IEC TR 61340-5-2:2007

IEC/TR 61340-5-2
Edition 1.0 2007-08
TECHNICAL
REPORT
RAPPORT
TECHNIQUE
Electrostatics –
Part 5-2: Protection of electronic devices from electrostatic phenomena –
User guide
Electrostatique –
Partie 5-2: Protection des dispositifs électroniques contre les phénomènes
électrostatiques – Guide d’utilisation

IEC/TR 61340-5-2:2007
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IEC/TR 61340-5-2
Edition 1.0 2007-08
TECHNICAL
REPORT
RAPPORT
TECHNIQUE
Electrostatics –
Part 5-2: Protection of electronic devices from electrostatic phenomena –
User guide
Electrostatique –
Partie 5-2: Protection des dispositifs électroniques contre les phénomènes
électrostatiques – Guide d’utilisation

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
XB
CODE PRIX
ICS 17.220.99; 29.020 ISBN 2-8318-9175-2

– 2 – TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.4

INTRODUCTION.6

1 Scope.8

2 Normative references .8

3 Terms and definitions .9

4 ESD control program plan .9

4.1 Developing an ESD control program plan .9
4.1.1 Assignment of an ESD coordinator .9
4.1.2 Determination of part ESD sensitivity.9
4.1.3 Initial process and organizational assessment .9
4.1.4 Documentation of ESD control program plan .10
4.1.5 Tailoring .11
4.2 Development of a training plan .11
4.2.1 Personnel training .11
4.3 Development of a compliance verification plan .13
4.3.1 Introduction .13
4.3.2 ESD control items.13
4.3.3 Verification frequency.14
4.3.4 Type of verifications .14
4.3.5 ESD control item limits .14
4.3.6 Test methods.14
4.3.7 Test equipment.15
4.3.8 Auditor skills.15
4.3.9 Reporting of audit findings.15
4.4 Grounding/bonding systems .18
4.4.1 Introduction .18
4.4.2 Basic grounding requirements .18
4.4.3 Additional grounding considerations .20
4.4.4 Verification of ESD grounding system.21
4.4.5 Verification of proper installation of ESD control items.22
4.5 Personnel grounding .22

4.5.1 System requirements.22
4.5.2 Wrist strap system.23
4.5.3 Footwear-flooring system .23
4.6 Protected areas (EPA).25
4.7 ESD control items .26
4.7.1 Work surfaces .26
4.7.2 Wrist straps .29
4.7.3 Static protective floor materials .33
4.7.4 Footwear .38
4.7.5 Static protective seating .39
4.7.6 Ionization.40
4.7.7 Garments .51
4.7.8 Storage racks and shelving.54
4.7.9 Mobile equipment .55

TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007 – 3 –
4.8 Packaging electronic products for shipment and storage .56

4.8.1 Introduction and purpose .56

4.8.2 Definitions .56

4.8.3 Selecting/designing the right package .57

4.9 Marking .60

4.9.1 Marking of assemblies and equipment .60

4.9.2 Marking of packaging .61

4.9.3 Other marking considerations .62

Annex A (informative) Example ESD control document based on IEC 61340-5-1 .63
Annex B (informative) ESD control element considerations .69

Figure 1 – Example audit report showing current status of ESD program .16
Figure 2 – Example audit report showing target for manufacturing line.17
Figure 3 – Example audit report showing audit trend report.17
Figure 4a – North American electrical power system.19
Figure 4b – Malaysia electrical power system .19
Figure 4c – UK electrical power system – Single phase system .19
Figure 4 – Country-specific electrical power systems .19
Figure 5 –Example of individually grounded benches - Recommended.20
Figure 6 – Example of a series ground connection of benches – Not recommended.21
Figure 7 – Relationship between body voltage and resistance to ground.23
Figure 8 – Voltage reading on person walking across grounded conductive floor whilst
wearing two heelstraps .24
Figure 9 – Ionization by alpha radiation .42
Figure 10 – Corona ionization – Positive.42
Figure 11 – Corona ionization – Negative .42
Figure 12 – ESD sensitive part or assembly.61
Figure 13 – Example of a warning label for ESDS .61
Figure 14 – Example of a packaging label.62
Figure 15 – ESD material marking .62
Figure A.1 – Sign indicating special handling conditions .66

