WG 15.0 – Gloves

The WG continued discussions on industry test methods for triboelectrification testing for gloves.

The working group discussed establishing a limit for ESD glove qualification based on industry input and possible new technical report activities on other topics.

Discuss feedback on conducting Various Test Methods for WG15 TR “ESD Glove and Finger Cots” implementation that could cross over to TR53 “Compliance Verification of ESD Protective Equipment and Materials”.

An Ad Hoc Team was formed, and an Ad Hoc Meeting (sidebar) will take place in Mid May 2022 to discuss this further.

The WG reviewed a new proposed TR “ESD Gloves and Finger Cots” Test Methods. Triboelectrification was also discussed as well as shielding of gloves versus CAFE resistance.

The committee discussed the reasons for using two-cylinder electrodes for compliance verification within the EPA:

• Measures operators wearing gloves using two stainless steel cylinders that are cleaned with IPA 70%.
• Affords measuring both types of gloves that are conductive or static dissipative.
• Method is not a replacement when a wriststrap is worn on one hand, and the other hand holds the stainless steel cylinder.

Two members are moving forward on investigating the breakdown voltage for ESD safe gloves.

There was a long discussion on proposing limits for gloves in ANSI/ESD S20.20 using ANSI/ESD STM15.1. The WG discussed defining different guideline recommendations with various glove types. A survey will be conducted with predetermined questions to end users and glove suppliers to address why is there no glove resistance limits in ANSI/ESD S20.20.

A presentation on the Limits for Gloves was given. The WG reviewed the industry survey, which showed that it was overwhelmingly in favor of limits, with several additional comments on the need for charging limits. There was a lively discussion on the limits and the importance of them. Also, the importance of triboelectrification or charge generation to prevent CDM and other various test methods was discussed.

The group started the five-year review of ANSI/ESD STM15.1.

The group continued the five-year review of ANSI/ESD STM15.1.

Summary of discussions/activities/document reviews during the most recent WG meeting.

• Focused on the 5-year review of ANSI/ESD STM15.1.
• Review has been completed through the main body of the document and the next meeting will focus on completing the Annex reviews.
• Discussion in the meeting on options to verify the setup before starting testing. WG will need to determine the best options to address this and add it to WIP15.1 as part of this update.

A presentation was given on various testing methods. A task team will begin working on compiling test methods for triboelectrification testing, resistance verification​, breakdown voltage​, decay​, and charge retention.

Summary of meeting activities: 

The group reviewed industry acceptance of the newly released ANSI/ESD STM15.1-2019. A decision was made to table discussion on charge retention. There was also a review of several electrostatic decay testing methods currently being utilized in industry using a 1” x 1” charge plate, 3.25” x 3.25” charge plate and 6” x 6” charge plate to verify glove performance during audits and assessments along with using the CAFE fixture with a charge plate for decay measurements. WG15 efforts will focus on compliance verification not qualification testing for a future technical report incorporating such methods and more.

Summary of meeting activities:

ANSI/ESD STM15.1 was published between meeting series. The working group discussed possible test methods and industry practices for inclusion in a new technical report. A presentation was given on a technical assessment to BMDS hardware due to personnel protective equipment.

Summary of meeting activities:

Discussion was held on the next steps/direction to address triboelectric charging on gloves/finger cots. Consensus was there is some value in pursuing this topic and members were asked to share the current method they are using before the June meeting series.

Summary of meeting activities:

The working group adjudicated industry review comments on ESD DSTM15.1. A discussion was held on new considerations for various charge retention and charge generation of gloves. The group will explore a method of evaluation of thermo resistance gloves.

Summary of meeting activities:

The committee adjudicated STDCOM vote comments on ESD WIP15.1 and plan to distribute the document for industry review between meetings.

Summary of meeting activities:

The committee adjudicated TAS comments on ESD WIP15.1 and plan to distribute the document to STDCOM for vote between meetings. A new technical report on various charge generation or charge retention methods was also discussed.

Summary of meeting activities:

The committee reviewed further changes to ESD WIP15.1 and will submit to TAS before the April meeting series.

Summary of meeting activities:

A presentation was given discussing experiments conducted that showed the need for glove testing at both 12% and 50% RH. The final round robin data was presented and has been approved by TAS to support elevating ANSI/ESD SP15.1 to a standard test method. The WG reviewed the current document and will submit to TAS before the winter virtual meeting series.

Summary of meeting activities:

The working group reviewed a brief history of the WG for new guests. Then a discussion was held on the current status of the round robin data; further data points are required. The group continued reviewing revisions to ESD WIP15.1.

Summary of meeting activities:

The working group reviewed a brief history of the WG for new guests. Then a presentation was given on data collected for surface resistance testing of nitrile gloves in comparison to the current procedures in ANSI/ESD SP15.1. Also, bare finger CAFÉ’ testing using various resistance meters at both 10 and 100 volts was conducted. Reference to ANSI/ESD STM11.11, ANSI/ESD STM11.12, and ANSI/ESD STM11.13 will be added to the updated document. New data was collected from one of the round robin test labs and will be resubmitted to the statistics committee for review. The WG adjudicated TAS comments on the document and will resubmit for another TAS review.

Summary of meeting activities:

A brief history of the WG was presented to attendees. The committee reviewed and adjudicated technical comments from the technical and advisory support committee on the revisions made during the five-year review of ANSI/ESD SP15.1. Further discussions will take place at the April face-to-face meeting series.

Summary of meeting activities:

A presentation was given on data collected through tests using an ohmmeter versus SRM as justification to remove the resistance meter test method from ANSI/ESD SP15.1. The working group completed the revisions to ANSI/ESD SP15.1 to redesignate the document as a standard test method. The document will be submitted to the Technical and Administrative Support committee in October.

Summary of meeting activities:

The statistics committee presented the round robin testing results. The statistics committee concluded that the test methods in ANSI/ESD SP15.1 are repeatable and reproducible; and the document can be re-designated as a standard test method. The working group started reviewing the current standard practice document and making the necessary revisions to submit the document to TAS for review. The working group also discussed the validity of ESD TR15.0-01-99 - ESD Glove and Finger Cots. Members were asked to review the document and be prepared to discuss recommendations for revision or withdrawal at the September face-to-face meeting.

Summary of meeting activities:

The committee reviewed the results of the completed round robin testing that will be submitted to the statistics committee for review before the July meeting series.

Summary of meeting activities:

The committee discussed the status of the round robin testing. Testing at a minimum of four labs is expected to be completed by the April meeting series; one lab has completed all of the testing to date.

Summary of meeting activities:

The committee discussed the status of the round robin testing. Testing at a minimum of four labs is expected to take place in November 2016.

Summary of meeting activities:

The history of WG 15 was presented to the attendees as well as the current status of the two documents the working group is currently developing. The committee then worked to finalize plans for the round robin currently scheduled to take place in August in an effort to redesignate ANSI/ESD SP15.1 to a standard test method.

Summary of meeting activities:

The WG discussed the impending round robin test to determine if the data obtained by the test method in ANSI/ESD SP15.1 is repeatable and reproducible; if so the document will be re-designated as a standard test method. The 15.2 subcommittee is gathering additional test methods for measuring triboelectric charge on gloves and finger cots. The previous work-in-progress document will be rewritten to include the new information and published as a technical report instead of a standard practice.

Summary of meeting activities:

The 15.1 subcommittee is developing a round robin test to determine if ANSI/ESD SP15.1 should be redesignated as a standard test method. The 15.2 subcommittee is gathering additional test methods for measuring triboelectric charge on gloves and finger cots and will be revising ESD WIP15.2.