Introduction
Kittiwake required a specialist anti static industrial floor for an ESD area at its Littlehampton facility, where the protection of electronic devices was critical. The existing concrete floor had already been diamond ground and coated, but the revised requirements for static control meant a new system was needed to meet strict ESD criteria. Elgood Industrial Flooring was appointed to remove the existing coating and install a 2 mm static dissipative floor in Pebble Grey RAL 7032, complete with a contrasting Grass Green walkway, with the full preparation and installation completed to schedule over four days.
Background
Kittiwake needed an industrial floor that would comply with the updated recommendations for environments where electrostatic discharge could damage sensitive electronic devices. The project centred on an ESD area where the flooring formed an important part of personnel grounding and static control.
The floor had to meet BS EN 61340-5-1:2001 for the protection of electronic devices, reflecting the tighter requirements introduced for floors used in primary grounding applications. Kittiwake also revised elements of their floor plan while the works were taking place, so flexibility and responsiveness on site were important.
Elgood Industrial Flooring was selected to deliver a specialist flooring solution that could satisfy the technical demands of the space while also providing a practical and clearly defined working layout.
The Challenge
The project needed to address several key requirements:
- Remove the existing coating from a concrete floor that had already been diamond ground and coated
- Install a static dissipative floor system capable of meeting Kittiwake’s strict ESD criteria
- Ensure the floor complied with BS EN 61340-5-1:2001 for the protection of electronic devices
- Provide a finish suited to a controlled laboratory-style environment
- Incorporate a contrasting walkway colour to improve visual organisation and safe movement
- Complete the works over an extended weekend period, with the final day used to lay the walkway in a contrasting colour
The Solution
Elgood Industrial Flooring specified and installed a specialist 2 mm static dissipative flooring system tailored to Kittiwake’s ESD area in Littlehampton.
Key elements of the solution included:
- Dust free shot-blasting
The existing coating was removed using dust free shot-blasting. This prepared the floor thoroughly and created a suitable base for the new anti static flooring system. - 2 mm static dissipative floor system
To meet the demands of the revised ESD recommendation, Elgood installed a specialist outsourced flooring material selected specifically for this type of application. The floor system was designed to meet the required static dissipative performance and provide a suitable finish for controlled technical environments. - System build-up for ESD performance
The installed system comprised a primer coat, a copper grid, a black conductive layer and the final flow coat. This build-up was chosen to provide the electrical performance needed for the area and to support the protection of sensitive electronic devices. - Pebble Grey floor with contrasting walkway
The main floor was finished in Pebble Grey RAL 7032, providing a clean, professional appearance. A Grass Green walkway from Elgood’s stock colour range was added in a contrasting colour to improve visual organisation and make circulation routes clearer within the area. - Laboratory-suited finish
The completed floor has a free and glossy surface, making it particularly suitable for laboratory-type conditions where cleanliness and presentation are important.
The preparation and installation were completed to schedule in four days, with the fourth day required to lay the walkway in the contrasting colour.
Outcome
The completed anti static industrial floor has provided Kittiwake with a specialist ESD flooring solution in Littlehampton that supports both compliance and day-to-day use:
- A 2 mm static dissipative floor designed to meet strict ESD requirements
- Compliance with BS EN 61340-5-1:2001 for the protection of electronic devices
- A system build-up including primer, copper grid, black conductive layer and flow coat to deliver the required electrical performance
- A Pebble Grey main floor with a contrasting Grass Green walkway for improved visual organisation
- A free and glossy surface particularly suited to laboratory-style working conditions
- A four-day installation completed to schedule over an extended weekend period
By combining careful preparation with a purpose-selected static dissipative flooring system, Elgood Industrial Flooring delivered an anti static industrial floor that gives Kittiwake the controlled, compliant and practical ESD environment required at its Littlehampton facility.
