When considering building maintenance and safety, a lightning strike is not always the first thing that springs to mind but ongoing changes to the climate are resulting in more frequent lightning strikes. A Lightning Protection System is a system that has been designed to protect your infrastructure and contents from being either directly or indirectly affected by a strike.
Not only does lightning affect a building structurally but it can also interfere with operational aspects of a business such as electrics, telecoms and computers. These are susceptible to the power surges created by a lightning strike and can be disastrous for a business resulting in data loss, fires and even loss of human life.
How does a Lightning Protection System work?
Lightning Protection Systems are designed to channel current safely to the ground. They do this using a series of parts:
• Air Termination Network: this part is designed to protect the structure on the roof. This is what gets hit if lightning is to strike.
• Down Conductor Network: this carries the current from roof level down the side of the structure giving the current an easy root toward ground.
• Earth Termination Network: receives any electrical current from the down conductors and takes this into the earth so it can dissipate safely.
Read more about how a Lightning Protection System works here.
Lightning Protection Services
Test & Inspection: it is an essential part of the ‘Electricity at work act’ that all lightning protection system be tested, inspected and maintained annually in line with the relevant British standard. Harcon lightning protection services offer a range of services over 1, 3 and 5 years, with automatic service reminders, digital photographic reports and full certification… Read more
Remedial Repairs: all lightning protection systems must be maintained and ‘fit for purpose’. Harcon Lightning Protection Services will carry out minor repairs on site at the time of testing to fixed, pre-agreed rates to remove pointless and expensive return visits. All remedial repairs are carried out by expert engineers in line with British standards and current market ‘best practice’… Read more
Surge Protection: The secondary effects of a lightning strike, power surge or transient voltage can be devastating. Expensive, delicate electronic equipment, computers servers, telephones and building management systems can be badly damaged. Harcon Lightning Protection Services can supply and install a range of devices specifically to protect against such events and reduce the risk of lost data, damaged equipment and long periods of ‘down time’. All installations comply with BSEN 62305, BS7430 and BS7671
Design & Installation: Harcon Lightning Protection Services are able to offer a full service from initial risk assessment, design, specification, installation and commissioning for any lighting protection or earthing application. Our experienced design team are fully accredited and capable of designing to BSEN62305 and BS7430… Read more