Lightning Protection System Design

Harger Lightning & Grounding

2005
Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2005
 Lightning Protection System
Design

I. What is Lightning/Lightning Protection?

II. Basic Principles of Lightning Protection
III. Applicable Codes/Standards
IV. Lightning Protection Design Basics
V. “Zone of Protection”
VI. Basic Components
VII. “ Typical ” Roof Top Detail
VIII. Inspections

Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2005

 I. What is Lightning?

Consider Lightning a Gigantic Electrical Spark traveling between

Cloud to Cloud or Cloud to Earth containing an average Charge of
30 to 50 Million Volts and a Current of 18,000 Amps.

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2005
 Lightning Damage Can Be Traced To

Inadequate (or no) direct strike protection

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 Risks Posed from a Direct Strike

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2005
 Risks Posed from an Indirect Strike

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2005
 What is Lightning Protection?

NFPA 780 -

A Complete System of Air

Terminals, Conductors, Ground
Terminals, Interconnecting
Conductors, Surge Suppression
Devices, and other Connectors
or Fittings required to complete
the System.

Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2005

 What is not Lightning Protection?

Early Streamer Emission – ESE

Radioactive
Pulsed Voltage
Sparking – Controlled Leader Trigger (CLT)

Lightning Elimination
Dissipation Array Systems (DAS)
Charge Transfer Systems (CTS)

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 Non Conventional Lightning Protection Systems

These systems are not allowed by:

US National Fire Protection Association

(NFPA)
IEEE
IEC
US Military
Underwriters Laboratory (UL)

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 II. Basic Principles of Lightning Protection

Intercept the Lightning Discharge

Safely Conduct the Lightning Currents
Dissipate the Lightning Currents in the Earth
Minimize the Effects of Lightning Currents
Proper Bonding & routing of down-conductors
Surge Suppression
Protect incoming power circuits
Protect incoming telephone/data circuits

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 III. Applicable Codes/Standards

NFPA 780
UL 96A
UL 96

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 NFPA 780

Standard for the Installation of Lightning

Protection Systems (2004)
Most Active Standard Available
Not a Code, (not enforced)

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 UL 96 & 96A

UL96A - Installation Standard

“Master Label”
Independent Third Party Testing

UL96 - Manufacturing Standard for Listed

LP Components

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 UL Master Label Program

Must be UL Listed to be Eligible

Materials must be UL Listed

System will be subjected to

Inspection by UL

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 UL Master Label Program

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 IV. Lightning
Protection
Design
Basics

Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2005

 NFPA 780
Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
2004 Edition

Chapter 3 Protection for Ordinary Structures

3-6 Strike Termination Devices. Strike termination

devices shall be provided for all parts of a structure that are
likely to be damaged by direct lightning flashes. Metal parts
of a structure that are exposed to direct lightning flashes and
that have a metal thickness of 3/16 in. (4.8 mm) or greater
shall only require connection to the lightning protection
system. Such connections shall provide a minimum of two
paths to ground. Strike termination devices shall not be
required for those parts of a structure located within a zone
of protection.

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 NFPA 780
Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
Continued…

3-6.1 Air Terminal Height. The tip of an air terminal shall

be not less than 10 in. (254mm) above the object or area it
is to protect. (See figure 3-6.1.)

Figure 3-6.1 Air terminal height.

A: 10 in. (254 mm). See 3-6.1.
24 in. (600 mm). See 3-6.2.
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 NFPA 780
Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
Continued…

3-6.2 Air Terminal Support. Air terminals shall be secured

against overturning by attachment to the object to be
protected or by means of braces that shall be permanently and
rigidly attached to the building. An air terminal exceeding 24
in. (600 mm) in height shall be supported at a point not less
than one-half its height.

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 NFPA 780
Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
Continued…

3-8.1 Strike termination devices

shall be placed at or within 2 ft
(0.6m) of ridge ends on pitched
roofs or at edges and outside
corners of flat or gently sloping
roofs.

Strike termination devices shall

be placed on ridges of pitched
roofs and around the perimeter
of flat or gently sloping roofs at
intervals not exceeding 20 ft
(6m).

Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2005

 NFPA 780
Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
Continued…

3-8.1 Strike
termination devices 24
in. (600mm) or more
above the object or
area to be protected
shall be permitted to be
placed at intervals not
exceeding 25 ft (7.6m).

