In spaces where electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a concern, particularly during colder months, the importance of static-safe winter clothing can’t be understated. Whether you’re working in a warehouse, electronics manufacturing facility or any space with sensitive equipment, ensuring you have proper anti-static garments is critical.
Winter complicates this further – cold temperatures make traditional ESD overalls insufficient for comfort and warmth, which is why static-safe winter clothing is important to consider.
What is ESD?
As many who work in the industry will know, static electricity builds up when materials come into contact and are separated. In an ESD-sensitive area, like electronics production or storage, static charges can damage equipment or cause dangerous sparks. ESD safe clothing dissipates this charge, ensuring safety for you and for any sensitive components you’re working on.
Cold weather can exacerbate static build-up.
Static electricity tends to build up more rapidly in cold, dry air. This makes winter an especially difficult time for those working in static-sensitive environments.
In spaces like Electrostatic Protected Areas (EPAs) or warehouses, the dry air combined with the insulating properties of synthetic clothing can lead to unexpected and damaging ESD. To combat this, winter-specific ESD clothing is designed to prevent the accumulation of static charges.
Winter-Focussed ESD Safe Clothing Can Help
Static-safe winter clothing combines warmth with ESD protection, making sure staff remain comfortable without risking damage to the electronics they’re working with. Many industries, especially those involved in handling components or operating in EPAs, face the challenge of keeping staff warm without sacrificing ESD control.
Static-safe winter clothing isn’t just about protecting equipment.
It can also increase your efficiency. Workers who feel cold and uncomfortable are likely to be less productive. By providing them with ESD-safe clothing that keeps them warm, you’re ensuring your staff can focus on the task at hand without worrying about the difficulties of ESD.
How Does ESD Clothing Work?
ESD clothing works by incorporating conductive fibres into the fabric, which enables static electricity to disperse safely through the garment instead of building up on the surface.
Typically, these fibres are blended with polyester, which adds durability and strength to the clothing. For winter wear, the addition of insulating layers like fleece linings ensures the wearer remains warm while working in cold conditions.
Who Needs Static-Safe Winter Clothing?
Winter anti-static clothing is useful in a range of sectors and industries. It’s especially important in environments where workers are regularly in contact with sensitive electronics.
Electronics Manufacturing and Assembly
Employees working in electronics production environments need ESD-safe clothing to protect the components they handle and the larger systems they contribute to. Sensitive electronics can be easily damaged by an electrostatic discharge, leading to costly repairs to replacements and delaying production times.
Warehouse and Distribution Centres
Automation is a growing trend in warehouses, and this has made ESD safety more essential. Warehouses now employ a variety of electronics, from barcode scanners to automated inventory management systems. All these devices are vulnerable to electrostatic damage, particularly in the colder, drier months.
Research and Development Labs
Engineers and researchers dealing with sensitive electronics or hazardous materials need to prioritise static control. In an R&D setting, even a small discharge could compromise sensitive equipment. It might also damage valuable prototypes or cause errors in testing equipment.
Oil and Gas Processing
This industry carries a particularly dangerous environmental risk when it comes to ESD. With a higher risk of sparks igniting flammable gases or liquids, static-safe clothing is often legally mandated.
Data Centres
Data centre employees can often handle complex, delicate hardware. Static discharge in this workplace might corrupt data or negatively impact servers. This can lead to costly downtime for businesses and clients. ESD-safe clothing helps to maintain the integrity of the data being stored.
What Are the Different Types of Winter ESD Safe Clothing?
There are several different types of static-safe winter clothing available, each offering different protection and warmth benefits.
ESD Sweatshirts
VODEX’s ESD sweatshirts are designed for comfort and warmth, using a combination of polyester and conductive fibres to prevent static build-up. With their stylish design and functional ESD properties, these sweatshirts comply with industry standards, ensuring a perfect balance between warmth and static control.
ESD Fleeces
Fleeces are perfect for colder environments. VODEX’s ESD fleeces feature a blend of polyester and carbon fibres to keep you insulated while preventing the dangerous accumulation of static electricity. Available in practical colours like navy blue and grey, these fleeces are perfect for unisex use in industrial settings.
ESD Winter Coats and Body Warmers
For those working in extremely cold conditions, winter coats and body warmers offer the best protection. These combine fleece inners with ESD-safe outer material, giving you maximum warmth while adhering to ESD protection standards.
ESD Beanie Hats
Even your headgear can contribute to static build-up. VODEX’s anti-static beanies provide a simple solution to this, offering both warmth and static dissipation for workers in cold environments. The unisex design makes them a great choice for any workforce.
Looking for Static-Safe Winter Clothing for Your Business?
The clocks might be about to go back, but VODEX is already thinking ahead to winter. Don’t let your team get caught out by the cold, view our ESD winter clothing range now.
Whether you need coats, body warmers, sweatshirts, or even anti-static hats, our collection has everything you need to keep your team warm and static-safe. Compliant with EN 61340-5-1, these garments are perfect for cold EPAs, warehouses, or static-sensitive areas.
Get in touch with us today for more information or to place an order. Alternatively, visit our shop to order online.
