Lightning Protection System

The function of a lightning protection system is to protect structures from fire or

mechanical destruction and to prevent that persons in buildings are injured or even killed.
An overall lightning protection system consists of external lightning protection (lightning
protection/earthing) and internal lightning protection (surge protection).

Functions of an external lightning protection system

 Interception of direct lightning strikes via an air-termination system

 Safe discharge of lightning current to earth via a down-conductor system
 Distribution of the lightning current in the ground via an earth-termination system

Functions of an internal lightning protection system

Prevention of dangerous sparking in the structure by establishing equipotential bonding or

keeping a separation distance between the LPS components and other electrically
conducting elements

Lightning equipotential bonding

Lightning equipotential bonding reduces the potential differences caused by lightning

currents. This is achieved by interconnecting all isolated conducting parts of the
installation by means of conductors or surge protective devices.

To check whether existing Lightning Protective System

is sufficient to withstand the lightning current.
 Air terminal layout and placement position with at least 2 directional paths to
ground based in structure elevation, roof style, and projections as specified within
the Zone of Protection.
 Air terminals tips shall be a minimum of 10 inches in height above the structure
spaced not more than 20 feet apart for perimeter protection
 When terminals greater than 24 inches in height are used, they shall be supported at
a point at least half the height the rod and be spaced more than 20 but not less than
25 feet apart for perimeter protection
 Any object elevated above the normal roof height and with a surface thinner than
3/16 inch shall be protected, i.e.: exhaust fan housings, camera masts, etc.
 All lightning protection system components shall be listed, except hardware screws,
bolts etc.
  Main size conductors shall be used for bonding the lightning protection system to
other systems, including, but not limited to: metallic water systems, steam or hot
water heating systems, electric services, telephone systems, antenna grounds, other
large grounded metallic masses. See section 10 of UL96A for details..
 The grounding terminal rod shall be at least 8 ft in length and not less than 1/2 in.
dia., buried not less than 10 ft plates, concrete encased, rings and trenched systems
are permitted as well.
 Copper components are not mounted on aluminum or external galvanized surfaces.
 Cable bend radius at corners or over the building sidewall with 90 deg minimums 8
in radiuses.
 Attachment of cable secured to air terminals, and building shall be secured along the
cable run and attachments shall not be more than 3 ft apart.
 Aluminum components shall not be installed in direct contact of copper roof
material or below any run off from copper surfaces.
 Aluminum components shall not be in direct contact with earth
 Aluminum down conductors shall be connected to copper conductors using
bimetallic fittings within 18 inches of earth.
 Stacks above 75ft in height require Class II components.

Calculate Whether Lightning Protection is required or not for following

Building. Calculate No of Down Conductor for Lightning Protection

Area of Building / Structure:

Length of Building (L) = 60 Meter.

Width of Building ( W ) = 28 Meter.

Height of Building (H) = 23 Meter.

Lightning Stock Flushing Density

Number of Thunderstorm (N)= 80.00 Days/Year

Lightning Flash Density (Ng)=69 km2/Year

Application of Structure (A)= Houses & Buildings

Type of Constructions (B)= Steel framed encased without Metal Roof

Contests or Consequential Effects (C)= Domestic / Office Buildings

Degree of Isolation (D)= Structure in a large area having greater height

Type of Country (E)= Flat country at any level

Maximum Acceptable Overall Risk Factor =0.00000001

Review the existing lightning protection system against

national and international standards.
In each country, the current regulatory framework defines the need for protection and sets
out the steps to follow for designing a system which guarantees protection against
lightning.

IEC standard 62305: The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a worldwide

organization for standardization, comprising all national electrotechnical committees with
the objective of trying to harmonize the different national standards.

The IEC 62305, firstly elaborated in 2006 and then revised in 2010, is the standard
intended to address the subject of Protection against lightning.

Protection from lighting - induced hazards can best be achieved by a properly designed and
installed lightning protection system in accordance with the requirements of National Fire
protection Association (NFPA 780) [1]. The minimum design requirements for lightning
protective system are

(a) The use of strike termination device

(b) Low impendence paths to ground

(c) An earth electrode system

(d) Bonding of all conductive penetrations and equipment into the protected area

(e) Surge suppression

(f) Side flash protection.

