Lightning Protection

[joan271273]

In the installation of lightning protection for equipment or buildings I have found reference in certain documents about the need to avoid embedding the lightning protection "down conductors" because of possible structural damages that can happen in the route followed by this down conductor. I cannot find this in any published standard but certain "clients" believed to be the correct standard

1.- Is this correct.
2.- If yes, please advise standard.


thanks

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: Reference
1. IEEE Std 142-1991 "IEEE Recommended Practice for Grounding of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems"
2. ANSI/NFPA 78-1989 "Lightning Protection Code"
3. Lee R.H. "Lightning Protection of Buildings," IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, Vol. IA-15, May/June 1979
could provide a good start for the safe lightning practice. Specifically, Paragraph 3.3.3 "Requirements for Good Protection" and 3.3.4 "Practices for Lightning Protection." Normally, the grounding connections are better not to be embedded for many reasons. One of them is the periodical checking of ground connections. Once this is observed then the structural damage concern is resolved. Reference 1 cites more References on the lightning protection, e.g. Reference 3.

 

[GYakle]

IEEE80 Paragraph 12.6, Concrete-Enchased Electrodes, discusses advantages and disadvantages. In substation applications we choose not to ground reinforcing due to high currents vaporizing the moisture in the concrete.