Lightning Rod Standards

Where a lightning rod poses a recognized hazard of impalement and a there is a feasible means of protection the employer is required to provide that protection.

Lightning rod standards.

Under the general duty clause we generally consider employers to be required to protect employees exposed to the hazard of impalement on sharp objects. 1 ordinary structures 2 miscellaneous structures and special occupancies 3 heavy duty stacks 4 structures containing flammable vapors flammable gases or liquids that can give off flammable vapors br 5 structures housing explosive materials br 6 wind. If lightning hits the structure it will preferentially strike the rod and be conducted to ground through a wire instead of passing through the structure where it could start a fire or cause electrocution. Lightning rods and the accompanying protection system are designed to protect a house or building from a direct lightning strike and in particular a lightning initiated fire.

Note that lightning protection systems do not prevent lightning from striking the structure but rather intercept a lightning strike provide a conductive path for the harmful electrical discharge to follow the appropriate ul listed copper or aluminum cable and disperse the energy safely into the ground. Reducing lightning hazards when working outdoors employers supervisors and workers should understand lightning risks characteristics and precautions to minimize workplace hazards. Lightning standards our lps france design offices technicians perform all technical studies according to french and international standards in force. For a finite period bs en iec 62305 and bs 6651 ran in parallel but as of august 2008 bs 6651 has been withdrawn and now bs en iec 63205 is the recognised standard for lightning protection.

The most complex projects can be realized thanks to a deep knowledge of the different standards by our services. The recommended practices in the united states for lightning protection systems lps have been the nfpa 780 standard for the installation of lightning protection systems and ul96a installation requirements for lightning protection systems. The bs en iec 62305 standard for lightning protection was originally published in september 2006 to supercede the previous standard bs 6651 1999. A lightning rod or lightning conductor is a metal rod mounted on a structure and intended to protect the structure from a lightning strike.

In a lightning protection system a lightning rod is a single comp. Lightning is unpredictable and can strike outside the heaviest rainfall areas or even up to 10 miles from any rainfall. We examine lightning protection system components and completed installations for compliance with ul s internationally recognized standards for lightning protection systems ul 96a or other recognized national standards such as or nfpa 780.