Lightning Protection Technical Specification – Electrical Design

This article describes the requirements for safeguarding of personnel and equipment from hazards associated from exposure to lightning, more will be discussed about codes and standards for lightning protection.

  1. SCOPE

2.1      This standard shall be followed for all designs produced by Comapny.

  1. Related Documents

3.1      National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

780                 Standard for Installation of Lightning Protection Systems

3.2      International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

62305             Protection against lightning – Part 3: Physical damage to structures and life hazard

  1. DEFINITIONS

4.1       Lightning Protection System—Complete system of air terminals, down conductors, and ground terminals. The purpose of the system is to provide a low resistance path for lightning to reach ground.

4.2       Air terminals—Pointed solid or tubular rods of specified size and material provided with a mounting base having connections for a down conductor intended to intercept the lightning discharge.

4.3      Down conductor—The portion of lightning protection system designed to carry lightning discharge between air terminals and ground.

4.4      Ground terminal—The portion of lightning protection system extending into the earth, such as ground rod and ground grid, to bring lightning discharge into electrical contact with the earth.

  1. DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

5.1      SAFETY

  1. The safety of personnel is of paramount concern in the design of lightning protection systems. Lightning protection shall be applied throughout a facility wherever undue risk to personnel would result if left unprotected.
  2. In areas containing flammable gases, or vapors that are or may be present in the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixture, lightning protection is required to minimize the heat and arcing associated with a lightning discharge and hence minimize the risk of an energy release which could cause personnel injury.
  3. In an area containing required safety or backup equipment such as firewater pumps, lightning protection shall be applied to minimize the risk of damage to this equipment.
  4. Unless protected otherwise, all metal structures over 10 feet (3 meters) tall, including structural steel framework of buildings, shall be connected to the appropriate number of ground terminals, thereby minimizing the shock hazard of any personnel who may be touching the structure at the instant of a lightning discharge.

5.2      Reliability

  1. The reliability of plant equipment and system must meet the on-stream requirements of our customers. Lightning protection must be applied to minimize equipment damage which would adversely affect our ability to meet these on-stream requirements.
  2. In plant locations of high lightning frequencies, any plant areas containing any equipment considered critical for the facility to remain on-stream and operable shall be protected from lightning discharges.

 

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