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 NFPA 780
Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
Continued…

3-8.1.2 Flat or Gently

Sloping Roof Area. Flat
or gently sloping roofs
that exceed 50 ft (15m)
in width or length shall
have additional strike
termination devices
located at intervals not to
exceed 50 ft (15m) on
the flat or gently sloping
areas.

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 Down Conductor Placement

Minimum of
two per
structure
One per
every 100’ of
perimeter
Average
spacing will
not exceed
100’
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 NFPA 780
Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
Continued…

3-9.5 Conductor
Bends. No bend of a
conductor shall form
an included angle of
less than 90 degrees,
nor shall it have a
radius of bend less
than 8 in. (203mm).

Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2005

 NFPA 780
Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
Continued…

3-13 Ground Terminals.

Each down conductor shall
terminate at a ground terminal
dedicated to the lightning
protection system. The design,
size, depth, and number of
ground terminals used shall
comply with 3-13.1 through 3-
13.4.

Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2005

 NFPA 780
Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
Continued…

Connections to Building Steel

Clean to base metal

Bonding plates 8 in2
minimum contact area
Welded
Brazed

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 V. Zone of Protection

A Zone of Protection is the space

adjacent to a lightning protection
system that is substantially immune to
direct lightning discharges. This can
be determined using the Rolling
Sphere Method.

Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2005

 Rolling Sphere Method
3-7.3 Rolling Sphere Model.
3-7.3.1 The zone of protection shall include the
space not intruded by a rolling sphere having a
radius of 150 ft (46 m). When the sphere is tangent
to earth and resting against a strike termination
device, all space in the vertical plane between the
two points of contact and under the sphere are in
the zone of protection.

Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2005

 Rolling Sphere Method

A zone of protection is also formed when

such a sphere is resting on two or more
strike termination devices and shall include
the space in the vertical plane under the
sphere and between those devices, as
shown in Figure 3-7.3.1.

All possible placements of the sphere must

be considered when determining the zone of
protection using the rolling sphere model.
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 Rolling Sphere Method

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 Rolling Sphere Formula

d = eh1(300 – h1) - e h2(300 – h2)

where:

d = horizontal distance (ft)

h1 = height of the higher roof (ft)
h2 = height of the lower roof (top of the object) (ft)

h1

h2

d
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 Rolling Sphere Formula

Use of this formula is based on a 150 ft.

(46-m) striking distance. For the formula to be
valid, the sphere must be tangent to either the
lower roof or in contact with the earth, and in
contact with the vertical side of the higher portion
of the structure. In addition, the difference in
height between the upper and lower roof or earth
must be 150’ or less.

Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2005

 For Example...

h1= 100’
h1
h2 = 50’
h2
d = 20’

Is the lower roof in the zone of protection?

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 For Example...

d= 100(300 – 100) - 50(300 – 50)

d= 20000 - 12500

d= 141.42 - 111.80

d= 29.62’

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 Rolling Sphere Formula

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 VII. Basic Components

Air Terminals
Lightning Conductors
Ground Terminals
Connectors/Fittings
Surge Suppression Devices

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 Types of Air Terminals

Plain Air Terminals

Safety Air Terminals
Flexible Air Terminals

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 Types of Lightning Conductors

UL Listed Lightning Conductors

Copper
Aluminum
Class I
Class II

Structural Steel
Framework

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 Types of Ground Terminals

Ground Rods

Plain/Sectional Copper-Clad Steel,

Copper, Galvanized Steel,
Stainless Steel

Enhanced Ground Rods

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 Types of Ground Terminals
Continued...

Ground Plates
Ground Mesh
Concrete Encased
Electrodes
Reinforcing Steel
Copper Conductors

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 Connectors/Fittings
Functions
Bonds Conductors to Strike
Terminals and Ground
Terminals
Bond Metal Bodies to Provide
a Path to Ground
Alleviates Potential
Differences between System
and Metal Bodies
Helps Prevent Flashover
Potentials

Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2005

 Surge Suppression Devices

Helps Prevent Surge Currents

from Entering the Structure
via Electrical, Data, Phone,
Cable Lines, etc.

Integral Part of Total

Protection Package

UL96A & NFPA Surge

Suppression Requirements
vague

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 VIII.

Roof Top Detail

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Details
 IX. Inspection and Maintenance

Inspection after Installation - UL

Master Label

Ongoing Inspection -
NFPA 780 Appendix B Recommends
Periodic (Annual) Inspections

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 Thank You

Harger Lightning & Grounding © 2003