Industrial Furniture and Storage Products for Production and Technical Environments

The Explosive Risk of ESD

Whilst the spark might be invisible to the naked eye, fires and explosions in petrol stations, grain silos and oil tankers have all been blamed on electrical static discharge (ESD). Static electricity can build up as easily as clothing material rubbing together, and it can pose a serious threat if procedures haven’t been in place to allow it to safely dissipate.

The danger that ESD poses encompasses starting fires on oil tankers and malfunctioning electrical components in space.¹ ESD has the potential to not only damage delicate electronic components in high value manufacturing, but can also provide the energy needed for gases to react and ignite.

Exploding sugar refineries and oil tankers

In February this year an explosion at a sugar refinery in Georgia (US) was blamed on the reaction between static electricity and sugar dust in a storage silo. Following the explosion six people were killed, 62 taken to hospital and many more injured at what was described as “a small war zone” by fire crews when they arrived.²

There have also been numerous explosions on oil tankers blamed on the build up of static electricity. Two crew members were killed on a Japanese ship carrying 4000 tonnes of ethanol, whilst a fire started by an ESD spark sunk a 570-foot oil tanker just off the US coast.³

ESD fires at petrol stations

Explosions and fires breaking out at petrol stations have also been blamed on the static electricity generated by people in their cars. In 2003 the number of fires at Japanese petrol stations led to the distribution of vulcanized rubber mats along with calls for Japanese car manufacturers to replace metal fuel caps with plastic to insulate the fuel tank from ESD.⁴

In recent years it has become popular for fires at petrol stations to be blamed on electrical charges from mobile phones. Prior to 2005, 243 petrol station fires have been linked to mobiles, but now experts are largely discrediting this as myth and that the real cause continues to be static electricity. Mobile manufacturers have been quick to advise people against using a mobile whilst filling up, but this is simply to protect themselves with a legal disclaimer should proof ever arise.⁵

It’s believed that the main reason fires occur at petrol stations is because of the static generated when people get back into their cars, rub against the seats and then release the static discharge when they return to the fuel pump.

Protecting against ESD in electronics manufacturing

Whilst the threat of ESD in high value electronic manufacturing might not be as dramatic as an oil tanker or a grain silo exploding the threat can be just as serious. If electronic components are being manufactured for use in an aeroplane or car then their sudden failure without warning could be catastrophic. One of the reasons why ESD poses such a danger is because the damage might not be immediately obvious, and the failure of a component could be delayed for months after it has left your plant.

Consequently it’s imperative that electronic manufacturing environments incorporate electrostatic protection areas (EPA) with anti-static workbenches, trolleys, cabinets and bins designed to dissipate static electricity safely and away from electronic components.  

19.3.2008 (ESD, anti-static, dissipative, EPA, workbench, trolley, cabinet, bins, high value manufacturing)

¹http://www.ce-mag.com/archive/1999/novdec/mrstatic.html
²http://www.esdjournal.com/static/Georgia/georgia%20sugar%20explosion.htm
³http://www.esdjournal.com/static/three.htm
⁴http://www.esdjournal.com/static/japan/problems.htm
⁵http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4366337.stm