Aluminum should never contact alkaline based paint surfaces or be embedded directly in concrete. Not so obvious, but reported as the greatest cause for required review of systems is the habit of workers from other trades removing and failing to reinstall system components because they do not understand the importance of the total lightning protection system design. }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Address: The Lightning Protection Institute focuses our efforts to educate professionals, owners, users, and the general public on safe and effective lightning protection and provides quality resources through our membership to accomplish this important service for the entire construction industry. Bonded Lightning Protection - CLOSED Lightning Protection Equipment Website 12 YEARS IN BUSINESS (210) 657-0400 6690 Tri County Pkwy Schertz, TX 78154 3. Through the use of check points, reviews, and on-site inspections, LPI-IP system certification ensures safety using qualified installer personnel and independent inspectors. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; Therefore, in some cases construction elements may be incorporated as strike terminations. Lightning Protection; Other Chemicals; Root Barriers. H\0l/I"v]a%8V|&9rvpwU'u|8u[Y]^ET|#^t*tAz3Uk4?xE7s]cC^EQz;TNXT]C_VKwA-uv+Wi"e.\@14,'y%bN'ay-{0)Ga2iYIf`Y 5`Xf9x _ ={B'pOGA-/___+,k_+,k#J~yO>e:|}k[ Our commitment to quality coupled with our aggressive pricing ensures you the best value on top-of-the line lightning protection, regardless of your application. Another consideration for your tree care company. Most devices have two or more internal elements to accomplish the task, and react at something around 150% of the standard operating voltage of the system. Cables need to be routed using long smooth bends of no less than 90 degrees. Bonding or the interconnection of the lightning protection system to other internal grounded metallic systems must be accommodated to eliminate the opportunityfor lightning to sideflash internally. 32S or Mini Conductor 17S is used on the trunk of the tree; one down conductor for trees with trunks up to 3' in diameter, two down conductors for larger trees. Finally, in high rise construction, building grounded systems are interconnected at grade level, roof level, and at intermediate levels to provide sufficient potential equalization between long conductor runs to avoid arc over. The high-performance system is designed, supplied, installed and commissioned by our technical specialists, by incorporating nationally and internationally recognised system designs and . Re-roofing the building, making additions to the buildings structural frame, or adding vent stacks or antennas for new internal processes are obvious areas needing review and treatment. Interconnection to gas lines shall be made on the customer side of the meter to avoid defeating any cathodic protection of service lines. In addition,we have on staff an LPI certified master installer with over 36 years of experience in the industry. LPI has implemented an inspection program for completed installations under the name LPI-IP. USA 1.1 Scope. The most dramatic changes involved in lightning protection system design come from adaptations in how we build and outfit the modern building, or what we might call the indoor plumbing factor. Aluminum Air Terminals, Tripod Supports, & Accessories, Copper Air Terminals, Tripod Supports, & Accessories, Bonding Plates, Lugs, Pipe Clamps, & Straps, Through Roof, Wall Connections & Accessories, Grounding Rods, Plates, Chemical Ground Rods, and Clamps, Weathervanes, Glass Ornaments, & Accessories. CategoriesNews Tagged With: lightning protection overview. However in many cases it is easier to use full size system components because designs place them close to desired bonding points. Add to Cart. Our key components are of superior die cast . A single lightning bolt is hotter than the surface of the sun. Main cables are highly conductive copper or aluminum that perform well in an external environment. js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0"; Tree LPS Literature and Brochures - Independent Protection Company The National Fire Protection Assoc. Houses with trees within ten feet of the structure and taller than the roof are most at risk to damage from side-flashes. Trees that are severely damaged by a lightning strike should be removed immediately to avoid potential failures. If the distance between potential paths is short enough the arc over or sideflash may occur through air or building materials, either of which creates the potential for fire or explosion. One of the major services we offer arborists is preliminary material estimates for the equipment required tree installations. