Static Dissipative Interlocking Flooring: 4 Things You Must Know

Over the past couple of years, interlocking floors have become a very popular choice. The idea of buying a floor that can be installed with no adhesive and then moved and reinstalled in a new location is very enticing - and quite legitimate. When it comes to static control, there are a few things you need to know before choosing an interlocking version.

1. Static control vinyl floors do not reduce static on people walking on them wearing standard everyday footwear. Static control vinyl (PVC) is actually a static generator when it contacts most shoe sole materials. Research shows that static control vinyl will only reduce static if a person is wearing special static control shoes or special heel straps and shoe covers. If people will be wearing ordinary shoes, you might as well save your money and skip the purchase of a vinyl interlocking floor.
2. Choose a fooring material that prevents static regardless of footwear. Inerlocking flooring isn't just available with PVC - vinyl. You can also get an interlocking floor with EC rubber or carpet tile attached to the top. Both EC rubber and static control carpet will provide excellent static controls regardless of what composition of shoes people wear when they walk on the floor.
3. Interlocking floors are expensive. They are not the only solution for a buyer looking for flexibility and mobility. Carefully compare the real cost of a glue down solution before assuming you will save money by taking the floor with you. In many cases, you can buy "dry adhesive" systems that will provide the stability of a hard set adhesive but you will also have the ability to remove and reinstall the tile in a new location. Some floors like EC rubber are available in rolls making them the ideal solution for long-term but temporaty installation.
4. Static dissipative floors do not perform as well as static conductive floors. Recently there has been a very strong push to eliminate the use of static dissipative flooring when conductive versions are also available. If you are getting steered in the direction of static dissipative, ask if there is a cost difference for the same floor in the static conductive range. There should not be any cost difference.