Lightning arrester definition
lightning arresters (absorption units) are equipment that are applied in accordance with modern world standards to protect the exterior cover of the buildings, installation, pylons, open spaces, and so on against the direct surge of lightning, and prevent from physical destruction and fire due to direct surge of lightning.
The types of lightning arresters
Lightning arresters are divided into two groups depending on the type of operation:
A: passive (inactive) lightning arresters
Passive lightning arresters are the protective collection based on using of simple lightning rods and Faraday cage method which supply the protection of building’s exterior cover based on international standard IEC and rolling sphere theory and protective angle.
The lightning arresters such as simple copper lightning rod, copper with chromium cover, stainless steel, galvanized with different lengths and diameters, various types of clamps and communicational and reduced conductors with different material and cross sections are applied in this method.
B: active lightning arresters
Active lightning arresters are the protective collection based on using of air ionizing lightning arresters (E.S.E.: EARLY STREAMER EMMISION AIR TERMINAL) in order to generate an ionizing environment around the installation location of active lightning arresters to absorb direct surge of lightning and conduct it to the earth system.
This type of the lightning arresters is known as electronic lightning arresters in the market and their design and performance is based on the NFC17-102 standard of France.
Depending on how the ionization operations are performed, such lightning arresters are divided into various categories, such as:
capacitive electronic lightning arrester
These lightning arresters cause the ionization of air by storing electrical charges existed in space in their internal capacitors, and then discharging them when lightning occurs, and they are the best type of lightning arresters available in the market of Iran, such as lightning arresters made in INDELEC Company.
Atomic lightning arresters
These lightning arresters were used in the past that performed air ionization operations based on the vibrations of radioactive atoms (like cesium atom), but nowadays, using these lightning arresters is forbidden due to environmental effects.
Wind or Piezoelectric lightning arrester
These lightning arresters ionize air based on the vibrations of a piezoelectric cell which will vibrate by wind energy.
Its performance is not reliable, because this active lightning arrester depends on the wind energy.
Solar lightning arrester
These lightning arresters cause the air to be ionized by storing the solar light energy in themselves and then converting it into the static electricity, and whose operations is not reliable for ionizing the air, because it depends on solar lighting energy.
Panel lightning arrester
Panel lightning arresters (surge arresters) are not categorized as the part of absorption units and they are used to protect the sensitive electronic equipment against the secondary effects due to the lightning and are also used in energy distribution panels.
Some usages of lightning arrester are as follows:
Lightning arresters are used as absorption units in various buildings and facilities, and their function is to protect buildings and facilities from direct lightning strikes so that physical damage to the buildings and facilities is prevented and fires caused by lightning strikes are prevented. Some of the uses of lightning arresters are as follows:
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Lightning arrester to protect buildings
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Lightning arrester to protect telecommunication mast
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Lightning arrester to protect apartments
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Lightning arrester for installing on the tower
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Lightning arrester for installing on the light tower
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Lightning arrester to protect solar power plant
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Lightning arrester of telecommunication mast
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Lightning arrester of guyed tower
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Lightning arrester to protect CCTV
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Lightning arrester to protect shed
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Lightning arrester to protect fuel tanks
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Lightning arrester to protect oil tanks
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Lightning arrester of tower crane
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Lightning arrester to protect subway station
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Lightning arrester to protect aviation equipment
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Lightning arrester to protect meteorology equipment
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Lightning arrester of sport stadiums and golf field
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Lightning arrester to protect surface storehouses
Supplier companies and various brands of Lightning arrester
Espak Company to exclusive representation on behalf of French INDELEC Company and Turkish LIVA GROUP Company is supplier of lightning arresters model 3PREVECTRON and PRIMER of France and ACTIV PARATONER of Turkey.
LIVA lightning arrester
Espak Company to exclusive representative on behalf of LIVA Company of Turkey is supplier of this model of lightning arrester
INDELEC lightning arresters
Espak Company is the exclusive representative of active lightning arresters made in INDELEC Company in Iran.
PRIMER lightning arresters
Espak Company to exclusive representation on behalf of INDELEC Company of France is supplier of this model of active lightning arrester in Iran markets.
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Equipment and accessories of lightning arrester
Equipment required for performing the active electronic lightning arrester system in addition to lightning arrester device including the accessories as follows:
Lightning rod or lightning rod antenna
It is the lightning arrester that will be selected based on the requested protection radius, the level of protection, and the brand desired by the buyer.
Lightning arrester tester
A lightning arrester tester is used to ensure the correct functioning of the lightning arrester. This is not a requirement for installing a lightning arrester. (Optional)
Lightning arrester system warning light
For high-rise buildings, a flashing warning light can be used one meter below the lightning rod.
Earthing system or lightning rod earthing system
Each active electronic lightning arrester, based on the NFC17-102 standard, requires one or two sets of its own ground electrodes (earth wells), which, after being implemented and achieving a resistance below 10 ohms, must be connected to the grounding network of the entire system.
