Electronics manufacturing and ESD areas
ESD clothing: when it is needed and what to look for
ESD clothing dissipates the charge of the body if it is chosen, worn and cared for correctly. This page shows when to use it, how ESD differs from antistatic and which standards apply.
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When we recommend ESD clothing
There is no fixed limit. The decision follows from the risk assessment and the site's protection concept. The table serves as a guide.
| Situation | Recommendation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Handling ESD-sensitive components or assemblies | ESD clothing, wrist strap or heel grounder, grounded surface | Protecting the product from discharges via the body |
| Working in a marked ESD area | ESD clothing as part of the system | The clothing works only with personnel grounding and a grounded workstation |
| Cleanroom with ESD requirements | ESD clothing with cleanroom details, swabs and wipes by class | Two requirements: particles and charge. Check both details in the datasheet |
| Visitors or external staff in the ESD area | Disposable heel grounder, disposable gown, briefing | Short stay, grounding without permanent equipment |
| No ESD area, normal production | No ESD clothing needed | Without sensitive components it brings no additional protection |
ESD and antistatic compared
Both terms concern charge, but they mean different standards with different aims. Mixing them up is common.
| Feature | Antistatic according to EN 1149-5 | ESD to EN 61340-5-1 |
|---|---|---|
| What is regulated? | Material and construction of protective clothing | Protecting electronic components throughout the ESD area |
| Subject | Clothing, fabric with conductive threads | People, workstation, material, grounding, process |
| Protection goal | Dissipation of the charge on the clothing, avoidance of ignition sparks in certain atmospheres | Avoiding damage to electronic components |
| Prerequisite | Clothing as part of a grounded system with dissipative footwear and floor | Grounding of person and workstation, marking, testing |
| Not recorded | Gloves and shoes as stand-alone products | Clothing alone does not replace grounding |
| Detail in the datasheet | Standard, dissipative value, care instructions | Standard, resistance values of the system, test conditions |
Antistatic describes a property of the clothing. ESD describes the system in which the clothing is used.
What it looks like in everyday life
- Before work: close ESD clothing completely, put on the grounding wrist strap, fasten the cord to the grounding point.
- At the workstation: Put components down only on grounded surfaces, use ESD-suitable packaging, no plastic objects on the table.
- During work: do not take off the grounding. Report anything unusual immediately.
- After work: first leave the workstation, then release the grounding.
- Care: no fabric softener, wash separately, dry according to the care instruction. Replace when wear is visible.
More in the guide on grounding of the person and in the guide on care and selection.
Standards, changes and minimum requirements
Standards are published and revised in editions. What matters for selection is the currently valid version. The following overview shows the development as far as it is documented in public sources.
| Year | Event | Meaning in practice |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Edition 08-2001 of IEC 61340-5-1 (predecessor) | Older version. Sources give a limit of at most 35 MΩ for the wrist strap system. This value no longer applies as the current limit; check the version. |
| 2008 | DIN EN 1149-5:2008 (German version) | Material and construction requirements for dissipative protective clothing |
| 2016 | EN 61340-5-1:2016 (IEC 61340-5-1 Ed. 2.0) | Revision of the ESD standard, product qualification added, packaging requirements moved to IEC 61340-5-3 |
| 2017 | DIN EN 61340-5-1 (July 2017) | German version of the 2016 edition; check the currently valid version with Beuth Verlag |
| 2018 | Regulation (EU) 2016/425 applies from 21 April 2018 | New PPE Regulation, transition until 21 April 2019 |
| 2023 | Old certificates under Directive 89/686/EEC no longer valid | Deadline for existing products with old EC type-examination certificate expired (21 April 2023, with exceptions) |
| 2024 | E DIN EN IEC 61340-5-1 (draft, February 2024) and PPE guidelines of the EU Commission, 4th edition | Draft with additions on definitions and product qualification. Guidelines with updates on reflective elements and ergonomics |
The sources contradict one another on specific resistance values per edition. Take binding limit values from the standard text of the currently valid version. This page does not state any limit values as verified.
Classification as PPE: ESD clothing protects primarily the product, not the person. Whether it counts as personal protective equipment depends on the application and should be clarified with the occupational safety specialist.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment, EUR-Lex (English) (Official Journal of the EU, Article 47 on the transitional arrangement)
- DIN EN 61340-5-1, Beuth/DIN Media (standard page with edition 2017-07)
- IEC 61340-5-1:2016, IEC Webstore (original edition)
- E DIN EN IEC 61340-5-1 (VDE 0300-5-1):2024-02, DKE (draft standard)
- DIN EN 1149-5:2008, Beuth/ANSI Webstore (standard page, German)
- PPE guidelines of the EU Commission, 4th edition 2024 (English, PDF) (secondary copy; check the original on the EU Commission's site)
- DPV Elektronik, requirements for personnel grounding under DIN EN 61340-5-1 (technical article, check values against the standard)
The selection takes publicly available sources into account. For legally binding statements, the standards texts and the regulation in the original are decisive.
Frequently asked questions
Is ESD clothing alone enough?
No. The clothing works only with a grounded person and a grounded workstation. It complements the system.
May I wash ESD clothing with normal laundry?
Better not. Lint and fabric softener reduce conductivity. Wash separately and without fabric softener.
How do I recognise a suitable product?
From the details in the datasheet: standard, dissipative value, material and test conditions. A colour or a note on the label is not enough.
How often do I have to measure?
Your protection concept defines that. Measurements before the start of a shift and after modifications are usual.
Advice and samples
Tell us your application, the product group and the standard your site requires.
The brand family of DS SafetyWear Arbeitsschutzprodukte GmbH
Each brand leads in its category. ProSafe® ESD is a product line of the ProSafe® brand.
