Summer is over and the risk of your property being struck by lightning has dramatically decreased, but that thought-train leads to complacency, warns Johannesburg-based lightning protection specialist Pro Lightning Protection Services. “Now is the best time to re-assess your system and run a maintenance schedule to ensure that everything is operating correctly.”
The primary purpose of a lightning protection system is to safe-guard lives and property by redirecting the enormous energy of a lightning strike safely into the ground. “Without a robust grounding system in place, lightning currents can follow unintended paths through conductive materials, posing a significant risk of fire, explosion, and injury,” warns the team.
When lightning strikes a building or structure, it induces large electrical currents that must be dissipated quickly and safely to prevent damage. A properly designed grounding system ensures that these currents are directed into the earth, where they can disperse harmlessly without causing damage to the structure or its occupants. Pro Lightning says that “a grounding system helps establish equipotential bonding throughout a structure, ensuring that all metallic components, electrical systems, and conductive materials are at the same electrical potential. This minimises the risk of side flashes, arcing, and voltage differentials that can occur during a lightning strike, further enhancing safety”.
It is also important to consider the integration of your protection system with existing building systems. “The grounding system must be integrated seamlessly with other building systems, including electrical, structural, and telecommunications systems, to provide comprehensive protection against lightning-induced surges and transient overvoltages. Co-ordination between different trades and disciplines is essential to ensure proper installation and functionality of the grounding system.”
Regular maintenance, inspection, and testing of the grounding system are critical to ensure its ongoing effectiveness and reliability. Periodic measurements of soil resistivity, ground resistance, and continuity checks help identify potential issues, such as corrosion, deterioration, or high resistance, and facilitate timely corrective actions to maintain optimal performance.
“The grounding system is the cornerstone of lightning protection, providing a vital link between structure, electrical systems, and the earth. By ensuring the proper design, installation, and maintenance of the grounding system, building owners and operators can mitigate the risks associated with lightning strikes,” concludes the team.
Enquiries: www.prolightning.co.za
