ESD clothing – Protection for electronic components
In short: ESD clothing dissipates electrostatic charge in a controlled way and prevents it from building up. The decisive point, which is often misunderstood: it protects not the person, but the component. It is therefore not personal protective equipment – and not a substitute for dissipative protective clothing in explosive atmospheres either.
- The ESD protection symbol
- The hand in the triangle, enclosed by an arc open at the bottom, identifies ESD protective material – clothing, work surfaces, packaging and aids that may be used in the EPA. The same triangle without the arc, but with a bar across it, means the opposite: an electrostatic-sensitive component. Confusing the two symbols means labelling protective equipment as a risk – and vice versa.
Why ESD protection is needed
Electrostatic discharge occurs when charges build up on materials or people and suddenly discharge. These discharges are often not even perceptible – but can damage or destroy highly sensitive electronic components. The damage frequently does not show up immediately, but as an early failure at the customer's.
People are one of the most common causes of ESD events. That is why clothing is a central building block of any ESD protection concept.
Typical areas of use:
- Electronics and semiconductor manufacturing
- Assembly and testing of electronic components
- Automotive industry – electronics and sensor technology
- Medical technology
- Precision mechanics and precision engineering
- ESD protected areas (EPA – Electrostatic Protected Area)
- Maintenance, service and quality assurance
ESD is not PPE – and not explosion protection
This leads to a distinction that is regularly confused in practice:
| ESD clothing | EN 1149-5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Protects | electronic components | people |
| Against | discharge damage to the product | ignition of an explosive atmosphere |
| PPE? | no | yes, category II – as multi-standard garments generally category III |
| Use | Electronics manufacturing, EPA, cleanroom | Chemical industry, refineries, ATEX zones |
In practical terms: ESD clothing is no substitute in explosive atmospheres for dissipative protective clothing to EN 1149-5 – and conversely, EN 1149 clothing is not automatically ESD-compliant, because different parameters are tested there. If you need both, you need both.
Clothing alone is not enough
ESD clothing is part of a holistic protection concept. For reliable dissipation, the interaction with suitable ESD footwear is decisive – along with dissipative flooring, workstation equipment and defined procedures within the EPA.
An ESD jacket over normal clothing on an insulating floor achieves little: the charge has to find a path downwards. If one link in the chain is missing, it stays on the person.
Status of the standards
| Requirements for the ESD control programme | DIN EN IEC 61340-5-1 (VDE 0300-5-1), edition 2025-06 |
|---|---|
| Test method for garments | DIN EN IEC 61340-4-9 (VDE 0300-4-9), edition 2026-05 |
| US counterpart | ANSI/ESD S20.20 |
Many sources still cite the 2016 editions. Both standards were revised in 2024, and the German versions were published in 2025 and 2026 respectively. Since then, the title of Part 4-9 has carried the addition “Garments – Resistive characterization”. Anyone checking tenders should pay attention to the edition.
The specific limit values are in the requirements part 61340-5-1, the test method in Part 4-9. Which values apply to your EPA follows from the ESD control programme of your business – not from the garment alone.
KÜBLER ESD
Our ESD line comprises five styles in sizes XXS to 4XL, in dark blue and black, the coat in white.
Frequently asked questions
Does ESD clothing protect the wearer?
No. It protects electronic components against discharge damage. It is not personal protective equipment and offers no protection against electrical voltage.
Can I wear ESD clothing in potentially explosive areas?
Not as a substitute for dissipative protective clothing. EN 1149-5 applies to explosive atmospheres – different parameters are tested there against a different protection goal. ESD standards address component protection, not the ignition hazard.
Is an ESD jacket enough?
No. Dissipation only works as a system: ESD clothing, suitable ESD footwear and dissipative flooring. If one link is missing, the charge stays on the person.
Will I notice a harmful discharge?
Usually not. Discharges that are below the threshold of human perception are enough to damage sensitive components. The damage often only shows up later as an early failure.
Advice on ESD
It's not the person being protected.
It's the component.
We go through with you which articles fit your EPA, how they interact with footwear and flooring and what your control programme requires.
Last updated: July 2026