Jim, The best rule to use is that it's never safe, unless you're properly grounded. ESD charges can be transmitted to components whether they are alone, in an PCB, in a ESD bag or in a finished chassis assembly. Handle everything with this attitude, and you should have no problems. Don't let anyone try to get away with the other attitude of 'It's a passive component (resistor/cap/etc), so I don't need to be protected". This implements a dual standard, and allows for people to forget when they are handling ESD sensitive devices. Implement a consistent, across the floor, ESD policy from the receiving dock all the way through to the shipping dock, and enforce it mercilessly. Mike McMonagle PCA Process Engineering Supervisor K*Tec Electronics 1111 Gillingham Lane Sugar Land, TX 77478 (281) 243-5639 Phone (281) 243-5539 Fax [log in to unmask] > -----Original Message----- > From: West, Jim [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Thursday, April 22, 1999 10:28 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [TN] Boards sensitive to ESD > > Hello all, > > It seems to me that everyone may have a different opinion concerning > the > handling of ESD sensitive boards. The questions that I ask people and > the > question that I get asked often is, when is the sensitive part safe. > 1. > After you attach to the board, 2. After you attach to the board and > apply > it's power source, 3. or after it is enclosed in it's housing or case? > I > have seen different answers from everyone even the ESD specialist like > 3M. > If anyone could add any insight I would really appreciate it. > > Thanks, > > Jim West > Manufacturing Engineer > PROMARK ELECTRONICS > > ################################################################ > TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV > 1.8c > ################################################################ > To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with > following text in the body: > To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> > To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet > ################################################################ > Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" > section for additional information. > For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or > 847-509-9700 ext.312 > ################################################################ ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################