What is the difference between a Conductive and a Non-conductive mat?
A Conductive mat protects sensitive equipment by drawing static electricity off workers before they touch susceptible chemicals or apparatus. Humans quickly generate static electricity through the friction caused by walking or using chairs with casters. Then with a simple touch, this static electricity is passed to sensitive equipment such as a computer. One such shock can destroy internal microchips or cause a spark that can ignite flammable chemicals. However, if the person steps onto a conductive mat before touching the equipment, the static is conducted off his or her body, and out the mat through the grounding snap. Most commonly called Switchboard Matting, non-conductive mats insulate and protect workers from deadly shocks generated by high voltage equipment. (This type of electrical shock is dangerous because it has high amperage.) These mats will not allow the electricity to conduct through the worker, and hence protects workers from serious injury.
