EN IEC 61340-5-3 Electrostatics - Part 5-3: Protection of Electronic Equipment from Electrostatic Phenomena - Characteristics and Requirements Classification for Packaging Designed for Equipment Sensitive to Electrostatic Discharge

The standard "EN IEC 61340-5-3 Electrostatics - Part 5-3: Protection of electronic devices from electrostatic phenomena - Classification of characteristics and requirements for packaging designed for electrostatic discharge sensitive devices", which is based on a European standard and later published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), describes the ESD protective packaging features required to protect electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitive devices during all stages of production, reprocessing/maintenance, transportation and storage. This standard includes test methods to evaluate packaging and packaging materials for product and material properties and provides performance limits.

This standard does not address protection from electromagnetic interference (EMI), electromagnetic pulse (EMP), or volatile materials electrically initiated explosive substances or devices.

Significant technical changes have been made in the last update of this standard. Namely,

• The reference to the IEC 61340-4-10 standard has been removed.
• “Electrostatic field protection” has been removed from the material resistance properties.
• The electrostatic discharge protection requirement has been changed from 50 nJ to 20 nJ.
• References to IEC TS 2-61340-5 and IEC TR 4-61340-5 standards have been added to Table A.5.
• Guidance on electric field shielding has been added to Annex C2.
• The low-charge material specification has been added to Annex D.

For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply:

• Electrostatic discharge (ESD) refers to the rapid transfer of charge between bodies at different electrostatic potentials.
• Electrostatic discharge sensitive device refers to a sensitive device, integrated circuit, or assembly that can be damaged by electrostatic fields or electrostatic discharge.
• Electrostatic discharge protected area means the area in which an electrostatic discharge sensitive device can be handled where the risk of damage from electrostatic discharge or fields is acceptable.
• Unprotected area, electrostatic discharge refers to the area outside the protected area.
• Special packaging refers to the material that comes into contact with the electrostatic discharge sensitive device.
• Proximity packaging refers to material that does not come into contact with an electrostatic discharge sensitive device and is used to enclose one or more devices.
• Secondary packaging refers to material used primarily to provide additional physical protection to the outside of the close packaging.
• Volume resistivity is the ratio of the DC voltage applied between two electrodes placed on two (opposite) surfaces of a sample and the current between the electrodes. Volume resistivity is expressed in Ω.
• Point-to-point resistance is the ratio of the DC voltage applied between two electrodes on the surface of a sample and the current between the electrodes. The electrode configuration for point-to-point resistance measurements is usually a pair of circular face electrodes separated by a specified distance. The point-to-point resistance is expressed in Ω.
• Surface resistance is the ratio of an applied DC voltage between two electrodes in a defined configuration on the surface of a sample and the current between the electrodes. The electrode configuration for surface resistance measurement is usually a pair of parallel rectangular electrodes or a pair of circular concentric electrodes. Surface resistance is expressed in Ω.

Transport and storage of electrostatic discharge sensitive devices require packaging that provides protection against electrostatic hazards (e.g. electrostatic discharge). Within an electrostatic discharge protected area where all electrostatic discharge risks are well controlled, it is possible that electrostatic discharge protective packaging may not be required.

Packaging used within the electrostatic discharge protection field must consist of dissipative or conductive materials for close contact. Additional protection for human body models sensitive up to 100 Volts, for charged device models sensitive up to 200 Volts, and for isolated conductors sensitive up to 35 Volts may be required depending on application and program plan requirements.

Transport and storage of sensitive products outside the electrostatic discharge protection area should be done in packaging that provides both dissipative or conductive materials for close contact and a structure that provides electrostatic discharge shielding.

If electrostatic field shielding materials are used to provide discharge protection, a material that provides a barrier to current flow should be used with the electrostatic field shielding material.

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