In addition, the location, type of construction or the use to which these structures are put
are also important as lightning strike can have particular serious consequence on both the
equipment and the structure itself.

There are three basic methodologies for determining a protection design scheme.
Each of the methods listed below is important, and can be used to develop an effective
basic design. The protection schemes shown here are considered Class I; those are
buildings less than 75 feet in height. For Class II structures (those exceeding 75 feet in
height or structures such as stacks, steeples etc.) the protection shall include those for Class
I but with Class II Air Terminals, cable connectors and splices shall be bolted or welded and
rated Class II. Cable and cable connectors for Class II shall be rated as such and conductor
cable shall be rated Class II and be continuous from air terminal to ground and
interconnected with the balance of the system.

1. Air Terminal Placement using the standard grid placement scheme.

When establishing a zone of protection the air terminal tip is located at not less than 10
inches above the protected object if the interval spacing is not more than 20 feet
between air terminals. If a 24-inch air terminal is used, the air terminal spacing may be
increased to 25 feet When the roof exceeds 50 feet in length or width or both directions
the spacing can be increased up to 50 feet between terminals on flat or gently sloping
roofs. Pending roof design, air terminals may be permitted to be in a pattern not
exceeding 50 feet apart in the center part of the roof plan. The perimeter edge spacing
can be up to 25 feet between terminals when 24-inch air terminals are used. When the
roof is pitched with eaves height of 50 feet or less above grade and having no structural
projections such as roof dormers or other projections, it requires protection only be
mounted to the ridge of the projection roofline. Air terminals can be mounted on the
ridge at spacing not greater than 25 feet. If other projections or are present such as a
dormer, irregular roof lines or lower or higher elevations that area may need air
terminal placement based on its physical size and shape. Air terminals 10 inches in
height and spaced not greater than 20 feet apart are permitted, interval spacing may be
increased to 25 feet when 24-inch terminals are installed. The figures below (fig. 8.1 &
8.2) will illustrate the typical roof protection scheme for most installations with flat
roof structures that would be found on warehouse, strip malls and many commercial
office structures. Air terminal spacing can be either 20 or 25 feet pending on terminal
height. Perimeter and down conductors, with connections to ground rods are also
shown.
2. Rolling Sphere Design. The rolling ball or more correctly the rolling sphere method
uses an imaginary spherical shaped ball with a 150-foot radius that rolls over the
building structure touching only the tips of the air terminals mounted on the roof. This
dimension is based on the fact that the lightning strike distance near the surface of the
earth is about 150 ft. or less. The sphere is tangent to earth and will contact three or
more correctly spaced air terminals when rolled over any portion of the roof structure.
When using this imaginary sphere and rolling up over and down the other side of the
building, it will only touch the roof mounted air terminals, never the building structural
roof surfaces. When using the spherical shape to determine the zone of protection for
the building structure all possible placements of the sphere on the structure shall be
considered for terminal placement. A protected building that exceeds the height of the
lower building structure will protect the lower structure when it lies within the zone of
protection of the rolling sphere. Remember that the protective sphere has a 150 ft.
radius or is really a 300 foot diameter round ball. A protected building that is more
than a 150 feet high will provide protection for lower elevation roof areas of adjacent,
or connected structures, when the lower structure building, and to the earth as shown
in the fig below.
3. Protective angle

