1. What is an EPA area?

EPA stands for Electrostatic Proteced Area - protected area against electrostatic discharge. EPA protects electrostatically sensitive components (ESDS) from electrostatic discharge risks.

Typically – the areas where the EPA is set up includes:

- Electronic circuit board production (SMT) area

- Electronic circuit board assembly area (Assembly)

- Test area, check electronic circuit board

- Warehouse area for components, electronic circuit boards

- Input material and components inspection area (IQC)

In EPA, personnel and materials that conduct electricity and conduct static electricity must be bonded together and connected to ground in order to balance the charges between the objects. Particularly insulators need to neutralize the charge by an Ionized machine to avoid discharge.

2. How to set up an EPA region

To establish an electrostatic discharge protected area (EPA) – the following must be done:

- Identify areas that need protection against electrostatic discharge.

- Layout to define the boundaries of EPA

- Post warning signs for EPA control in the area.

- Implement grounding control for employees, desks, seats, trolleys, working floors, equipment

- Installation of grounding system

- Equipped with deionization device

- Make sure the partitions, curtains are ESD material

- Equipped with resistance measurement equipment to test bracelets, electrostatic vests, electrostatic mats, electrostatic shoes, desk mats...

- Print out regulations on ESD compliance requirements in the EPA area.

- Daily check for ESD compliance.

- Periodic (monthly) ESD compliance review

ESD tape to layout the EPA area

EPA Area Access Warning & EPA Area Attention Sign

3. Principles in the EPA region

For insulating objects: Complies with antistatic association standard ANSI/ESD S20.20. Using the DZ 4 electric field measuring device. If measuring electromagnetic fields greater than 2000V/inch on the surface of the object, the materials must be controlled to the closest distance of 30cm from the object to the sensitive components. feel ESDS. An insulated object when measuring electromagnetic fields higher than 125V/inch must be kept at least 2.5cm away from sensitive materials.

Electric field measuring device DZ4

For conductive materials: According to the principle of controlling static electricity in the factory, we must ground all conductive materials. For conductive materials but we cannot ground them, what should we do? For example, pliers, scissors, tweezers, metal hand tools… All these objects must be checked regularly or replaced with similar ones like ESD Pliers, ESD tweezers…

Fan ionizer is considered as a last resort to eliminate static electricity. The operation of the ionizer fan needs to be periodically monitored and measured. The fan ion balance level when measured with the ionizer DP tester must be within ±35V.

DP . ionizer meter

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