ProShieldESD for Explosive & ATEX Environments
Visible, repairable static control for hazardous and safety-critical environments
Explosive and hazardous environments need static control systems that remain reliable during real operation, not only during audits. In areas handling explosives, solvent vapours, powders, dusts, chemicals, or energetic materials, even a small electrostatic discharge can become an ignition source.
Traditional ESD flooring can create a hidden risk because the surface may look acceptable while conductivity has degraded, become uneven, or failed locally. This creates a gap between visual condition, periodic test results, and real safety performance.
ProShieldESD provides a different approach: filler-free, coating-based ESD control using Intrinsic Conducting Polymer technology. The system is designed to make ESD protection visible, maintainable, and repairable.
This diagram summarises where conventional ESD systems fail in explosive and ATEX environments.
ESD risks in explosive and ATEX environments and how visible, repairable static control reduces hidden failure
The Hidden Risk with Conventional ESD Flooring
Many conventional ESD flooring systems rely on carbon, graphite, or conductive filler networks. These systems can work initially, but performance may change over time due to wear, ageing, filler distribution, humidity, contamination, cleaning methods, or local surface damage.
- Conductivity may not be uniform across the full floor area
- Performance can vary with humidity and environmental conditions
- Ageing and wear can reduce ESD performance
- Localised cold spots can develop without being visible
- The floor may appear acceptable while static control has already failed
In explosive environments, the most dangerous ESD failure is often the one that cannot be seen.
The Audit Gap: Test Results vs Real Operating Risk
Periodic ESD testing is essential, but it cannot practically measure every point on every floor. Most inspections rely on selected test locations, which means hidden conductivity failures can remain undetected between test points.
There is also a wider industry issue where conductive cleaning chemicals or temporary surface treatments can improve readings before inspections. This can create acceptable audit results without proving stable long-term ESD performance.
For hazardous environments, the key question is not simply whether a surface can pass a test on the day. The critical question is whether the system remains stable, visible, and maintainable throughout normal operation.
How ProShieldESD Is Different
ProShieldESD uses Intrinsic Conducting Polymer technology rather than relying on carbon or graphite fillers. The conductive behaviour is built into the polymer system, supporting more uniform and controlled ESD performance across the coated surface.
- Filler-free ESD coating technology
- No carbon or graphite conductive filler network
- Homogeneous conductivity across the coated surface
- Stable ESD performance over time
- Reduced dependence on humidity compared with conventional systems
- Localised repair capability where damage occurs
This makes ProShieldESD suitable for applications where ESD performance must be controlled as part of a real operational safety system.
Visible ESD Control
One of the strongest practical advantages of ProShieldESD is that the ESD protection is linked to the physical coating condition. If the coating is intact, the ESD function is present. If the coating is damaged, the affected area can be seen and repaired.
- Damage is visually identifiable
- Maintenance teams can inspect the coating condition easily
- Localised repair can restore ESD performance
- Hidden loss of protection is reduced
- Inspection becomes more practical and process-led
Visible ESD control helps move static protection from occasional testing towards routine operational control.
Typical Explosive and Hazardous Environment Applications
ProShieldESD can be considered for areas where static electricity could contribute to ignition, process risk, product damage, or unsafe handling conditions. The wider ProShieldESD applications page explains how the platform can be used across different industrial environments.
- Ammunition and defence manufacturing facilities
- Explosives handling and storage areas
- Fireworks production and processing areas
- Chemical processing plants
- Solvent handling and coating facilities
- Powder and dust explosion risk environments
- ATEX classified production zones
- Battery, electronics, and sensitive assembly environments requiring controlled static dissipation
Conductive Performance and Standards
For explosive and hazardous environments, the required resistance range must always be confirmed against the site risk assessment, materials handled, footwear system, grounding strategy, operating conditions, and applicable safety requirements.
ProShieldESD can be engineered for conductive ESD performance, including resistance ranges commonly used for hazardous environments, such as 104 to 106 ohms where this is appropriate for the application. The most suitable ProShieldESD chemistry depends on the substrate, environment, exposure conditions, and performance requirement.
Relevant standards and guidance may include NFPA 77, ATEX requirements, IEC 61340, ANSI/ESD S20.20, DoD 4145.26, and DA PAM 385-64 where applicable.
ProShieldESD should be specified as part of a complete static control system, not as a standalone replacement for site risk assessment, grounding, footwear control, cleaning control, inspection, and verification testing.
Comparison with Conventional Filled ESD Floors
| Issue | Conventional Filled ESD Floors | ProShieldESD |
|---|---|---|
| Conductivity mechanism | Carbon, graphite, or conductive filler network | Intrinsic Conducting Polymer technology |
| Uniformity | Can vary due to filler distribution, wear, and ageing | Homogeneous coating-based conductivity |
| Hidden failure risk | Possible; the floor may look acceptable but fail electrically | Reduced; coating damage is visually identifiable |
| Repairability | May require major floor repair or replacement | Localised touch-up repair possible |
| Audit confidence | Point testing may miss cold spots | Visual inspection supports testing and maintenance |
How SCH Services Supports Hazardous Environment Projects
SCH Services supports customers with practical ESD coating evaluation, trial work, surface assessment, and application support. The aim is to help customers understand whether ProShieldESD is suitable for the operating environment and how it could be implemented safely.
- Review of the operating environment and static control requirement
- Assessment of existing flooring or coated surfaces
- Selection of suitable ProShieldESD chemistry for the substrate and environment
- Trial coating and evaluation
- Repair and upgrade strategies for ageing ESD floors
- Guidance for cleaning, inspection, and maintenance
- Support with verification testing and practical compliance evidence
This process-led approach is important where ESD performance must be reliable during real operation, not only during initial qualification or periodic audit testing. SCH can also support controlled coating work through ProShieldESD subcontract coating services and wider coating services where appropriate.
Supporting Technical Reading
These related articles explain the wider ESD control principles behind permanent dissipation, conductive versus dissipative behaviour, and environmental effects.
Related ProShieldESD Pages
Why Choose SCH Services?
SCH Services combines practical coating experience, ESD process knowledge, and application support to help customers implement ProShieldESD in demanding environments.
- Technical support for ESD coating selection and application
- Trial coating and process evaluation before wider adoption
- Support for repair, upgrade, and retrofit strategies
- Experience with coatings used in industrial, electronics, and safety-critical environments
- Practical guidance for inspection, maintenance, and verification
Contact SCH Services to discuss your ESD control requirement
Disclaimer: This page provides general technical guidance only. Explosive, hazardous, and ATEX-related environments require formal risk assessment, site-specific engineering review, and verification against applicable standards, regulations, and internal safety procedures. Final suitability must be confirmed by the responsible safety, engineering, and compliance teams before use.