The protective angle method is not depicted diagrammatically in UL 96A but is based on a
ratio of upper building height and size to lower building area height and size with location
and placement of air terminals. These methods do not apply to structures over 50 ft. in
height. Methods A, B should be utilized. If not more than 25 feet to the lower eaves, a 2:1
ratio (2 horizontal feet of building coverage for each vertical foot in elevation) can protect
the lower portion of a building or out to the first air terminal location on a large roof
structure. If not more than 50 feet to the eaves or to the perimeter air terminal location on
a higher flat roof, the lower roof is protected by the higher roof in a 1:1 ratio (1 foot
horizontal coverage for each vertical foot from the upper structure). This ratio would also
cover the larger flat roof to the first air terminal based on the height ratio. In the diagrams
below you can see how this ratio is applied.
Heavy-Duty Stacks
Stacks above 75ft in height require some special consideration in both design and material
used for the system. All components shall be Class II and class II modified. The components
in the upper 25 feet shall be copper, copper alloy, bronze or stainless steel. The top 25 feet
can be a high corrosion zone and extra protection of a min of 1/16 in coating of lead is
required for terminals, mounting brackets and conductors. Aluminum components are
prohibited in this installation.

Class II air terminals on stacks shall be solid copper, copper alloy, stainless steel, titanium
or Monel metal. The installation shall be evenly distributed around the top of a round stack
at intervals not to exceed 8 feet. If the stack is square, the location shall be not more than 2
feet from corners and spaced not more than 8 feet apart.

Each Class II air terminal shall be not less than 18 inches in height and not more than 30
inches in height. The diameter shall be not less than 5/8 inch in diameter. All terminals
shall be connected together and there shall be at least 2 down conductors on opposite sides
of the stack. Reinforcing steel in concrete stacks shall be electrically continuous and shall
be bonded to the lightning protection system at its upper and lower ends at down-lead
locations.
Components Selection
 A protection system and its components are really simplistic when you step back
and look at the overall system. What is required is a means to catch a lightning strike at
some point on the structure, and then conduct it to an electrode buried in the earth so it
can be dissipated.

Along the route to earth, terminals, conductors and grounding electrodes minimize
damage to the structure and contents within it. However simple as it may appear, there are
some complexities along the way. In accordance with NFPA 780, if an LPS component
product is listed, labeled per UL 96 than that product shall be selected and installed. The
use of listed products gives greater assurance that when correctly installed in accordance
with 96A or NFPA 780 that the entire lightning protection system can be “Site inspected”
and receive the UL Master Label Certificate. All components used in an LPS shall be of the
following: copper, copper alloy, or electrical grade aluminum unless otherwise specified in
the UL 96A Standard. Copper components shall not be installed on or in contact with
surfaces of aluminum or external galvanized steel surfaces.

Any aluminum or aluminum alloy product shall not come into direct contact with
earth, and any bimetallic fitting shall not be installed within 18 inches above earth level.
Aluminum products shall not be embedded in concrete or masonry, in direct contact with a
surface coated with alkaline paint, installed in wet locations such as inside of eaves or
downspouts.

Air Terminals: shall be not less than 10 inches long, less than 3/8-inch in diameter
and may be manufactured in separate parts if longer than 10 inches. The terminal shall be
provided with an integral base support, or shall have not less than five full threads of
engagement with a separate attachment base mounted to the structure. If the terminal has
internal threads the wall thickness shall be not less than 1/16 inch at the base of the
threads. Ornaments or decorations are permitted on air terminals, but shall not exceed 20
square inches in any plane. Air Terminals longer than 24 inches shall have bracing at half
its height and listed for the purpose .

Base Supports: The air terminal bases are permitted to be stamped or cast
construction. If stamped, the thickness shall be 0.097 for aluminum and 0.061 for copper
material. If cast either copper or aluminum shall be at least 3/32 inches thick. A base
support must incorporate a connector fitting for connection of the lightning conductor. The
conductor contact area must be at least 1-1/2 inches on all sides of the cable.

Air Terminal Braces: When air terminals exceed 24 inches in height, they shall be
braced or supported at least one-half of the terminal height in accordance with section
8.1.6 of UL 96A. The brace shall be at least ¼ inch rod, constructed from aluminum,
copper/copper alloy, stainless steel, or hot dipped galvanized if made of steel and shall be
flattened on the end for attachment to the structure with at least a 10-24 bolt or screw.
 Conductors: Lightning conductors do not fall into the basic wire size categories, as
most field electricians know them.

