Lightning Protection of High Rise Building and Plant in Indian Context

If you maintain a black paint coating on it, that will protect it from lightening.

--Editor Crankshaft

Hey Please download this pdf, www.vit.ac.in/cdmm/culture-of-safety-against-lightning.pdf the indian standards for lightnng protection may be referred through it.

I have found IS 2309 to be very useful in the design of Lightning Protection of Buildings & Structures. Please be more specific in your question so that I may help quoting from IS 2309.

We refer also IS 2309 here in California.

Just a general caution: there is a dispute in the IEEE over a new (revised) standard being proposed (and actually, already approved, but now being contested).

A summary of the allegations against Draft Standard 998 is that the "document has been corrupted by ERICO by including the Collection Volume Method (CVM) / Eriksson's Model, so as to promote the sale of its Dynashere and other ESE (Early Streamer Emission) lightning rods".

AFAIK, the documents referred to so far in this thread do not reference the CVM method or the ESE lightning rods. I would not base any design on either of those. My reading of the discussions on the lightningprotection@yahoogroups.com mail list make me very suspicious of the CVM or the ESE lightning rods.

Also, it seems a pretty sad thing for the IEEE standards effort.

specific questions may please be noted hereunder:-

1. What is the rules for selection the roof grid(dimension) and no of downconductor

2. What are types og grid we are using inndifferent cases?

3. How the grid is to be fixed in roof, in case of plant and in case of domestic building?

Refer BS6651 or IEC... or LPI

please dont give any reference..please give the link from ahere all these quarries can be resolved...refrain from adding in garbge list by putting reference ,awakwrd lecture etc...

Internationally accepted standards are not garbage but guidelines for those who do not know basics.

it is the question of having the standard..instead of mentioning the standard or code ..it is highly wanted that any link or over mail the standard is sent to the particular person.. It is becoming a common practise of mentioning the standard unfortunately nobody is asking for this...relevant standard can be known from any site.. things which can not be known from site is some basic departmenatl idea....we should give response when and only when we are giving right answer of the question asked or any link from the answers are available..otherwise better to maintain silence to honour the discussion....

Hey! you better spend some bucks and get the proper standard, its not free ok? refrain from asking standards which are protected by corporate rights? understand!!!

Hello everyone,

Can any one tell me whether I still require a seperate lightning arresstor atop my factory buidling shed (15 mtr high) when the entrire factory roof is covered with galvalum sheet and when my factory building structure is made of steel beams.

Thanks in advance

First you have to carry out risk assessment study for which details are available in IS code or ready reckoners are available in the web. Any body can do the calculation with available data and this will help establish whether you need a dedicated lightning protection scheme for your factory.

In case your installation falls under probable risk category, you will have to provide dedicated lightning protection system. The minimum roof sheet thickness prescribed to avoid dedicated lightning protection system is 4mm. Lightning protection codes describes the methods, types & requirements of providing a dedicated lightning protection scheme. If you are unable to assimilate the codes, appoint a good & competent consultant to suggest the required scheme.

Thanks Mr.Pattbhiraman,

I have calculated and found that the building requires lightning protection based on the risk assesment as per IS code. But my doubt was whether to have a seperate metal lightning spike at the roof top with down conductor when my whole buidling is made of steel structure. However, the only point is that the thickness of the roofing sheet is only 0.8 mm or 1.0 mm max. Can you please tell me whether this 4 mm thickness mentioned by you is also mentioned in the IS code. Sorry If I am troubling you and pardon me for my poor eye sight for not being able to find this in the IS code

IS does not differentiate between horizontal and vertical air terminations. Most often horizontal air termination network at roof level works better because of ease of bonding other utilities with the lightning air termination network. If you have assessed that your factory needs dedicated lightning scheme, it is better to get help from a competent consultant so as to install a well designed scheme. Yes, 4mm thickness for roof sheet is mentioned in IS code if you are to do away with air termination network of your lightning scheme. A metallic structure without proper arrangement for equipotential bonding and protection against side flashes escalates the risk of damages due to lightning strikes than a RCC structure. By the way IS codes deals with conventional lightning protection schemes only.

Thanks all for the valuable inputs and guidance.