Eight Steps For Being S20.20 Compliant
For all of our ESD prevention, assessment and detection products, you’ll find a feature in the description that states something like this: “Meets ANSI/ESD S20.20…” or “In accordance with ANSI/ESD S20.20…” What does this mean, exactly? In order to meet the need for standard level products in the electronics industry, the ESD Association established the ANSI/ESD S20.20, which helps organizations design, implement and maintain an ESD program to protect all ESD-sensitive electrical parts, assemblies and equipment. There are eight steps to follow in order to become S20.20 compliant, and we’ll go over each one of them:
1. Training
All personnel who handle or even just come into contact with ESD sensitive items most have initial and recurrent ESD awareness and prevention training.
2. Product Qualification
This is conducted during the initial selection of ESD control items to ensure that all of the chosen ESD control items meet the plan requirements. This list of these items should be included on your ESD Control Plan, a controlled document approved by upper management.
3. Compliance Verification
The compliance verification plan identifies electrical properties needing checked, measurement limits, and test frequencies per manufacturer and industry recommendations.
4. Grounding/Equipotential Bonding Systems
In this step, you connect ESDS items, personnel and other conductors to the same electrical potential. The 3rd-wire AC electrical equipment ground is the preferred, recommended ground reference.
5. Personnel Grounding
The two options for grounding here are either wrist straps or heel grounders. If person will be seated, wrist straps must be the product of choice. A flooring system must also be installed if heel grounders are used.
6. ESD Protected Area (EPA) Requirements
You must handle ESDS items, parts, assemblies and equipment without ESD protective packaging in an EPA Protected Area with clear boundaries. The plans for these must evolve to keep pace with costs, device sensitivities and the way they are manufactured.
7. Packaging Systems
Define ESD protective packing requirements for both inside and outside the EPA. When you are moving ESD susceptible devices outside the protected area, you must package and enclose the device in an ESD shielding bag.
8. Marking
Mark ESDS items in accordance with other customer contracts, purchase orders, drawings or other documentation.