Class I- main conductors: Stranded copper conductors shall be at least 57,400

circular mils at 187 lbs per 1000 ft. Aluminum conductors shall be at least 98,600 cir.mils
at 95 lbs per 1000 ft.

Secondary or bonding conductors the minimum size shall be 26,240 cir. mils for
copper and 41,100 cir. mils for aluminum

Class II- main conductors; shall be not less than 115,000 cir. mils for copper
conductor at 375 lbs per 1000 ft and, 192,000 cir. mils. for aluminum conductors at 190 lbs
per 1000 ft. Secondary or bonding conductors the minimum size shall be 26,240 cir. mils
for copper and 41,100 cir. mils for aluminum.

Grounding Electrodes: Air Terminals, main and secondary conductors plus all
other ancillary parts are for the sole purpose of conducting a lightning stroke to earth and
dissipating it through the use of various grounding electrode methods.

The grounding electrode shall be a rod of not less than ½ inch in diameter, and 8
feet in length and be of copper-clad steel, solid copper, or stainless steel. The rod shall
extend vertically not less than 10 feet into the earth and below the frost line where
possible.

Concrete encased shall only be used in new construction. It shall be the same
diameter as the main-size conductor. It shall be 20 feet in length and be encased in at least
2 inches of concrete. Or Steel rebar shall also be permitted as a grounding electrode. At
least 20 feet of (#4 or ½ in dia.) steel reinforcing bar shall be used. Overlapping at least 20-
rod diameters shall be maintained if more than one piece is spliced in the footing, using tie
wire or welding.

A main-sized conductor can also be buried from each down conductor in the form of
a radial. A radial conductor must be at least 12 feet in length and buried at least 18 in
depth.

A ground ring shall be permitted if at least 18 inches under the earth and equal in
size to the main-size conductor.

Ground plate(s) shall be permitted if 2 sq. feet or more in size and 0.032 in thick or
more and buried not less than 18 inches under the soil.

Where there is shallow topsoil, a combination of the methods above shall be

permitted to provide an effective means for dissipating a lightning stroke.
 Common Grounding and Bonding: The lightning protection system grounding
system shall be bonded and connected to the grounding electrode system for the electrical
service, communication system ground, any antennae system grounds, as well as
underground metallic piping systems with main size lightning protection cable and
connectors see exception in 10.4.2 for the utilization of ground in accordance with Articles
250, 620,800, and 810.

These systems shall include the water service, well casings located within 25 feet of the
structure, gas piping, underground conduits, underground liquefied petroleum gas piping
etc. The connection to any utility gas line shall be on the customer’s side of the meter. The
bonding conductor shall be sized the same as the main down conductor and main system
conductor.

Study of the maintenance aspects of the lightning

protection system and suggest suitable corrective
actions.
Maintenance Considerations All installed lightning protection systems shall be accessible
for testing, maintenance and inspection. All lightning protection components shall be
visible to facilitate future maintenance project, file containing layout drawings and
lightning design documentations should be passed to client upon project completion. The
lightning protection system should be certified and or inspected by a consultant in
accordance with lightning protection inspection LPI 177 standard of inspection guide for
certified systems. Monthly periodic visual inspections shall be performed to verify the
followings: there are no lose connections that might result in high- resistance connections,
no corrosions, vibration, or substandard air termination, all down conductors and
grounding electrode are intact and all conductors and system components are tightened
securely to their mounting surface. 3.9 Testing Procedure: According to testing standards
LPI 175; the following test shall be performed on the lightning protection systems.

 Perform continuity test on a representative sample of concealed building lightning

protection component
 Perform a ground resistance test of the grounding electrode system and any
individual electrodes that are accessible or visible to test
 Perform fall of potential ground (three point) test at each test point
 Use visible down conductors at building exterior as necessary
 Use of a clamp on resistance meter shall be approved by the AHJ prior to use
  Perform continuity testing to determine if suitable equipotent has been established
for any new services (utility, communication, fire protection, power, CCTV, etc) or
construction that has been added to the structure since the last inspection

Risk assessment required for lightning protection system: Lightning protection expert
should carry out detailed inputs to risk assessment in accordance to NFPA 780 for
structures and facilities. The choice of whether the simplified or detail assessment shall be
basic or complex will depend on the information needs during any risk assessment.