Figure A.2 – Label indicating product is ESD sensitive.67
Figure B.1a – Example 1.70
Figure B.1b – Example 2.70
Figure B.1c – Example 3.71
Figure B.1 – Voltage generated for three types of footwear all on the same flooring
system .71

Table 1 – Type of wrist strap bands .30
Table 2 – Ionizer selection checklist .46
Table A.1 – ESD control program audits requirements .65

– 4 – TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
ELECTROSTATICS –
Part 5-2: Protection of electronic devices

from electrostatic phenomena –

User guide
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

The main task of IEC technical committees is to prepare International Standards. However, a
technical committee may propose the publication of a technical report when it has collected
data of a different kind from that which is normally published as an International Standard, for
example "state of the art".
IEC 61340-5-2, which is a technical report, has been prepared by IEC technical committee
101: Electrostatics.
This version cancels and replaces the first edition, which was issued as a technical
specification in 1999. It constitutes a technical revision.

TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007 – 5 –
The main changes with respect to the previous edition are listed below:

This version of IEC 61340-5-2 has been modified to provide guidance for users of
IEC 61340-5-1. The text has been arranged to follow the requirements of IEC 61340-5-1 as
closely as possible as well as providing specific guidance on each of the requirements of

IEC 61340-5-1.
The text of this technical report is based on the following documents:

Enquiry draft Report on voting

101/219/CDV 101/233/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts in the IEC 61340 series, under the general title Electrostatics, can be found on
the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in
the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
The contents of the corrigendum of May 2009 have been included in this copy.

– 6 – TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007
INTRODUCTION
This user guide and has been produced for individuals and organizations that are faced with

controlling electrostatic discharge (ESD). It provides guidance that can be used for

developing, implementing and monitoring an electrostatic discharge control program in

accordance with IEC 61340-5-1.

This user guide applies to 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 V

using the human body model (HBM). The 100 V HBM limit was selected for IEC 61340-5-1 as

the baseline susceptibility threshold, since a large majority of the ESD products on the market
have a sensitivity of greater than 100 V.
The limits established for each of the ESD control items are specified for an ESD program
designed for 100 V HBM devices. The 100 V value is predicated on maximum voltage levels
attainable on an individual when they are grounded via techniques accepted throughout the
electronics industry as outlined in IEC 61340-5-1.
For organizations concerned with charged device model damage, IEC 61340-5-1 establishes
requirements concerning the use of insulators in the ESD protected area (EPA) based on
maximum electrostatic field limits. This topic is addressed in more detail in 4.6.
The general principals described in IEC 61340-5-1 are not limited in their applicability to
ESDS with ESD sensitivities of 100 V or greater. For companies that handle ESDS with
sensitivities of less than 100 V (HBM), the general principals of IEC 61340-5-1 can still be
used. The organization may have to modify some of the required limits specified in Tables 2
to 4. The program documentation would then identify that ESDS with sensitivities of less than
100 V HBM were being handled and that this required a change to the limits established in
IEC 61340-5-1.
The fundamental ESD control principles that form the basis of IEC 61340-5-1 are as follows:
a) Avoid a discharge from any charged, conductive object (personnel, equipment) into the
device:
This can be accomplished by bonding or electrically connecting all conductors in the
environment, including personnel, to a known ground or contrived ground (as on shipboard
or on aircraft). This attachment creates an equipotential balance between all items and
personnel. Electrostatic protection can be maintained at a potential different from “zero”
voltage ground potential, as long as all items in the system are at the same potential.

b) Avoid a discharge from any charged ESD sensitive device (the charging can result from
direct contact and separation or can be field induced):

