What is an EPA workstation?

If your company manufactures, assembles, tests or repairs electronics, you have surely come across the term EPA workstation. The EPA zone is the basic element of any effective ESD protection.

What does the abbreviation EPA mean?

EPA stands for Electrostatic Protected Area. It is a zone where technical and organisational measures are in place to limit dangerous electrostatic charges and dissipate them in a controlled way.

Why did EPA workstations come about?

Modern components are extremely sensitive. While a person notices a discharge only around 3,000 V, some semiconductors can be damaged at just 30–100 V. See the article what is ESD.

Where are EPA workstations used?

In electronics manufacturing, SMT assembly, the automotive and aerospace industries, medical technology, telecommunications, development laboratories, and service and repair.

What equipment does an EPA need?

ESD workbench

The work surface must dissipate charge safely – ESD laminate or an ESD table mat, a grounding point and a connection to central earth. See ESD workbenches.

ESD wrist straps

The most common way to ground operators – the wrist strap dissipates charge from the body in a controlled way.

ESD floor and shoes

Where people move, the combination of an ESD floor and ESD shoes provides grounding while standing and walking.

Ionisers

Insulating materials that cannot be grounded are neutralised with ionisers.

Measurement and control

Regular checks with measuring instruments and testers ensure that every element works.

Marking and maintenance

The EPA is delimited with warning signs and floor markings; its function and values are checked regularly. The article how an ESD audit works shows how a check is carried out.

Conclusion

An EPA workstation is the foundation of ESD protection to ČSN EN 61340-5-1. A complete walkthrough is in how to set up an EPA workstation; more topics in the ESD Guide.