The Integrated Circuit (IC) or PCB (Printed Circuit Board) can be damaged by ESD event. That is the reason why in most MNC (multinational company), ESD control is requested by customers.

The most efficient method to prevent ESD is to discharge any static charges before it can touch the IC or PCB which is ESD sensitive or in S20.20 standard or IEC standard is called ESDS items. Discharge can be done safely through static dissipative that is grounded to earth.

Now this bring up an important question. What is grounding? We hear the term such as AC ground, DC ground and AC power ground and earth electrode ground.

AC ground is the ground that allow ac signal to go to the earth or any virtual earth to prevent noise but it disallow DC current. AC ground in electronic circuit normally has a capacitor between the earth and they avoid using wire since wire allow DC current to short as well. AC ground should not be used for ESD ground since it can cause noise problems to your AC ground if the static discharges through it.