|  | 8.6 | Planning Structured Cabling: Electricity and Grounding
| 8.6.3 | Electrostatic discharge

Electrostatic discharge (ESD), more commonly known as static electricity, is the most damaging and uncontrollable form of electricity. ESD must be dealt with in order to protect sensitive electronic equipment. At one time or another you have experienced what happens as you walk across a carpet. If the air is cool and dry, when you reach to touch another object, a spark jumps from your fingertips, and causes you to feel a small shock. You know from experience, that such ESDs can sting momentarily, but in the case of a computer such shocks can be disastrous. ESDs can destroy semiconductors and data, in a random fashion, as they shoot through a computer. A solution that can help solve problems that arise from ESD is good grounding.