Our recent TTOTD about static electricity “sparked” (no groans please) a rash of questions (see TTOTD 11/13/98), which I will summarize the answers to here quickly. The 11/13 tech tip was geared towards people who may, for one reason or another, be inside their equipment. For the most part the chances of harming equipment by an external static discharge (at least one you can carry in your body) is minimal. In fact computer equipment is routinely tested against vulnerability to static discharges of several thousand volts at points where users would be in contact with it.
Sometimes, however, the static is more of an annoyance than anything. The pops that it generates through audio and PA equipment can be troublesome. For that reason you may want to make sure users “discharge/” themselves prior to coming into contact with it. Having them touch a piece of metal that is grounded will easily accomplish this. Spraying carpet with something like Static Guard is also helpful.