Necessary insulators in the environment cannot lose their electrostatic charge by
attachment to ground. Ionization systems provide neutralization of charges on these
necessary insulators (circuit board materials and some device packages are examples of
necessary insulators). Assessment of the ESD hazard created by electrostatic charges on
the necessary insulators in the work place is required to ensure that appropriate actions
are implemented, according to the risk.
c) Once outside of an electrostatic discharge protected area (hereafter referred to as an
EPA) it is often not possible to control the above items, therefore, ESD protective
packaging may be required.
ESD protection can be achieved by enclosing ESD sensitive products in static protective
materials, although the type of material depends on the situation and destination. Inside

TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007 – 7 –
an EPA, low charging and static dissipative materials may provide adequate protection.

Outside an EPA, low charging and static discharge shielding materials are recommended.

While all of these materials are not discussed in this standard, it is important to recognize

the differences in their application.

– 8 – TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007
ELECTROSTATICS –
Part 5-2: Protection of electronic devices

from electrostatic phenomena –

User guide
1 Scope
This technical report has been developed to support IEC 61340-5-1.
The controls and limits referenced in this standard were developed to protect devices that are
susceptible to discharges of 100 V or greater using the human body model test method.
However, the general concepts are still valid for devices that are susceptible to discharges of
less than 100 V.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60749-26, Semiconductor devices – Mechanical and climatic test methods – Part 26:
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitivity testing – Human body model (HBM)
IEC 61340-2-1 – Electrostatics – Part 2-1: Measurement methods – Ability of materials and
products to dissipate static electric charge
IEC 61340-2-3 – Electrostatics – Part 2-3:Methods of test for determining the resistance and
resistivity of solid planar materials used to avoid electrostatic charge accumulation
IEC 61340-4-1 – Electrostatics – Part 4-1:Standard test methods for specific applications –
Electrostatic resistance of flloor coverings and installed floors
IEC 61340-4-3 – Electrostatics – Part 4-3:Standard test methods for specific applications –
Footwear
IEC 61340-4-5 - Electrostatics – Part 4-5:Standard test methods for specific applications –
Methods for characterizing the electrostatic protection of footwear and flooring in combination
with a person
IEC 61340-5-1, Electrostatics – Part 5-1: Protection of electronic devices from electrostatic
phenomena – General requirements
ANSI/ESD STM2.1, Standard Test Method for the protection of electrostatic discharge
susceptible items – Garments
ANSI/ESD STM3.1, Standard Test Method for the electrostatic discharge susceptible items -
Ionization
TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007 – 9 –
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions of IEC 61340-5-1 apply.

4 ESD control program plan
This clause outlines a step-by-step approach that can be used to establish an ESD control

Program.
4.1 Developing an ESD control program plan

4.1.1 Assignment of an ESD coordinator
In order to have a well thought out and implemented ESD program an ESD coordinator must
be assigned. The ESD coordinator is responsible for all aspects of ESD in the facility. In order
to be effective the ESD coordinator needs:
a) the full support of management;
b) a good understanding of electrostatics and how ESD sensitive devices can be damaged.
The ESD coordinator will often need to attend educational classes or seminars related to
ESD in order to maintain or update their knowledge;
c) a thorough understanding of IEC 61340-5-1 and all of the organization’s processes related
to the handling of ESD sensitive devices.
d) access to measuring equipment for the purposes of performing compliance verification
audits as well as testing new ESD products and materials for use in the ESD program;
e) depending on the size of the facility, the ESD coordinator might also need to have auditors
assigned to conduct the ESD audits.
Finally, management must provide the ESD coordinator with the authority and funding
necessary to ensure that the ESD control program is maintained and enforced.
4.1.2 Determination of part ESD sensitivity
The next step in developing an ESD control program plan is to determine the part, assembly
or equipment sensitivity level under which the plan is to be developed. Although the
requirements outlined in IEC 61340-5-1 are effective for handling parts sensitive to 100 V
HBM or higher, the organization may choose to develop an ESD program based on ESD
sensitivities that are greater or less than 100 V HBM. In this situation, the organization must
develop an ESD control program plan that clearly states the ESD sensitivity that the program
is based on.
The organization can use various methods to determine the ESD sensitivity of the products
that are to be handled. Some of the methods include:
• assumption that all ESD products have an HBM sensitivity of 100 V;
• actual testing of ESD sensitive devices to establish the ESD sensitivity thresholds using
IEC 60749-26;
• referencing ESD sensitivity data in published documents such as manufacturer’s
published data sheets.
4.1.3 Initial process and organizational assessment
Before the ESD control program plan can be developed, an initial assessment of the
processes and organizations impacted by an ESD control program should be conducted.
Organizations and processes that might be affected include:
• purchasing;
– 10 – TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007

