Controlling electrostatic discharge (ESD) is not about a single product or measure—it’s about building layers of protection. The ESD Control Pyramid is a useful way of visualising this: grounding forms the base, conductive and dissipative materials provide the structure, and anti-static measures help at the top to prevent charge build-up.
The ESD Control Pyramid illustrates how grounding, conductive and dissipative materials work together to provide complete static control.
At SCH Services Ltd, our ProShield ESD coating platform integrates seamlessly into this pyramid, covering the range from conductive (104 Ω) through dissipative (109 Ω), ensuring permanent, reliable static control across modern manufacturing environments.
The Base: Grounding and Conductive Materials
At the bottom of the pyramid sits grounding. Conductive materials (103–104 Ω) provide a fast, direct path to discharge static energy safely into ground.
Grounding and verification are typically managed within an overall ESD control program (for example IEC 61340 and ANSI/ESD S20.20), where the objective is controlled discharge without damaging sensitive devices.
How ProShield helps: By offering coatings at the conductive range, ProShield can be applied to fixtures, housings, or components that need a reliable path to ground—without resorting to costly moulded conductive plastics.
The Middle: Dissipative Materials
Above grounding, the pyramid relies on dissipative materials (104–109 Ω) to control the speed of discharge. This is where most ESD-sensitive environments—electronics manufacturing, aerospace, and medical—need protection.
How ProShield helps: ProShield ESD coatings are engineered to be permanent dissipative solutions. Unlike filler-based paints that degrade or moulded parts that require costly tooling, ProShield provides homogeneous, long-lasting protection across surfaces—helping charge dissipate safely and predictably.
The Top: Anti-Static Measures
Anti-static measures sit at the top of the pyramid. They reduce charge generation in the first place by minimising triboelectric charging caused by friction and separation. While they don’t remove existing charges, they reduce the likelihood of charge build-up.
How ProShield helps: ProShield integrates well into anti-static environments by ensuring that, if a charge does appear, it is either dissipated or conducted away safely—completing the pyramid of protection.
Why ProShield Outperforms Traditional Solutions
Many businesses rely on traditional ESD paints or moulded ESD plastics, but both have limits:
Paints = filler clumps, uneven coverage, performance drift, reapplication needed
Moulded plastics = costly tooling, limited retrofit flexibility, resistivity variation from filler distribution
ProShield is different:
✔ Covers 104–109 Ω in a scalable solution
✔ Permanent and homogeneous (no fillers, no reapplication)
✔ Works on standard plastics, foams, housings, fixtures, and floors
✔ Reduces dependency on specialty materials and purpose-built moulded parts
The ProShield Advantage in the Pyramid
The ESD Control Pyramid requires all three layers to function effectively. With ProShield ESD coatings, you gain:
✔ Conductive-range options for grounding paths at the base
✔ Dissipative performance through the working range most EPA environments require
✔ Compatibility with anti-static measures to reduce charge build-up and risk
By bridging every level of the pyramid, ProShield ESD offers a smarter, permanent, and cost-effective way to achieve complete static control—without the compromises of older filler-based technologies.
Learn more: Explore the ProShield ESD coating platform.
