CDRLabs.com

The subject pretty much summarizes the question. Does static electricity pose a risk to data on a CD-R? Can static cause temporary or permanent damage? Do precautions need to be taken to discharge static electricity before handling CDRs?

Thanks!

No, static electricity does not pose any danger to CD-R that I know of. There aren't any delicate MOS capacitors to destroy as in electronics devices. With CD-R you should be careful to avoid exposure to sunlight, temperature extremes, excessive humidity and dust and dirt. You may wisth to take a look at NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Special Publication 500-252 "Care and Handling for the Preservation of CDs and DVDs - A Guide for Librarians and Archivists".

cfitz

I would counter that thought. I think static electricity CAN damage a disc.

Just HOW much is debatable. The metal layer in the disc can conduct electricity. Anything that conducts can be damaged.

Imagine a small wire driving a huge load. The wire will get hot, and give out. I'm not suggesting you use a CD-R in your fuse panel, but the high voltage you find in static electricity can burn pits in the disc. It can jump from bits to bits.

I guess the only way to be sure is to burn a disc, do a 100% error check on it, then zap it, and error check it again.

An audio disc is no big deal, but a data disc could become a coaster.

well, if you put it this way...
lightning is an effect of static electricity buildup (the discharge, actually), yeah so static electricity can damage CDs, CDRW drives, houses, cars, people etc. etc.

i think the question in this topic was what kind of damage can be cause by "normal household" static electricity, like you would accumulate by walking on a carpet. while this can be enough to fry CMOS chips, it's probably harmless as far as frying CDs go.