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; The most recent edition of NFPA 780 Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems was published in 2017. Since aluminum materials have slightly lower current carrying capability and mechanical strength than similar sized copper products, listed and labeled materials for lightning protection include larger physical size parts. Typically, lightning protection is handled by tree services providers. Tree Protection Supply 2021 . It begins the bonding process against side flashes from system components to internal building systems. The components include: Lightning rods - divert the strike of the lightning from the home directly into the ground. $96.00 - $116.00 . The lightning protection industry began in the United States when Benjamin Franklin postulated that lightning was electricity, and a metal rod could be used to carry the lightning away from a building. SPDs designed for lightning surges must react quickly to the onset of the sharply rising waveform and be able to sustain the ground connection through the severe overvoltage incident, then reset to their monitoring role. In the second case, it would be impossible to make a good ground connection in the ordinary sense of the term, because most kinds of rock are insulating or at least of high resistivity; hence, in order to obtain an effective ground, more elaborate means are necessary. Rating: Leonard Rigid Plastic Mesh Tree Guards 6 In Diameter. Surge protectors - adding surge protectors can help keep appliances and electronics safe. The Standards are under continuous review for new products, construction techniques, and validated scientific developments to address the lightning hazard. Tree Pro Bark Pro 2 Ft (Set of 10) from $20.20 Vispore Weed Mat 3 Ft x 3 Ft . Strike termination devices must be suitable to accept direct lightning attachment and patterned to accept strikes before they reach insulated building materials. In this guide, we'll provide valuable information for both roofers and property managers about the . It carries 300 million volts of electricity - enough to wreak havoc . Since adding ground path length only serves to slow the reaction time of SPD components, the SPD device should be connected as directly to the grounding system as possible always with minimum lead length. Lightning is the direct cause of over 50 deaths and 400 injuries each year, and it is difficult to protect individuals in exposed outdoor areas. FACT: Tall trees DO NOT PROTECT. A very effective method of preserving and protecting prize trees. Total Site and Facility Lightning Protection Every year, there are over 25 million lightning strikes affecting 30% of U.S. businesses and causing over $10 billion in damage and disruption. These may include listed products for the purpose, or in some cases stainless steel components. Some lower potential lightning strokes could theoretically attach on flat planes away from strike terminations designed to the Standards, but the consequences are within acceptable limits for ordinary construction. }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Address: For longer length Lightning Rods add $1.00 per inch in copper .80 in aluminum. This impacts not only conductor sizing, but also keeps the lightning to our specified paths to minimize side-flashing to internal systems and lessen potential internal induction problems. 838 N 4th St. Tomahawk, WI 54487 Equip your home with whole-house surge protectors to protect your appliances. hXm67|EdIn#WYr$9g(7'iP01!gHiBD d*)L$j\GAQh0 The next step is to provide protection on circuits associated with electrical, communication, and/or data lines that can transmit lightning into a structure. With a UL Solutions Lightning Protection Professional Certification or status as a UL Listed Contractor, lightning protection system professionals can showcase their expertise to industry stakeholders. A lightning rod system doesn't repel or attract lightning; it merely facilitates that travel of electricity to the earth. This does not mean that the resistance of the ground connection must be low, but rather that the distribution of metal in the earth, or upon its surface in extreme cases, shall be such as to permit the dissipation of a lightning discharge without causing damage. Lightning seeks a path toward ground, so even with very conductive materials, the routing of cables needs to be maintained in a horizontal or downward coursing. Both charges are instantly canceled out, sparing the tree. As building becomes more dependent on smart technology, insulating those systems from catastrophic interruption is as critical as the systems themselves. An effective lightning protection system includes many essential parts. Alibaba.com. are available. 2023 Lightning Protection Institute | All Rights Reserved. These copper conductors will essentially reduce tree damage by redirecting the lightning's electrical charge. The exposed components for a lightning protection system are copper, aluminum, or other metal designed to carry current, provide bonding connections, and remain functional in an open weather environment. Stakes. As a matter of fact, they could actually make things worse. Lightning can travel through electrical systems, radio and television reception systems, and any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring. A copper cable and grounding system is used to intercept lightning's harmful electricity and conduct it safely underground and away from the tree, so that no damage occurs to the wood or the roots. KLP is a member of Lightning Protection Institute, Forest Fire Lookout Association, and is a UL listed contractor. In some cases, lightning struck trees must be removed due to structural degradation caused by the heat and mechanical forces generated by the electrical charge. Elements of this passive grounding system always serve a similar function, but the total design is specific for each particular structure. If the strike passes through the tree trunk and has splintered bark or exploded . Low profile structures may only need interconnection of systems near the roof level when they are in close proximity to lightning protection system components. Bonding devices are sized to provide adequate interconnection of systems to create potential equalization throughout the structure. The precise