• design engineering;
• receiving inspection;
• quality assurance;
• manufacturing;
• testing;
• maintenance;
• packaging and shipping;
• field service;
• failure analysis;
• repair services;
• spare parts storage;
• material handling and parts conveyance;
• receiving.
An assessment of each area where ESDS parts are handled should be conducted in order to
determine ESD hazards and possible ESD process procedures. The information accumulated
throughout these steps forms the basis for developing the ESD control program plan.
4.1.4 Documentation of ESD control program plan
After gathering the above information, the organization is in a position to begin documenting
the program plan. The plan should state the scope of the program which includes the tasks,
activities and procedures necessary to protect the ESD sensitive items at or above the ESD
sensitivity level chosen for the plan. Although the primary focus of the plan is to outline
strategies for meeting the administrative and technical elements of IEC 61340-5-1, other
items may be beneficial to incorporate as well. These additional items might include:
• organizational responsibilities;
• defined roles and responsibilities between the organization and subcontractors and
suppliers;
• strategies for monitoring product yields and processes that might be important in
determining the effectiveness of ESD control measures currently in place or in assessing
whether additional measures should be taken;
• approaches for ensuring continual improvement of the ESD program;
• a list of approved ESD control products and materials.

The administrative and technical elements of IEC 61340-5-1 that need to be addressed in the
plan (unless tailored) include:
• training plan;
• compliance verification plan;
• technical requirements;
• grounding/bonding systems;
• personnel grounding;
• protected areas;
• packaging;
• marking.
TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007 – 11 –

4.1.5 Tailoring
It is possible that portions of IEC 61340-5-1 may not apply to all areas within an organization.

In these situations it is acceptable for the organization to document an exception to one or

more of the required elements of IEC 61340-5-1 as long as there is a valid, substantiated and

documented justification for the exception. An example of an acceptable exception to
IEC 61340-5-1 can be found in the sample ESD program at the end of this standard.

