Static Electricity, and Bonding and Grounding

[friebel]

There has been a thread relating to the proper procedure for handling of loading and unloading of a railcar with a hazardous materials.
I have stated that you should have all equipment, piping, etc. bonded all together and I would want to see zero ohms for continuity with this bonding.
After we have bonded all equipment etc. then we should go to a grounded source to dissipate any build-up of a static charge.
Now here is where I am seeing some disagreement with some of our fellow electricians. In fact, one stated that you could have about 1,000,000 ohms to ground, because grounding is not important with static electricity.
Now here is where someone needs to educate me, or we need to educate the ones that do not believe that grounding is important with static electricity.
Please pardon me for not letting this alone, because (bonding, grounding) of static electricity is very important, and very dangerous in a hazardous area where you are loading and unloading hazardous materials.
So, with all of that said, I hope that someone will either educate me or we may help others to understand the importance of having static electricity, bonded and grounded.
Thanking you in advance for any of your expertise in this very important subject.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Static Electricity, and Bonding and Grounding

First, I don't think that grounding is a big part of static control. The static charge is not trying to get to the earth, just to the other charged surface. Bonding prevents the static buildup. The IEEE Green Book states "a resistance on the order of 1,000,000 ohms is usually satisfactory for static mitigation".
Don

 

[friebel]

Re: Static Electricity, and Bonding and Grounding

To: don_resqcapt19
Don, I am glad to hear from you, even though, as of right now I do not think we are are the same wave lenght.
Don, how come when a tank truck, tank car in a hazardous area comes in to load or unload, that we bond everthing and also take it take good ground? Don't generate voltage with static electricity?
Don, out of all of this, we are going to learn something, and that is what this forum is all about, and I see that you are the Chief Moderator, so here we go.

 

[charlie]

Re: Static Electricity, and Bonding and Grounding

Friebel, it is my opinion that the conversation should be kept with the first thread where your concerns are being addressed. I absolutely agree that this is a very important subject and should be cleared up to everyone's satisfaction. I am closing this thread so that the conversation can be kept in one location. If any of the other moderators disagree with me, please delete this post and unlock this thread.