mechanisms whereby lightning currents cause damage are not completely understood, however. Splicing fittings must maintain contact with conductor lengths adequate to accomplish current transfer and weather the exposed environment. The Lightning Protection Institute is a nationwide not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to promote lightning protection education, awareness, and safety. Materials include Bare Copper, Lead Covered. Lightning protection equipment is available to help preserve trees of historic or sentimental value, and to protect trees in situations where they are likely to be struck by lightning. Independent Protection Company can provide everything you need. Under these favorable conditions, providing adequate means to dissipate the energy of a flash without chance of serious damage is a simple matter. Most are topped with a tall, pointed needle or a smooth, polished sphere. SPDs installed at utilization equipment should provide protection for all circuits feeding the device to provide a common ground point. The 'correct' name (accepted internationally) is Since internal grounded building systems permeate a structure, this potential exists at roof level, on or in building walls, and even potentially below grade. A grounding electrode network will be determined largely by the experience and judgment of the person planning the installation with due regard to the minimum requirements of the Standards, which are intended to cover the ordinary cases that are likely to be encountered, keeping in mind that, in general, the more extensive the underground metal available, the more effective the grounding system. Conductor Cables 3. And according to the National Weather Service, the average strike has an average magnitude of nearly 30,000 Amps.. Trees do not protect you or your structure from being hit by lightning. The cost ranges from $100 for just a surge protector to over $3,000 for rods and grounding system. 2). These unobtrusive components are preferred for ease of mounting and aesthetic reasons, and can be coordinated into a most effective configuration for all typical building constructions. Any and all of these items call for periodic inspection and maintenance to assure the system is functional when placed under lightning strike conditions, but it certainly could be ignored with serious unintended consequences. Lightning cable conductors may be concealed below or within construction in attics and wall spaces, or in concrete pours because the speed of lightning lowers the potential for heating of the conductors to the spark ignition temperature of building materials to well below damaging levels. Class II & Class III Lightning Protection products listed are for use with Heavy-Duty Smokestacks. Grounding electrodes should be installed below the frostline where possible. This ground level loop also accommodates connection with other building grounded systems. There are five elements that need to be in place to provide an effective lightning protection system. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); Most of these property losses could be minimized, if not eliminated, through the implementation of proper lightning protection for structures. Ground cable should be buried to a sufficient depth to avoid displacement or damage. Design Drawings by a LPI certified master designer. View a list of ISA Certified Arborists. Electronic equipment can be protected from the potentially destructive ef-fects of high-voltage transients. During a discharge of lightning current on a system of conductors, the grounding electrodes are to be thought of as the points through which the heavy current flows between the strike termination system and the earth about the structure. Surge Protection Devices are qualified at higher current levels to meet the needs associated with lightning attachments. We Accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express Cards & Checks: We are always moving forward in order to better serve our customers. This will be realized by placing grounding devices at the outer extremities, such as corners and outside walls of the structure, and avoiding as far as possible the flow of current under a building. Lightning is a powerful, destructive force of nature and will strike a building regardless of its type of roofing. Although the lightning protection Standards and the National Electrical Code only discuss surge protection on internal equipment as optional, this may be a critical protection need for the owner. Three generations of his family have been installing lightning rods. Across the U.S., a lightning strikes on average 25 million times per year and occurs at a rate of 100 flashes per second worldwide. Bringing metallic services into a structure provides paths for lightning to follow from the outside environment to create hazards within. Incorporating the system into the construction allows interconnection of structural metal framing and internal grounded systems, and provides protection against displacement and maintenance issues which are beneficial in extending the life of a system. The application of SPDs along with the current carrying components and interconnection of grounded building systems provides the complete package for a full lightning protection system to protect structure, people, and equipment within. Lightning Protection Products Market Size, Report 2022-2030 . 