Macintosh Computers: Average Static Propensity Values

TECHINFO-0020375

TOPIC

A Customer is having carpet installed in their Macintosh computer lab room. The carpet company that will be installing the anti-static carpet wants to know what the average Static Propensity level Macintosh computers have as to not harm the computers in the case of static build up. Knowing this value would allow them to put in carpeting with sufficient anti-static capabilities.

Can you tell me what the average stactic Propensity level is for most Macintosh computers?

DISCUSSION

All Apple products are tested to comply with standard EC 55101-2. This ensures that Apple products are tested to withstand static electricity levels up to 15kv without permanent damage.

The level that is practical would be between 2kv to 4kv if the static is "directly" discharged to the product or 4kv to 8kv if "air" discharged (that is like a spark from your finger just before you touch something).

After researching the World Wide Web for "Static Propensity" we found that most carpet manufacturers list a level for Static Propensity in their carpet specifications. For example a specification for Mannington Commercial Carpet list the following: Static Propensity 3.0 kilovolts (kv) or Less as Tested in Accordance with AATCC-134, tested at 70 degrees Farenheit and 20 percent Relative Humidity. It is important to remember that static electricity increases in lower humidity environments.

While Apple cannot make a recommendation as to what static propensity level to look for when purchasing carpet, we can say that based on the static electric testing that Apple does, and the numbers specified that when looking for average values for most carpeting, it seems that 3kv would be an acceptable level.

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