With the release of the new ANSI/ESD S20.20-2007 standards, finding truly compliant esd garments and smocks has become increasingly important for many esd program needs. In essence, a standard "static control garment" must post conductivity below 1.0E11 @ 100 VDC between two predefined points of the garment as tested per STM2.1 and ESD TR53 (compliance verification). However, the differences between these two test methods are extensive.

The test method ESD STM2.1, specified for compliance of product qualification (from the manufacturer) doesn't readily lend itself to full testing of smocks in the field due to requirements for smock preconditioning, environmental chambers, specialty electrodes and test fixtures. The long and short? STM2.1 is fairly involved. Hence, ESD TR53 is designed to simplify the "field" testing of garments by using industry standard 5 pound electrodes and approved "meggers" such as our RT1000.

The garment is placed on a highly insulative surface (such as our ShockStop 207 AS insulative switchboard matting) and the resistance from sleeve to sleeve is pegged by the megger but take notice, while this testing seems simple it can post sporadic results, especially if the garment is testing to the high end of the electrical resistance range (>1.0E10 for example). Why? Testing to high resistance values accurately relies on following TR-53 precisely AND using test equipment and leads that have an extremely high degree of electrical insulation.

To test the insulative capabilities of your equipment simply place the equipment and leads on a highly insulative surface such as Lexan or clean dry glass. Cross the leads over one another, send a charge through the cables and peg the results. With much of today's test equipment this may register <1.0E10 as the current goes through the insulation of the cables and reads on the megger (incidentally this reading would allow the garment to pass when in actuality it may be failing). To help with obtaining accurate results know your equipment's true limitations. Don't cross leads and utilize the optional equipment grounds if provided.