Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility ESD Gloves - Anti-Static Gloves - ANSI Certified- RX Safety

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) occurs when accumulated static electricity transfers between two objects at different electrical potentials. The human body is naturally effective at attracting this type of static energy. Without intervention, it can cause workflow issues or even health hazards in high-tech environments where electrical components are the norm.

To put it into perspective, a discharge as small as 10 volts, which is undetectable to a human, can permanently damage a sensitive microchip or cause latent defects in high-value components.

ESD gloves mitigate this risk by incorporating conductive carbon, copper, or silver filaments into the glove structure. These materials don’t just block static, but they also absorb and dissipate it safely through the glove and away from the component, preventing damage. ESD gloves also act as a barrier from skin oils and protect the user from chemicals, abrasions, and other minor injuries. This dual-purpose nature makes them necessary in many Class 100 to Class 10,000 cleanrooms.

Protect your precision components and ensure your assembly line remains static-free. Browse our selection of ESD safety gloves designed for the most sensitive tech environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Anti-static gloves prevent static electricity from building up in the material to protect the wearer from unintended shocks. Meanwhile, ESD-safe gloves dissipate existing charges via conductive carbon fibers, which protect both the wearer and the products they may be working on.

Most ESD gloves are washable and will maintain conductivity through multiple washes. For best results, we recommend avoiding fabric softener and air-drying gloves after washing.

Yes, the carbon fiber typically allows for use with tablets and monitors.

Yes. While effective, ESD gloves don’t provide complete protection from static discharge in all scenarios, so a grounding wrist strap is necessary for the highest level of safety. For optimal ESD control and compliance with standards such as ANSI/ESD S20.20, gloves and wrist straps are usually worn together as part of a complete static-defense system.

Surface resistivity measures how quickly or slowly electricity moves through a given material. Materials like rubber, plastic, or glass are known to have high surface resistivity, which means they likely insulate against electrical charges. On the other hand, materials with low surface resistivity, such as metals and conductive plastics, dissipate charges quickly and are ideal for electrical wiring. Most ESD gloves fall between high and low surface resistivity, which is considered the dissipative range.

Yes, ESD gloves are suitable for cleanroom environments due to their lint-free properties. The gloves are constructed from materials that don’t shed, making them essential for Cleanroom Class ratings under ISO standards.

Unfortunately, no. ESD gloves are optimized for component protection from low-voltage charges. For complete protection in high-voltage environments, certified high-voltage insulation gloves are recommended.

After regular use, ESD gloves should be replaced every six months or immediately if they have visible signs of damage, wear, or contamination. In addition, gloves that have been in storage for 12 months or longer should undergo laboratory testing for surface resistivity before use. If the lab results differ from the original manufacturer’s rating, they should also be replaced immediately.

Category Highlights

Understanding ESD & Resistivity Ratings

The anti-static gloves available in today’s market will vary in their surface resistivity. This is a measurement of the glove’s ability to direct the flow of static electricity across its own surface without creating leakage points, and it’s typically quantified in Ohms (Ω). True ESD gloves usually fall into the “dissipative” range, which is between 106 and 109 Ω. Wearing gloves in the dissipative range ensures that static electricity moves through the material at a controlled, slow rate instead of creating short sparks or bursts. When selecting your gloves, it’s pertinent to check for compliance with ANSI/ESD S20.20 standards to ensure they meet the rigorous requirements of modern electronics manufacturing and static-control protocols.

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