BS EN 61340-4-6:2015

What is BS EN 61340-4-6 - ESD wrist strap standards about?  

An antistatic wrist strap, ESD wrist strap, or ground bracelet is an antistatic device used to safely ground a person working on very sensitive electronic equipment, to prevent the build-up of static electricity on their body, which can result in ESD. It is used in the electronics industry when handling electronic devices which can be damaged by ESD, and also sometimes by people working around explosives, to prevent electric sparks that could set off an explosion. BS EN 61340-4-6 provides electrical and mechanical test methods and performance limits for evaluation, acceptance, and periodic verification testing of wrist straps. BS EN 61340-4-6 has been developed to establish test methods for evaluating the electrical and mechanical attributes of wrist straps used in an electrostatic control program. Wrist straps are intended to connect the user to electrical ground, thus preventing electrostatic charge on a user’s body from attaining a level that may damage ESD susceptible devices or assemblies. 

Who is BS EN 61340-4-6 - ESD wrist strap standards for? 

BS EN 61340-4-6  on ESD wrist strap standards is useful for: 

• Manufacturers of anti-static wrist straps 
• Manufacturers of ESD sensitive assemblies 
• Manufacturers of very sensitive electronic equipment 
• Product development / innovation / research teams 
• Quality control teams 

Why should you use BS EN 61340-4-6 - ESD wrist strap standards?  

Static electricity is the build-up of an electrical charge on the surface of an object. It's called "static" because the charges remain in one area rather than moving or "flowing" to another area.  Antistatic wrist straps consist of an elastic band of fabric with fine conductive fibers woven into it, attached to a wire with a clip on the end to connect it to a ground conductor. The fibers are usually made of carbon or carbon-filled rubber, and the strap is bound with a stainless steel clasp or plate. They are usually used in conjunction with an antistatic mat on the workbench or a special static-dissipating plastic laminate on the workbench surface. BS EN 61340-4-6 is intended for testing wrist straps and wrist strap systems used for the grounding of personnel engaged in working with ESD-sensitive assemblies and devices. The sections on wrist strap continuity and resistance test, band resistance test, band size requirements, connection integrity, and ground cord extendibility has been discussed in thorough detail in BS EN 61340-4-6. Using BS EN 61340-4-6 guidelines, you can electrically and mechanically test performance limits for anti-static wrist straps. BS EN 61340-4-6 guidelines enable you to provide your operators with a safe and hazard-free working atmosphere, and your customers with suitable, high-quality, and reliable products. 

What’s changed since the last update?  

BS EN 61340-4-6:2015 supersedes BS EN 61340-4-6:2010. BS EN 61340-4-6:2015 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 61340-4-6:2010. These include: 

• Editorial comments made during the review of the first edition were reviewed and incorporated where appropriate 
• Several changes were made to update the Figures and improve the presentation of metric measurements (Imperial measurements have been removed) 
• the option of using an integrated checker for wrist strap system continuity testing has been added 
• the evaluation and acceptance limit for wrist strap resistance has been changed so as to harmonize with IEC 61340-5-1