Know the True Facts About Lightning Protection System & Implementation

Have you ever noticed long pointed rods/ conductors placed on the rooftop of any high rise building and thought of its actual task? They are called lightning rods installed as that point of strike for lightning events, placed on the topmost point of any structure and connected to the earthing system via down conductor for protection against direct lightning strikes.

This potential threat packed up with million Volts of electricity, the force of lightning and storm is immense and beyond one’s control. The lightning struck several kilometers away is indiscriminate and hits you even when you are inside any building/ structure the lightning protection system only can help you. Though the lightning event is infrequent and distant strokes, they are known to strike 10 miles away from its origin where even the sky appears clear.

We in this session will look into some common myths and facts on lightning along with which we shall learn about the protection technology to deal with lightning occurrences.

Myth: lightning events shall not occur twice in the same area.

Fact: During a single storm lightning can hit a dozen of times especially in case of tall, pointed and isolated structures.

Myth: If your structure is small, then you are safe from lightning.

Fact: Lightning can find you anyway as it is indiscriminate and occurs without a warning sign.

Myth: Staying under a tree is safest during lightning

Fact: Shelter under a tree is not recommended when struck in a thunderstorm because lightning can hit the tree which will spread out the ground charge in all directions.

Myth: If it is not cloudy or there is no rain then you are safe

Fact: Lightning can hit you even when you are inside any building/ structure and it strikes 10 miles away from its origin where the sky appears clear or there is no rain.

Myth: Installing surge protection devices is a solution for structural lightning protection

Factv Surge Protection devices are essential components dealing with internal lightning protection systems and installed for every electrical/ electronic system as they work to protect against transient surge conditions. They are not designed for protection of building/ structure from this deadliest hazard.

Adopt external protection system - mandatory recommendation as per IS/IEC 62305 & NBC 2016 for Lightning events causing electrical hazards directly

Protection system shall be installed for lightning events created around 4.5km to 7.5km above the ground as this is one of the deadliest hazards known to us which harms both the building/ structure and also the devices inside your structure as well. Protection segment for structural safety widely used since years ago is conventional lightning protection system which is an excellent investment provided in order to defend lightning discharges. In conventional protection technology, we have lightning arrester network as per the design mounted on the highest point of a building and is electrically linked to the ground via a down conductor network so that it will strike the rod and further conduct harmlessly to the ground through the parallel path provided using the down conductor. Moreover, you can enhance the life of your electronics with surge protection devices according to appropriate range of voltage or current rating installed for internal protection 

With proper system designing as per IS/IEC 62305 you can achieve maximum protection

We use flexible design tools and software for the analysis of risk and determining the lightning strike density of the structure to be protected and further the degree of safety required along with associated risk factors are determined. If the analyzed lightning strike frequency is greater than the permissible risk level then as per the level of protection required, an external protection system is installed within the structure while building or can be installed on an existing structure.