4.2 Development of a training plan

4.2.1 Personnel training
Personnel training is a critical element in the implementation of an ESD control program. A
sustained commitment and mindset among all personnel that ESD prevention is a valuable,
on-going effort by everyone is one of the primary goals of training.
One of the first decisions that must be made is who will be required to take the ESD training
course. IEC 61340-5-1 requires that, at a minimum, initial and recurrent ESD training shall be
provided to all personnel that handle or otherwise come into contact with ESD sensitive items.
This decision seems straight-forward but care shall be taken to ensure that all people that
handle ESD sensitive devices receive adequate training. One example is the finance
department. Many people will immediately state that this group should be exempt from ESD
training. However, in some companies the finance department personnel are involved in the
annual physical inventory where parts are counted. In these situations, the finance employees
are touching ESD sensitive parts and therefore must receive ESD training in order for the
organization to be in compliance with IEC 61340-5-1.
Although it is not a requirement of IEC 61340-5-1, the organization may want to consider
providing some form of ESD training to personnel who do not handle ESD sensitive parts such
as:
• managers, who may need to understand the implications of, and necessity for ESD
prevention;
• cleaning and maintenance personnel who may need to work within the EPA; and
• purchasing personnel responsible for buying ESD susceptible parts and ESD equipment.
For visitors to the EPA, the person escorting the visitor is responsible for ensuring that they
are wearing the ESD equipment required by the organization and that they understand what
they may and may not do within the EPA.
Although personnel training can take several forms (i.e. instructor, computer based, etc.), the
preferred technique for initial training is through the use of an instructor. Special care should
be exercised in finding a "suitable" instructor. The instructor should have a good
understanding of ESD theory and the organization’s ESD control program and the processes,
procedures and materials prescribed within. In addition, if manufacturing spans more than one
culture, careful consideration shall be given to customs and religious beliefs. Besides cultural
differences, other factors such as education, experience and age should be considered. All
training should be carried out in a secure, non-threatening environment.
One of the first steps is to determine the type(s) of ESD training methods that will work best
for the organization. Some possible training methods include:
• in-house, instructor-led ESD class;
• in-house, consultant-led class;
• computer based training;
• industry symposia, tutorials and workshops.

– 12 – TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007

The initial training program should cover the fundamentals of ESD, the details of the

organization’s ESD control program plan, and each person's role in the ESD program. The

training program should answer the following basic questions:

• what is static electricity?
• how does it occur?
• how does ESD affect product quality?

A careful explanation of the protection process as part of company policy should be included.

No matter which type of training method is chosen, the program should be designed so that

all trainee questions that arise can be answered. In addition, a knowledgeable person in the

organization should be available to answer trainee questions once they have begun working.
Opening the lines of communication is the beginning of a successful ESD training program.
This type of communication should continue in the workplace and form the basis for an
ongoing education process. It is a requirement in IEC 61340-5-1 that initial ESD training is
provided before personnel handle ESD sensitive devices.
Because ESD control programs cover such a variety of job disciplines and educational levels,
it may be necessary to develop special job specific training modules. Advanced modules
should emphasize the main concerns of each discipline. Course emphasis should be tailored
to each group's specific needs. For example, the modules developed for management,
engineering, technicians, cleaning staff and field service could differ significantly because
their day-to-day concerns and responsibilities are much different.
Ongoing or refresher training is also vital to any organization’s training plan. It should
reinforce the basic fundamentals taught during initial training, but also should incorporate
program updates and changes and the reasons for those changes. As with the initial training,
the organization shall decide which type of training will be used and how frequently the
recurring training will be required. The method chosen should keep everyone informed,
renewing his or her commitment to the total ESD effort. Recurring training is also a good
feedback loop for monitoring the program’s effectiveness. Personnel should be encouraged to
discuss issues, and make suggestions for improvement in these sessions. Actions can then
be assigned to improve the organization’s overall ESD control program.
After training (initial or recurring) sessions have been completed, it is important to ensure that
the trainee understands and has retained the ESD control program concepts taught during
these sessions. IEC 61340-5-1 requires that an objective evaluation technique be
incorporated as part of the training plan. This can be accomplished in a number of ways that
include written tests, question and answer sessions with an instructor or multiple choice
questions at the conclusion of a computer based training session. Regardless of the method
selected, the organization should establish a pass/fail criterion for the testing to ensure
adequate training has been accomplished. Records of all test results should be maintained.

The test records should be stored such that they are readily available to management and
customers who want objective evidence that the training portion of the ESD control program
plan is being adhered to.
Finally, since IEC 61340-5-1 requires recurring or “refresher” training, a system should be
established to highlight when employees are due for retesting and/or recertification.
A repository or central information source of educational ESD control materials should be kept
for reference at anytime by organization employees. This repository might include:
• material from initial and recurring training sessions;
• ESD bulletins or newsletters;
• videos or CDs;
• computer-based training materials;
• technical papers, studies, standards and specifications;

TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007 – 13 –

• ESD control material and equipment product sheets.

