There are around 40 to 50 flashes of lightning every second around the world, or nearly one and a half billion each year. Not only is the number of strikes concerning, but each strike can contain 100 million to 1 billion volts and burn billions of watts.

Such voltage and frequency create irreversible physical injury and property damage, as well as unanticipated equipment downtime, costly replacements, and production schedule interruptions.

Lightning strikes may never be planned, but preparing your buildings with a lightning protection system should be. Lightning Protection System Suppliers in UAE can help you secure your building!

What Is the Purpose of a Lightning Protection System?

There is no known way to prevent a lightning discharge from occurring. A lightning protection system’s objective is to restrict the passage of a discharge in such a way that personal harm or property damage is avoided.

The necessity for protection should be assessed in the early stages of structure design by architects, designers, developers, and engineers. Although no specific regulations may be established, broad principles can be used to determine the level of protection required.

The general considerations to examine are the level of risk that lightning provides to occupants of the building, equipment, structural damage, and the problems that result from a lightning-caused failure.

How Does a Lightning Protection System Work?

The basic methods and accompanying components required to successfully prevent lightning damage are outlined below:

1. Intercept the Lightning Flash

Lightning rods or air terminals intercept the hit at a desirable location, such as the top of a building, and assist to direct the energy to the ground, reducing the danger of harm.

The type and placement of effective strike termination devices (such as lightning rods or air terminals) are critical.

To optimally catch lightning strikes, the following considerations for air terminal placement should be taken, which are often depending on material type:

• Install the air terminal as close to the roof edges as possible.
• Secure as required.
• Choose materials that are resistant to corrosion.
• Avoid creating trip hazards on the roof’s surface.
• Avoid locating in regions where water may pool (e.g. gutters).
• Avoid roof penetrations for conductor installation.

2. Bring the Lightning Current Down to Earth

Down conductors are the components needed to connect the air terminations to the earth-termination system. They normally follow the profile of the structure without being placed in areas where individual safety may be compromised.

Down conductors should provide several parallel pathways for lightning energy discharge to the earth. This reduces the risk of current density, and hence the risk of side flashing. This also lowers the electromagnetic radiation effects of the impulse current at internal structure locations.

Talk with your lightning protection system supplier in UAE to get an overview of how you can protect your building.

3. Transfer Current to the Earth

An effective earthing or grounding system is required for the overall reliability of the lightning protection system.

Earthing systems must be considered in the following ways:

• Providing a low-impedance network to dissipate the lightning impulse’s rapid rise.
• Reducing the possibility of touch and step risks.
• Long-term system performance, i.e. material and connection quality.

4. Construct an Equipotential Bond

Equipotential bonding is required to eliminate voltage gradients, lowering the risk of electric shock or electrical device failure.

Each component, from the air termination system to the conductors to the grounding system, must work together to successfully transport discharge from interception to dissipation without endangering people or the building.

To be effective overall, the lightning protection system must:

• Reduce structural thermal or mechanical deterioration.
• Avoid sparking, which can result in a fire or explosion.
• Limit step and touch voltages to reduce the danger of occupant damage.
• Protect internal electrical and electronic systems.

Conclusion

Protect your building and its content and occupants from lightning damage. Contact JSM Energy, the leading lightning protection system supplier in the UAE, for the best lightning protection for your buildings.