Shop/Garage Floors
 

Here's something to think about if you want that "clean" look for your garage or shop floor.

Certain studies are now being done on epoxy, rubberised, and plastic floor coatings. The potential hazard is that the worker and/or home owner may build up a static charge while working or walking on these surfaces.(Just like carpet)

Potential problems:
1. Explosion from working on fuel systems.
2. Arcing of circut boards.
3. Flash fires from solvents.

Some of the factors being looked @:

1. Thickness of material being used.
2. Types of shoes being worn.

Some of the proposed remedies:
1. Use of grounding straps.
2. Removal of flooring surface.
3. Reinstall floor with metal type filings intermixed in floor application.
4. Reinstall floor with anti-static rated surface.
5. Others not announced yet.

However, there are some floors on the market right now that are anti-static rated.

So maybe just concrete is the best bang for your buck.

Lars

Good info..Thanks

This is not good, my buddy just painted his. Now he will have to see if his is anti static rated.

Ty

That's good info, thank you.
good'ole concrete has yet to fail me.

x2 :whathesaid: Good find though :beers:

The only reason I posted this is that the dealership that I work pt for is going through litigation with the flooring company right now.

He had 3 pcms and a diesil chip that got arced out. 1 pcm was gm the other one was toyota and the other one ford.(All confirmed by mfgs) All different techs. Thank goodness no fires. Also on cold dry mornings had problems with scan tools not working correctly.(Vehicles in shop over night)

DIY kits seem not to be a problem. Its the thick 3 to 5 part kits that pros put in that are the culprit.

Oh ya the lawyers are having fun with this one. The finger pointing has already begun.

Lars

The anti-static rated stuff is not cheap! Edge had their manufacturing floor redone a couple years back with the anti-static flooring and it was quite expensive. Of course, not nearly as expensive as it would have been to replace damaged electronics, so it was a smart move.

For the average garage, I don't know how practical it is. One thing to keep in mind is also just how slippery the coating is when it is wet. Many of the rubberized coatings are slipper as all heck when wet and I've hit the floor hard more than a few times because of it. Even vinyl tile flooring is slippery although it seems like we had less of a static problem with that than the rubberized coating.

Just my :2cents:.

Used to think it was funny to come up behind someone while they were working and "zap". But after the ordeal with the electronics and potential explosion hazard its not to cute anymore.

Most of the floors up here put a lot of grit in them to aid in the traction problem when wet.

Lars

I'll stick to my concrete floor :2thumbs:

http://dygytalworld.ehost-services13...&pictureid=269

http://dygytalworld.ehost-services13...&pictureid=270

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http://dygytalworld.ehost-services13...&pictureid=272

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It may have stains on it (ahem... from the previous owner) but it beats rolling around in the dirt!

Dang! Your garage doesn't look like you live in it! It's impossible to do any real work and keep it that neat! :D

- Jack