What is the principle of the lightning protection system?
Want to provide the best lightning protection for your home and family? Did you know that lightning is attracted to objects with low resistance?
Yes exactly! They can be attracted both by natural elements such as trees and objects near the ground, and by man-made ones - building structures, wind turbines and others. They usually target low resistance objects that are not properly grounded - electrical wires, metal poles, etc.
Not sure how to build your security system? In this article, we at Blitz Guard will explain how the lightning protection system works.
What you should Know?
The main function of the lightning protection device is to provide a safe path for the voltage from the lightning to the ground. For safety reasons, this system must also respond to any induced electrical potential.
The design of the system may differ depending on the level of protection and the location of the structure. The number and placement of individual elements also vary depending on the architecture of the building or facility. The principle of operation always follows one goal – providing the best protection.
Although lightning protection systems are designed with attention to the smallest detail, protected objects cannot be isolated from the outside world and the effects of lightning charges. This means that their construction can be affected by the indirect effects of lightning.
For example, when lightning strikes directly on wires or distribution lines, the voltage spreads along the wires and can be transmitted to devices in the connected structures. In the case of direct lightning discharges in the protected object or near it, overvoltages are induced far above the withstand voltages of the electrical equipment in it, which is the main cause of permanent damage to the same.
Because of this, external lightning protection systems are built with additional protections that prevent induced or transmitted currents.
External lightning protection system.
To protect a building or structure from lightning, a lightning protection system must be designed. It must meet not only the Bulgarian regulatory requirements
- Ordinance No. 4/2010, as well as European standards such as BDS EN 62305 from 2018, EN 62561 from 2018 and others.
This system is made up of several elements, the purpose of which is to guarantee the integrity of the structure and protect it in the best possible way. The external system is the external part of the lightning protection that intercepts and conducts the lightning current to ground.
It consists of:
● An interception system (lightning rod) that catches lightning when it strikes the building.
● At least two conductors that carry the lightning current to ground.
● Grounding device that disperses the currents and at the same time limits the risks to the systems and people in the vicinity of the installations.
Internal protection system.
Surges caused by lightning can affect the power grid and cause damage to wiring, home appliances and electronics. They can enter installations through external low-voltage cable lines, telecommunications, IT or radio communication networks, as well as caused by electromagnetic induction due to lightning discharges in the vicinity of the site. Usually, this overvoltage is a major cause of accidents and electric shocks.
In order to ensure continuous protection, additional measures are required to protect the electrical equipment, electronic devices and the electrical system. An arrester is a device that is designed to limit surge levels as well as divert currents to ground.
Of course, every building and facility has different features and electrical systems. Therefore, we advise you to trust specialists with many years of experience in building your lightning protection system.
We at Blitz Guard have many years of experience and are ready to become your new partner! Contact our consultants by phone: 02/ 963 13 22.