4.3 Development of a compliance verification plan

4.3.1 Introduction
This subclause will discuss the importance of having a properly implemented compliance

verification plan and its role in maintaining a successful ESD control program.

In order for the ESD control program to be successful it is essential to develop a plan for on-

going surveillance. The plan shall identify

• the ESD control items that will be used,
• how often the item will be checked to ensure that it meets specification and the type of
audits,
• the acceptable limits for each ESD control item used,
• the test methods that will be used by the auditors to verify that each ESD control item is
within established parameters,
• the equipment that will be used to check the various ESD control items,
• who will make the audit measurements,
• what will be done if an out of compliance situation occurs.
4.3.2 ESD control items
There are many ways to establish an ESD control program. A program can range from a very
simple, low cost or basic system to a highly complex control program that uses a variety of
control items that provide redundancy in the event that the primary ESD control element(s)
were to fail.
A basic ESD control program might include the following items:
a) a grounded work surface;
b) personnel grounded through a wrist strap system;
c) ESD protective packaging to move ESDS from one process step to the next.

A complex ESD control program might include the following items:
1) grounded work surfaces;
2) personnel grounded through constant wrist strap monitor;

3) personnel grounded to a static control floor through ESD footwear;
4) personnel wearing grounded ESD garments;
5) air ionization at each workstation.
The decision to use a basic versus a complex ESD control program is a matter of company
choice. Some of the considerations are: value of the products being manufactured, product
reliability requirements imposed by the customer and the ESD sensitivity of the devices being
handled. One type of program is not necessarily any better than the other as each can be
effective in protecting ESD sensitive devices.
Once the ESD control items have been defined and implemented, the organization should
develop an audit checklist. In order to establish meaningful data concerning improving or
deteriorating ESD program trends, it is necessary for auditors to audit each area consistently
every time. Many organizations find that properly designed checklists help improve audit
consistency.
– 14 – TR 61340-5-2 © IEC:2007

4.3.3 Verification frequency
The frequency for checking the function of ESD control elements is dependent on a number of

factors such as how often the item is used, the item’s durability and the impact on the ESD

control program if the control item were to fail. As an example, wrist straps are often used as

the primary ground for personnel. A wrist cord, whilst being worn, is subjected to thousands of
stretch/bend cycles each day and the conductive wire(s) in the wrist cord will eventually

break. The typical verification frequency, used by industry, for wrist cords is once per shift

due to the wrist cord’s importance to the success of the program and the likelihood of failure.

Some organizations may want to increase the time between verifications of an ESD control

item after it has been in use for a period of time. This is typically done by monitoring the

failures of the ESD control item. Once the organization has evidence that there is an
acceptable period of time where no failures were found, the time between verifications can be
increased. The new verification interval is then monitored. If an unacceptable level of failures
is identified, then the verification frequency should revert back to the previous level.
4.3.4 Type of verifications
There are several types of verifications in use by industry today. These verifications are often
used in combination to maximize the effectiveness of the ESD program.
4.3.4.1 Visual verifications
Visual verifications are used by companies to check the general state of the EPA. They can
be used by employees at the start of the shift to ensure that all ground wires are in place and
that unnecessary static generators have been removed from the workplace. Visual
verifications can also be used by management and supervisory personnel to ensure that
employees are following organization guidelines with respect to daily testing of wrist straps,
the proper wearing of ESD garments and the correct wearing of wrist straps and ESD
footwear. A visual verification is often a good indication of whether or not an ESD program is
being followed.
4.3.4.2 Measurement verifications
Most organizations rely on verifying that the ESD control elements function through the use of
actual measurements. These types of verifications are carried out by specially trained
auditors using equipment that has been selected to properly measure each ESD control
element. Some organizations measure 100 % of each control element in use throughout the
factory while others perform verifications on a sample basis. The type of verification used is
up to the organization implementing IEC 61340-5-1 as long as it proves to be effective.
4.3.5 ESD control item limits
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