715-359-0777 The current of a massive direct lightning strike to a structure creates a magnetic field extending from the conductors, so any alternate circuit proximate may experience some added voltage through induction. Modern techniques for component manufacture and designs incorporating the system on and in a structure have changed the system look, but the philosophy behind strike termination, conduction, and grounding remains similar accept the lightning and send it to ground. This could be done by a regular building maintenance technician or even the building owner with some guidance. These systems use copper conductors connected to a ground rod to reduce tree damage and conduct the electrical charge to the earth where the energy is dispersed. The Standards represent a consensus of authorities regarding basic requirements for construction and performance of qualified designs and products. A lightning protection system is composed of 4 main components: 1. Since systems of utilization equipment are generally specific for the facility, an individualized assessment will normally be needed to determine cost effective solutions. Lightning protection for trees is one of the fastest growing segments of IPC and our industry. Looking for lightning protection services and products?Independent Protection Company can provide everything you need. Some lightning protection in Fig. This includes the lightning protection grounding electrode system, electric, communication, and antenna system grounds along with metallic piping systems entering the structure like water, gas and LPG lines, metal conduits, etc. A lightning protection system is composed of three main components: Rods or 'Air Terminals' - The small, vertical protrusions designed to act as the 'terminal' for a lightning discharge. Standard Conductor No. Lightning usually jumps from the tree to the house because of all the grounded metal items inside and outside the house. Livestock and trees are also major victims of lightning damage. There are additional realities of construction, our use of buildings, and even unknowns in local conditions that require consideration of maintenance for the lightning protection system. 0. Any other independently grounded building system in close proximity to lightning protection components would be at 0 volts, so the natural tendency is for some or all the lightning to leave our current carrying system and flash over to the alternate ground path. This is a critical element to the specifier, owner, and property insurer providing verification by a third-party independent source of quality lightning protection installations. Protecting the highest most prominent building elements with strike termination devices, based on a buildings geometry, also provides some level of protection for lower extensions of the structure, or items in the shadow of the higher fully protected areas. Lightning is a major cause of farm fires. Lightning Protection Equipment 4848 Perrin Crk San Antonio, TX 78217 2. 96 0 obj <> endobj 123 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<37E80A90467A4ECC9C42C68911C93D4A>]/Index[96 49]/Info 95 0 R/Length 126/Prev 461493/Root 97 0 R/Size 145/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream We have everything you need for a complete system, including instructions. Because TLPS is so specialized, you will likely provide an additional service that your competition doesnt provide or may not even know about. The user needs to understand that the only objective for a tree lightning protection system is to provide a preferred path to ground for the electrical charge (46.1). Copper and aluminum main cable conductors for lightning protection are designed to a smooth weave or rope-lay standard using smaller gauge individual wires. Air terminals are more commonly known as lightning rods. A ground loop is required for every structure exceeding 60 feet in height. In sandy, rocky or very dry soils, an extensive ground system may be necessary. Aluminum can never come in contact with the earth or soil. Fax: 715-359-0711, Copyright 2000 - document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); | Automatic Lightning Protection, is the Premier Supplier of USA made and UL Approved. Ground Rods 4. Each downlead cable shall terminate to a grounding electrode connection dedicated to the lightning protection system. Sourcing solutions ; Services & Membership . fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); Cable conductors route lightning current over and through the construction, without damage, between strike terminations at the top and the grounding electrode system at the bottom. Enjoy peace of mind and feel secure in a protected home. Since service entrances for various systems operate at different voltages, SPD components must be individually sized for each system and are generally packaged individually to address specific functions, but if services enter a utility room for distribution throughout the building in a common area a single SPD may be designed to serve several functions in one housing. Reinforcing steel or rebar is not acceptable as a substitute for cable conductor, but each cable downlead must be bonded to the structural framing at the top and bottom of each vertical run. Lightning protection systems can safeguard your trees. Our systems have an excellent record of protecting trees and they reduce the risk of a side-flash to adjacent structures. Objectives of Tree Lightning Protection Systems tree lightning protection systems are intended to provide a preferred point for lightning attachment and a preferred path to ground for lightning strike currents. 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