Villingen-Schwenningen, November 2015: ESD damage to electronic components is a serious problem. ESD protected areas and specially adapted workplaces are therefore an important step for avoiding damage. This is why LED task luminaires from luminaire manufacturer Waldmann also come in ESD-safe variants.

Electronic components are already vulnerable to impulse discharges at a level of 100 Volts or more – a range that is not perceptible to humans. The damage caused as a result is very difficult to determine. The danger therefore lies especially in the hidden damage. Previous ESD damage to electronics can therefore pass completely unnoticed and components can operate quite normally initially and only malfunction sometimes even months later in the hands of the customer. Yet damage can be avoided by taking all of the protective measures offered. Such measures include ESD-compliant adaptation of workplaces, for example with ESD-safe chairs and desks, but also other elements located directly at the workplace, such as lighting.

Highly demanding visual tasks are performed at ESD workplaces in particular owing to the delicacy of the parts. Workplace lighting that is adapted optimally to the respective activity provides support for employees in this context. However in order to avoid ESD damage, use of ESD luminaires is absolutely essential.

Requirements for ESD-Compliant Lighting

Electronic components can be exposed to a sudden discharge from a charged luminaire by touching or even simply approaching the luminaire. This is especially the case when working with magnifier and arm-mounted luminaires, which are positioned particularly close to the electronic components. ESD protection is however also important when working with system luminaires that are positioned in the vicinity of shelf surfaces at a distance of less than 30 centimeters. This is because the luminaires can charge electronic components by induction at this distance, which then discharge abruptly as soon as they are touched with the tip of a soldering iron for example.

Luminaires are not control elements as set out in Tables 2 and 3 of the ESD standard DIN EN 61340-5-1: Part 5-1. Separate rules are defined however for such special control elements in relation to qualification and verification. All insulators, in other words non-conductive components, should essentially be removed from ESD-compliant workplaces. This also includes non ESD-safe luminaires. This is because they can carry substantial electrical charges, since elements such as magnifiers, housing or covers are often made from non-conductive materials. ESD-safe luminaires on the other hand cannot be charged at any point above 100 Volts.

Waldmann ESD Luminaires

Luminaire manufacturer Waldmann supports the ESD coordinators on site on this issue. With its ESD-compliant LED task luminaires, the manufacturer offers a range of luminaires for ESD protected areas that is unique on this scale up to now. The company's superior quality standards have also been achieved in relation to ESD with the TEVISIO magnifier luminaire, the TANEO arm-mounted and built-in luminaire and the TAMETO system luminaire, which can be installed laterally or suspended.

The glass magnifier in the TEVISIO has a conductive coating on both sides for example. All covers also have conductive coating. Metal housing is coated with conductive paint as are the plastic housing components if they are not already made from conductive plastic.

All Waldmann ESD luminaires are tested by an independent institute. The test report is supplied to the customer together with the luminaires. The test procedure and limit values also act as proof. The luminaires carry the EPA label. This helps ESD coordinators to create their own ESD inspection program and also assists with audits in relation to ESD protection management.