Tips for proper use of ESD Shielding Bags

[Barley_Li]

ESD shielding bags are commonly used for the packaging of electronic components to prevent damage caused by electrostatic discharge events that electronic devices can be prone to. It is important to understand how to use ESD shielding bags properly.

The following 5 tips should help you use ESD shielding bags properly:

1. Shielding bags should be large enough to enclose the entire product within.
   The shielding bag should be closed with a label or tape. Alternatively, you can use a zipper-style shielding bag. This ensures that electrostatic shielding is provided. This is the only way to ensure that ESD sensitive devices placed inside the shielding bag are protected - an unsealed ESD bag offers NO protection!
   

2. Eliminate charges from the ESD Shielding Bags
   When receiving an ESD sensitive device packaged in a shielded bag, be sure to place the closed shielded bag on the ESD work surface before removing the product. This will eliminate any charge that may have accumulated on the surface of the shielding bag.
   

3. Do not overuse shielding bags
   If the shielding bags are undamaged, it is acceptable to re-use them. However, any holes, tears or excessive wrinkles on the shielding bag are all signs that the bag should be discarded.
   

4. Shielding bags are not a working surface area
   ESD shielding bags are just to keep the ESD sensitive products away from ESD damage.
   You should use a properly grounded ESD work surface for working with ESD sensitive products.
   

5. Do not handle ESD sensitive devices with Shielding Bags
   Do not use a shielding bag as an “ESD potholder” or “ESD glove” to handle ESD sensitive devices because it does not offer any ESD protection to the devices. You should always use wrist straps or heel grounders to handles ESD sensitive devices.
   

For more technical information about ESD shielding bags, please visit the below thread:

Metal In vs Metal Out ESD Bags

Both metal in and metal out bags are effective for ESD protection of static sensitive devices. Metal shielding bags have multiple layers of material in their construction which typically consist of a layer of metal, usually aluminum, static dissipative polyethylene and polyester and a type of coating to help with abrasions. Metal In also known as buried metal bags have the metal shield closer to the inside of the bag between the layer of static dissipative polyethylene and polyester. The Met…

[raelynn.roen]

To back Barley up, remember that ESD shielding bags are a form of Faraday cage. They do their job by preventing electrostatic charges from reaching vulnerable devices; they don’t eliminate those charges or otherwise redirect them. If your ESD shielding bag isn’t completely enclosing a device and properly sealed, then it’s doing pretty much nothing for you. ESD bags are no substitute for a proper ESD workstation or ESD grounding procedures.