We've been in an office ground floor room for 3 years Just recently next door have installed and switched on some Air Con units Since then (might be a co-incidence?) we have been getting static electric shocks when we touch metal file cabinets etc. Could there be a connection? if not, what could suddenly start this? TIA
-- Vass
The A/C units dry the air. Walking on synthetic carpets in synthetic clothes causes the body to charge up. In a less dry atmosphere, this charge leaks away. In a very dry atmosphere it builds up and doesn't discharge until you touch something metal. If a particular oblect always generates a shock when you touch it, grasp it firmly with a flat hand. A tentative approach results in a point discharge in one place which hurts more!
I used to work in an office and had to wrap rubber bands round things like door handles ,drawer handles etc etc . You could try that ...otherwise it's tricky to grab a door handle knowing that a shock is coming ..lol
All good folks but you're missing the point
It's not happenned for the past 3 years and now suddenly we are plagued with it
-- Vass
The answer is in the text above don't you read the replies?
Everyone is assuming that the air in *your* office has suddenly become drier as a result of your neighbour's air-conditioning. Is this not possible?
In article , Roger Mills scribeth thus
It will be the result of the drier air and that won't be doing your breathing much good. Try some plants and well watered ones at that to get some moisture back into the atmosphere..
Next door might have AC fitted in Feburary but they will not be using it if it is an office.
Adam
The building these units are in is not connected to ours the huge air con machines (about 6 foot tall x 3 or them) sit between each building I guess these are on as the building has just been built and is being plastered/painted? so, no physical connection to our office, except the ground. No "air" from them can get to us, Sorry if not clear.
Vass submitted this idea :
Then probably no connection at all, likely just very dry air in your own building due to the fact that it is winter, allowing the static to build up. Air inside buildings can become very dry in winter, so the plant solution mentioned might help. Have you thought to buy a humidity gauge, to actually check?
At home we use some small thin plastic trays which happen to be a perfect fit for dropping down between the two sides of our double panel radiators - I can't quite remember where we got the trays from, but they look as if the might have been part of the packing of some supermarket confectionery item (chocolate eclairs?). We just keep several of these topped up with water, evaporation from which helps keep up the humidity levels and static levels down. I used to suffer cracked dry lips in the winter, but found this small amount of extra moisture makes a big difference to this and the internal atmosphere feels more comfortable.
You can buy a product called Shockaway which is sprayed onto the carpet & completely solves the problem. Needs to be re applied every now & then.
Spray your carpets with dilute lenor fabric softener, its what we used in the electronics labs to remove static. You need to repeat it occasionally
Its cold and dry right now.
Many people suffering from thyroid disease find that they are more sensitive to static shocks - partner seems to be so (e.g. when getting into or out of the car) when she is taking one specific form of thyroid hormone replacement.
I sincerely doubt this could even possibly have any relevance, but it is my current obsession... :-)
When I worked in an office they used to spay stuff on the carpet tiles from time to time. This helped. The floor was raised over service ducts. I used to try and touch things (walls. etc) to prevent a charge building up.
One of the symptoms of over active thyroid is sweating, sweat is salty water and conductive. Treat the thyroid and the symptoms go away ...
Th clothing (including shoes) an individual wears is significant. If he's wearing artificial fibres, which are good insulators, whilst sat on a chair he can build up a small charge shuffling about. When he stands up he does work against the electrostatic attraction and aquires a large amount of energy which is discharged when he next touches an earthed object.
Best solution is to earth yourself before you stand up, next best is to ground yourself using a metal object with a large surface area such as a coin or a key just before touching an earthed object. If the shocks are bad enough this routine is easily learned.
Treating your own clothes with the anti static spray may also be a good idea. Leather soled shoes are better than rubber.
DG
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.