Reduced conductor or lightning arrester cable
To connect the lightning arrester device to the earth electrode of lightning arrester and to conduct the current due to the lightning strike to lightning arrester, reduced conductor must be used that based on the NFC17-102 standard, this conductor should be provided from sections without copper coating, stainless steel, aluminum, and so on.
Test point of lightning arrester
It is a place close to the earth surface (2 meters of earth surface) that reduced conductor enters in it.
This point is the installation place of a switch earth set that separates reduced conductor of lightning arrester from earth electrode of lightning arrester when lightning arrester system and related earth electrode are tested.
Counter of lightning arrester
To count the number of lightning surges struck to the lightning arrester installed in each set, the counter of the number of lightning surges can be installed in the path of lightning arrester’s reduced conductor. This case is not necessary for installing the lightning arrester and it will be available according to purchaser request.
Five-meter installation base of lightning arrester
The best protection radius of each lightning arrester is obtained on the Five-meter installation base, so that if the height reduces, the protection radius of lightning arrester will reduce intensively, and if the height increases, the protection radius will not increase that much.
This base can be provided from warm galvanized pipe in the form of telescope or triangular-base masts.
Lightning rod installation support
A support that is installed on the roof of a building to support a 5-meter pole. This support will be made to fit the location of the lightning rod. A rod-to-wall bracket is generally used when it is not possible to install a simple lightning rod on a flat roof surface.
Parameters of determining price and cost of lightning arrester
The price of each lightning arrester device depends on various factors:
Since this equipment is imported, so the changes of foreign currency price and customs tariffs affect the determining of price.
On the other hand, the type of the brand selected by purchaser affect the determining of price, so that the lightning arresters made in western Europe are more relatively expensive than the models produced in Turkey.
The model of lightning arrester selected and the rate of lightning arrester protective radius, and level of protection selected by purchaser is also effective on determining the price of lightning arresters, so that by increasing of protection radius asked by the purchaser, the price of lightning arrester increases.
On the other hand, the architectural specifications of structure such as length, width, and height of the structure are effective in selecting the lightning arrester model and amount of essentials required for installation of the lightning arrester which this case will be effective exactly on the fixed price of purchasing the lightning arrester system.
Scope of service provider and supplying of parts (lightning arrester agency):
Espak Company has not the lightning arrester sales representation in provinces and this company itself takes action to sell and install the lightning arresters in provinces.
Main countries producing lightning arresters:
More electronic lightning arresters available in Iran’s market are made in France, Spain, and Turkey.
Considering the strict standards in Germany, active lightning arresters are not produced in this country.
There is still no valid Iranian brand of lightning arresters that can successfully pass all the tests considered in the standard in the Iranian market.
- French lightning arrester (France lightning arrester)
- German lightning arrester
- Iranian lightning arresters (made in Iran)
- Chinese lightning arresters
- Turkish lightning arresters
Useful information around lightning arresters
Internal plan or map of lightning arrester: Due to prevent the copyright of products, manufacturers of lightning arrester do not provide internal plan of lightning arresters manufacturing.
Lightning arrester installation contractor: Supplier companies of lightning arrester system can install the system.
Lightning arrester in the topic 13 and engineering system: According to clause 9-2-4 of executive manual of style of design supervision and standard execution of electrical installations of places that has been provided based on the topics of national building regulations and executive regulations of Ministry of Energy and as a tripartite letter of understanding between the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, Building Engineering System Organization, and Ministry of Energy, the buildings with height of 24 meters and above are included installation of the lightning arrester system. However, the topic 13 of national building regulations does not include the requirements of the buildings’ lightning arrester, and to this end, you should refer to NFC 17-102 standard and IEC 62305.
Design and installation criteria of the lightning arrester: Design and installation of lightning arrester system must be based on NFC 17-102 standard.
lightning arrester performance: Lightning arresters provide a preferred path for conducting and absorbing the main hit of lightning by doing ionization operations of their around air, and then they transfer the current due to lightning to the earth system of set with aid of their reduced conductor. The method of air ionization operation in each lightning arrester is different than other lightning arresters. Some perform this process by using the charge and discharge of internal capacitors, some by piezoelectric cells, and some by other technologies.
Curriculums of lightning arrester: Espak Company has held various training seminars during its presence era in the field of the lightning protection system. These seminars include active and passive lightning arresters, Earthing systems, and the topic of electronic equipment protection against voltage surges (surge protection). This company is ready to hold seminars and training courses of this kind according to request of respected employers.
The service that can be provided on lightning arresters: Design of earthing and active and passive lightning arresters (electronic lightning arresters). Espak Company is ready to service to dear employers due to the experience and proficiency in the field of designing the earthing system and lightning arrester based on the IEC and NFC standards.
Installation service of lightning arrester: Espak Company can install and implement in case of designing the system and supplying the earthing and lightning arrester items.
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