How to avoid damage to people, buildings and equipment with an appropriate lightning protection system
The damage to people, buildings and electronic equipments caused by lightning strikes can be particularly serious in the workplace. Large office buildings, factories and other industrial facilities may suffer as a result, significant human and economic losses.
Here is it three tips guaranteed by the different international standards in order to avoid or minimize this damage:
- Risk Evaluation: Generally, the risk assessment compares the expected lightning incidence with the assumed probability of lightning strike on the structure. The rate between these two factors indicates lightning protection needed to be installed.
- External and internal system protection installation (lightning conductors, meshed conductors and surge protection): Depending on the level set, should be designed, installed and maintained the appropriate protection measures against lightning.
- Preventive protection: In those areas where risk assessment so determined, it is necessary to use a storm detection system that provides information in order to take the preventive measures that allow temporary preventive actions, complementing the external and internal protection systems.
Typically, in every country there are codes that may be related to lightning protection and in most cases, they are in line with the three tips above. Internationally, the main standards that deal with these aspects are IEC-EN 62305, UNE 21186, NFC 17102, IEC-EN 62561 and EN 50536.