ESD compliance verification per IEC 61340-5-1: why regular testing matters

Why regular compliance verification matters

ESD control items wear out, get dirty or lose their ground connection, and you usually cannot see it. Only a measurement shows whether the protection still works in daily operation.

A coiled cord can look undamaged on the outside and still be broken inside. A bench mat loses its dissipative properties through wear, dirt or cleaning agents, and an ioniser drifts out of balance over time. If a single item fails, the ESD sensitive devices at that workstation are no longer protected, often without anyone noticing.

Compliance verification is therefore a requirement of IEC 61340-5-1. It ensures that ESD control measures keep working on an ongoing basis, and the test records provide evidence for audits and customers.

What a verification plan must define

According to IEC 61340-5-1, measurements are carried out according to a written compliance verification plan. It is part of the ESD control programme.

• Items: which technical requirements and ESD control items are verified
• Limits: which measured values count as a pass
• Intervals: how often each item is tested
• Test methods: which procedure is used, the methods are described in IEC TS 61340-5-4
• Records: test records as evidence of conformity
• Test equipment: instruments capable of making the measurements defined in the plan

Each organisation sets its own intervals. They depend on how heavily an item is used, how quickly it wears and how sensitive the devices are. As typical practice, Desco mentions testing wrist straps before each shift and worksurfaces at least quarterly.

What is tested in the EPA

Every ESD control item included in the ESD control programme is tested, from grounding to ionisation.

Many companies test personnel grounding daily at the EPA entrance, for example with the Combo Tester X3 19270, which tests the wrist strap and both shoes in one go. More on personnel grounding in our guide Wrist strap and heel strap.

Desco test equipment for verification

For regular measurements in the EPA we stock Desco test equipment, from the complete survey kit to the handy surface resistance checker.

The Desco ESD survey kit 222698 combines the instruments for the most important routine tests per IEC 61340-5-1: resistance measurement on worksurfaces, shelving, carts, floors, garments and seating, a hand electrode for person and footwear, an AC outlet and wrist strap tester, a low resistance tester for ground sockets and an ionisation test kit.

Testing ionisers and grounding

Ionisers and ground points work quietly in the background. That is exactly why they belong in the verification plan with fixed intervals.

The new Desco ioniser verification kit 19433, together with the static field meter 19432, measures the offset voltage and discharge times of an ioniser right at the workstation, per ANSI/ESD SP3.3 and ESD TR53. The ioniser does not need to be removed.

For the grounding itself, the SCS Ground Pro Meter CTM051 is a good fit. It measures the impedance of a ground point and also shows voltage and EMI on the protective earth, typical causes of EOS damage, for example on soldering irons.

Testers and monitors need checking too

A measurement is only as reliable as the instrument that makes it. Testers and continuous monitors therefore also belong in the verification plan.

Desco recommends annual calibration of testers and monitors. In between, the limits can be checked on site without removing the units:

• EMIT limit comparator 50424 for Combo Tester X3 and SmartLog Pro 2
• Verification tester 770065 for the 724 Workstation Monitor and the 725 wrist strap monitor
• Verification tester 98221 for Desco Wave Distortion monitors

Training and webinars from Desco Europe

Test equipment alone is not enough, the people testing also need to master the procedures. Desco Europe supports this with training courses and technical webinars.

The Compliance Verification Training Courses from Desco Europe focus on the equipment needed to validate an ESD programme to IEC 61340-5-1 and on carrying out the tests according to the methods of IEC TS 61340-5-4. They are aimed at everyone who carries out regular verification testing, such as ESD coordinators, production supervisors and quality engineers.

In addition there is the Technical Webinar series. The next live webinar on grounding and personnel grounding takes place on 20 November 2026 at 10:00 GMT and lasts about 40 minutes including Q&A. Topics are proper grounding, the differences between equipment and personnel grounding, implementation and testing in practice, and common mistakes.

Frequently asked questions