Control Measures that relate to Lightning Protection in Building Structure.

It is very important to protect building structures against lightning and its effect, as there is
no equipment or device able to change the natural weather phenomena in order to prevent
lightning discharges.

One of the control measures to be put in place in protecting building against lightning
discharges is to ensure that correctly designed air termination system is used in the
building. The function of this is to capture the lightning discharge current and dissipate it
harmlessly to earth via the down conductor and earth termination system.

The air termination components should be installed on corners, exposed points and edges
of the building structure.

Also, the quality of earth termination system should not be compromised.

The equipment should be well- earthed. The earth termination system is very important for
the dispersion of lightning current safely and effectively into the ground.

A good earth connection should possess low electrical resistance between the electrode
and the earth and also good corrosion resistance.

The general principle, according to is that the equipment that needs to be protected must
be located in the Lightning Protection Zone whose electromagnetic characteristics are
compatible with the equipment’s stress withstand or immunity capability. All the electronic
equipment in the building should be protected against Lightning Electromagnetic pulse
(LEMP) by using relevant surge protection measures.
Collection Area (Ac)=(L x W) + 2 (L x H) + 2(W x H) +(3.14 x H2)

Collection Area (Ac) = (60×28)+2x(60×23)+2x(28×23)+(3.14x23x23)

Collection Area (Ac) =7389 Meter2

Probable No of Strikes to Building / Structure (P)= Ac x Ng x 10-6 No’s / Year

Probable No of Strikes to Building / Structure (P)= 7389x69x10–6 No’s / Year

Probable No of Strikes to Building / Structure (P)= 05098 No’s / Year

Overall Multiplying Factor (M) =A x B x C x D x E

Application of Structure (A)= Houses & Buildings as per Table Multiplying Factor = 0.3

Type of Constructions (B)= Steel framed encased without Metal Roof as per Table
Multiplying Factor =0.2

Contests or Consequential Effects (C)= Domestic / Office Buildings as per Table Multiplying
Factor =0.3

Degree of Isolation (D)= Structure in a large area having greater height as per Table
Multiplying Factor =0.4
Type of Country (E)= Flat country at any level so as per Table Multiplying Factor =0.3

Overall Multiplying Factor (M) =0.3×0.2×0.3×0.4×0.3

Overall Multiplying Factor (M) =0.00216

Overall Risk Factor Calculated (xc)= M x P

Overall Risk Factor Calculated (xc)= 0.00216 x0.05098

Overall Risk Factor Calculated (xc)= 000110127

Base Area of Structure (Ab) = (LxW)

Base Area of Structure (Ab)=60×28

Base Area of Structure (Ab)=1680 Meter2

Perimeter of Structure (P) =2x (L+W)

Perimeter of Structure (P)=2x(60+28)

Perimeter of Structure (P)=176 Meter

Lightning Protection Required or Not

If Calculated Overall Risk Factor Calculated > Maximum Acceptable Overall Risk Factor
than only Lighting Protection Required

Here Calculated Overall Risk Factor is 0.000110127 > Max Acceptable Overall Risk Factor is
00000001

Lightning Protection is Required

No of Down Conductor

Down Conductors As per Base Area of Structure (s) =1+(Ab-100)/300

Down Conductors As per Base Area of Structure (s) =1+(1680-100)/300

Down Conductors As per Base Area of Structure (s) =6 No’s

Down Conductors As per Perimeter of Structure (t)= P/30

Down Conductors As per Perimeter of Structure (t)= 176/30

Down Conductors As per Perimeter of Structure (t)= 6 No’s

Minimum No of Down Conductor is 6 No’s

Results:

Lightning Protection is Required

Down Conductors As per Base Area of Structure (s) =6 No’s

Down Conductors As per Perimeter of Structure (t)= 6 No’s

Minimum No of Down Conductor is 6 No’s.