July 20, 2007 We have an OEM that has an ESD control program in place per the subject specification invoked via J-STD-001. However, my position is that he does not comply with the requirements since during his conformal coating hand spray process, he places the PWAs ontop of cardboard then sprays them with coating (no ionizer machine is used in the coating area). Additionally, sometimes ESD sensitive assemblies are placed on top of cardboard or wooden blocks during the assembly or inspection process. In all cases when wood or cardboard is used, the wood and cardboard rests ontop of a properly grounded ESD mat, and the operator is grounded via a properly connected wrist strap. I maintain that this practice violates the subject specification since wood and cardboard are insulating materials which are not to be used at the workstations, and if one took a surface insulation resistance measurement across the wood or cardboard surface, one would obviously not meet the value specified for a properly grounded mat. I would appreciate any comment on the above, and whether other folks use wood or cardboard upon which ESD assemblies rest. How do other folks support assemblies during conformal coating or assembly/inspection if wood or cardboard is not used? If the operator is properly grounded via a wrist strap, would any static charge that may exist on the cardboard or wood surface dissipate through the wrist strap without damage to the product? I suspect not otherwise there would be no need to require that the grounded mats be used. --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------