Made in USA
What Is an ESD Control System?
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) control system is the set of measures that stop static charge from building up and discharging into sensitive electronics: grounding and bonding, ionization, ESD packaging, access control with wrist strap and footwear testing, and environmental control.
ANSI/ESD S20.20 sets the framework for an ESD control program and is built on grounding and bonding. It does not require humidity control, but low humidity makes charges build faster and last longer, so many facilities hold 40 to 60% RH as a supporting measure.
Humidity cannot replace grounding or ionization, and no single measure eliminates ESD. What it does is reduce how much charge builds up, which lowers the load on every other control.
Benefits of Humidity in Your ESD Program
What humidity adds to the measures you already have:
Supports your ESD program:
Humidity reduces charge generation across the whole EPA, alongside wrist strap and footwear checks at entry, not instead of them.
Stable year-round humidity:
Holds 40 to 60% RH within 1 to 2%, without the condensation or corrosion that over-humidifying causes.
Non-wetting process:
Dry fog evaporates before it lands, so there is no water on product, benches or equipment.
Works with your ESD stack:
Complements ionizers, grounding and access gates; it is a stabilizer, not a standalone fix.
Fewer static incidents:
Facilities that stabilize humidity typically see fewer static-related problems in dry seasons. Track your ESD event logs before and after.
Automated control:
Sensors and controllers adjust output continuously as temperatures and seasons change.
Humidity for ESD Control
Reduce static at the source, all year
Static builds fastest in dry air with people and moving parts. Keeping humidity in range reduces charge buildup evenly across the whole area, including away from the workstations.
How Smart Fog Supports ESD Control
1
Realiable Humidification
1
Realiable Humidification
Dry fog spreads evenly and holds the target RH throughout the area, including in the driest winter weeks. Bullets: Hold 40 to 60% RH / Even coverage / No dry spots / Fewer static events. Lines below the bullets (three in the live tab): Line 1: Humidity is held evenly across the area where people and product move. Line 2: Combined with grounding and ionization, steady humidity gives your ESD program a more forgiving environment. Line 3: delete the current sentence about a disinfection humidifier.
Humidity that swings with the weather lets static return. Sensors and controllers keep it within 1 to 2% of setpoint. Bullets: Fast response / Consistent readings / No overshoot / No condensation. Lines below the bullets (two): Line 1: Consistent humidity is one of the simplest ways to make the rest of your ESD controls more effective. Line 2: Even coverage leaves no dry corners where static can build.
2
Stable Levels
2
Stable Levels
3
Automation
3
Automation
S Series sensors and the CPLC controller adjust output automatically, and optional Modbus or BACnet integration logs humidity for your ESD audits. Bullets: Sense and hold setpoint / Data for audits / No wet surfaces / No manual adjustment. Line below the bullets (one): Readings can be logged alongside your ESD audit records.
Stable humidity reduces static-related defects, rework and line stoppages, including latent damage that escapes inspection. Bullets: Fewer static-related defects / Less rework / Dry, clean surfaces / Better yield. Lines below the bullets (two): Line 1: Fewer static events mean fewer stoppages and less time chasing intermittent faults. Line 2: For facility-wide coverage, pair room units with an in-duct system serving the whole building.
4
Production
4
Production
ESD Control Systems Spotlight
All Smart Fog systems help reduce static buildup. The most popular:
ES100
Direct
Space
ES100
A wall-mounted direct space humidifier for ESD-sensitive areas and individual rooms.
TS100
An in-duct humidifier for even humidity across a whole facility through existing air handling.
TS100
In-Duct
Humidifier
ES100M
Mobile
Humidifier
ES100M
A portable unit on wheels for temporary areas, new lines and seasonal peaks.
Why Partner With Smart Fog?
Smart Fog has more than 40 years in humidification. We know humidity is not the whole ESD program; it is the stabilizer that makes your ionizers, grounding and access control more effective.
Dry fog adds moisture without wetting, so there is no condensation or corrosion risk for electronics. Every system is made in the USA.
FAQs
What is an ESD control system?
The set of measures that prevent static damage to electronics: grounding and bonding, ionization, ESD packaging, access control and environmental control. ANSI/ESD S20.20 provides the framework for the program.
How does humidity help with ESD control?
Moisture in the air makes surfaces slightly more conductive, so charge dissipates instead of building up. Holding 40 to 60% RH reduces how much charge people and materials generate, especially in dry winter months.
Is humidity control required by ANSI/ESD S20.20?
No. S20.20 is built on grounding and bonding and does not require a humidity range. Humidity is a supporting measure that makes the required controls more effective.
Will humidifying damage components or moisture-sensitive devices?
Not within 40 to 60% RH using a non-wetting system. Moisture-sensitive components should still be handled under their floor-life and dry-storage rules (IPC/JEDEC J-STD-033), which assume room conditions up to 60% RH.
How do you validate humidity for ESD control?
Show that the protected area stays within its target range: place calibrated sensors at representative points, log readings continuously, and review the data alongside your ESD program’s periodic compliance checks. Smart Fog’s optional integration package exports the readings, and humidity works alongside your ionizers and access gates.