Static Discharge - The Invisible Killer

Static electricity refers to the accumulation of excess electric charge in a region with poor electrical conductivity (an insulator). We are all familiar with the effects of static discharge. Air (the insulator) typically breaks down at around 30,000 volts-per-centimeter depending on humidity. This means that a gap of 1 millimeter can be jumped by as little as 3000 volts. The discharge of electrons superheats the surrounding air causing the bright flash, and produces a shockwave causing the clicking sound. This is more than enough voltage to destroy most integrated circuitry within your computer.

Causes - Carpeted floors, low humidity, improper structure grounding.

Damage - The amount of damage can vary greatly depending on the size of the discharge. If you are experiencing electrical discharges when you touch your computers or electrical equipment, you should be taking precautions.

Mitigation - There are several methods used to reduce the chance of damage depending on the severity of the problem. Simply grounding yourself to your computer chassis before touching the power switch  can prevent static discharge from reaching sensitive components inside. This is of course sometimes uncomfortable and can even be painful. Ionizers can be purchased for offices that seem to produce allot of static. Ionizers work by producing an excess of both positive and negative ions and pushing them out into the air. These positive and negative ions help to reduce static buildup in the entire room. If grounding yourself seems too uncomfortable, and Ionizers too expensive, you can buy either anti-static floor mats and or anti-static wrist straps to reduce the chances of static discharge damage.