Best Foot Forward – New Cenelectrex Static-Dissipative Footwear

Best Foot Forward – New Cenelectrex Static-Dissipative Footwear Tester Assures Safety in Hazardous Areas

Newson Gale are pleased to introduce their NEW ‘SOLE-MATE’ Anti-static Footwear Tester. The Cenelectrex ‘Sole-Mate’ Test Unit ensures worker’s footwear complies with the International Safety Standards (EN ISO 20 345, ANSI Z41 SD Type II, etc) before they proceed into a safety critical hazardous (potentially explosive) working area. The Sole-Mate Test unit operates by validating the resistance path from the floor plate up through the soles of the worker’s footwear to their finger.

Typically, the Sole-Mate Test Unit is located at the entrance to a hazardous area and workers are given a quick visual indication within seconds of either “PASS” (green light) or “FAIL” (red light). The “FAIL” indication is further emphasised by a loud, shrill audible alarm.

An optional volt free relay contact output can be used, for example, to control a door interlock in order to prevent staff or visitors entering the hazardous working area if they are not wearing the correct compliant footwear.

The wall mounted Sole-Mate Test Unit is mains powered (230Vac or 110Vac 50/60Hz) and housed in a rugged IP65 enclosure to suit the industrial working environments found in the process industries.

Static electricity is generated when a person moves around their working environment. One important aspect of controlling static electricity is to ensure that footwear used is of a static-dissipative (anti-static) type. If a person is wearing footwear with insulated soles, or is walking on a non-conductive floor, then a static charge can build up on their body leading to a spark discharge when they move close to an earthed object, or something which is at a lower electrical potential than themselves. Such a discharge can lead to the ignition of solvent vapours, gases or dust clouds in a potentially explosive atmosphere.

Many companies prescribe the use of static-dissipative footwear in potentially explosive atmospheres, designed to the EN ISO 20 345 standard. However, they have no means of checking that the correct footwear is in use or is still working within specification. Likewise, they cannot tell if visitors are wearing suitable footwear. EN ISO 20 345 clearly states that the “user is recommended to establish an in-house test for electrical resistance and use it (to test the footwear) at regular and frequent intervals”.

In the electronics industry, test units are widely used to ensure that footwear meets the particular standards used in that sector in order to prevent damage to electrical components that are sensitive to static discharge. In an environment where an uncontrolled static discharge could lead to fires, explosions, injury to personnel and even the destruction of the whole plant, it is even more important to test the footwear in use.

In order to combat this problem the New SOLE-MATE Anti-Static Footwear Tester is now available. This very affordable unit is simple to install and operate and allows regular or periodic testing of all footwear used on site to ensure it meets the EN ISO 20 345 & ANSI Z41 SD Type II standard/s.

For more information on the Sole-Mate or the full range of Cenelectrex static grounding/earthing equipment for hazardous areas please contact us.

Tel: +44(0)115 940 7500, Fax: +44(0)115 940 7501,

E-mail: ng@newson-gale.co.uk,

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