly sensitive electronic components, assemblies, and equipment from costly ESD damage and reduce down-time. Using the standard’s control methods and guidance, an organization can develop an ESD control program that protects devices down to 100v (class 1a) or less.

An ESD control program helps eliminate costly component failures while increasing customer satisfaction. This standard covers the requirements necessary to design, establish, implement and maintain an Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Control Program for activities that manufacture, process, assemble, install, package, label, service, test, inspect or otherwise handle electrical or electronic parts, assemblies and equipment susceptible to damage by electrostatic discharges greater than or equal to 100 volts Human Body Model (HBM) and 200 volts Charged Device Model (CDM).

ANSI/ESD S20.20 is based on these fundamental static control principles:

• All conductors in a given facility must be bonded or electrically connected and attached to a known ground or contrived ground;
• All necessary non-conductors in a facility cannot be allowed to lose their electrostatic charge by attachment to or connection with ground; and
• Moving or transporting ESD-sensitive items outside of an electrostatic discharge protected area requires the use of static protective materials.

Although the specific application of these principles may vary from facility to facility, they represent the essential requirements of the standard as it applies to the development of an appropriate ESD facility control plan.