ANTISTATIC FLOOR

Typical Number in Hospital: 15

Cost Bands: 4

References: 2

Sparks due to static electricity in operating theatres may cause ignition of spirits, or explosion. Also the small electric shocks received from these sparks may cause minor mishaps. To prevent the build-up of static electricity, the whole operating area is maintained at earth potential by the use of flooring materials which provide a limited leakage path for electricity. Sometimes the whole floor is covered with an antistatic rubber or plastic but satisfactory results can be obtained with tile floors (e.g. quarry, terrazzo) though these may depend on a high relative humidity in the room. Since operating theatres are normally maintained at a relative humidity of 50-65%, this condition is normally met.

Test criteria exist in some countries such as the requirement that the resistance between two electrodes 60 cm apart on the floor should be between 20 k[O] and 5 M[O]. The reason for the lower limit is that a very low resistance floor would present an enhanced risk of electrocution from faulty equipment or wiring by improving the potential current route to earth.