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APPENDIX - ANTISTATIC PRECAUTIONS
Static electricity can cause permanent damage to electronic components.
You should be aware of this risk and take precautions against the
discharge of static electricity into the computer.
Anyone can generate static electricity by moving on a chair, brushing
against desks or walls, or simply walking across an ordinary carpet. Items
handed from one person to another, or being wrapped or unwrapped, can
acquire a static charge. Air conditioning systems can also result in ambient
static. Clothing made of synthetic fibres is particularly likely to generate
static electricity; this static electricity is often completely unnoticed by the
wearer, but can be sufficient to cripple or impair an electronic component.
The computer is at risk from static discharge while the side panels are
removed. This is because the electronic components of the motherboard
and other items are exposed. Memory modules, cache upgrades and
processors are other examples of electrostatic-sensitive devices (ESSDs).
All work that involves removing the side panels must be done in an area
completely free of static electricity. We recommend using a Special
Handling Area (SHA) as defined by EN 100015-1: 1992. This means that
working surfaces, floor coverings and chairs must be connected to a
common earth reference point. You should wear an earthed wrist strap
and antistatic clothing. It is also a good idea to use an ionizer or
humidifier to remove static from the air.
When installing any upgrade, be sure you understand what the
installation involves before you start. This will enable you to plan your
work, thus minimizing the amount of time that sensitive components are
exposed.
Do not remove the side panels, the component's antistatic bag or the
wrapping of any upgrade until you need to.
Handle static-sensitive items with extreme care. Hold expansion cards and
add-on components only by their edges, avoiding their electrical contacts.
Never touch the components or electrical contacts on the motherboard or
on expansion cards. In general, do not handle static-sensitive items
unnecessarily.
Keep all conductive material, food and drink away from your work area
and the open computer.
OWNER'S HANDBOOK A-1
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