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CHAPTER 8

LIGHTNING PROTECTION (PERLINDUNGAN KILAT)

8.1 Loss of life, structural and fire damage to property due to the incidence of lightning
discharges during thunder storms is frequent in Malaysia. Thus lightning protection is
essential for structures. -

8.2 The British Standard Code of practice for Protection of structures against lightning BS
6651: 1985, has replaced the former CP 326. BS 6651: l985provides a comprehensive
practical guide for design and drawing. Not with standing this, the theory and practice of
lightning protection is still very much an art rather than a science. The maintenance of
lightning protection especially the earthing is important because if and when lightning
strikes the building and the earthing is inadequate physical damage as well as damages to
electrical equipment due to induced surges will result. Thus annual maintenance of the
earthing and connections to the down conductors is important.

8.3 Apart from the provision of a conventional exterior protection system to the building.
computers or sensitive electronic equipment within the building also need their own
‘secondary protection’. This would involve the installation of suitable surge protection
devices close to the sensitive equipment. These devices, if correctly designed and
installed, should protect this type of sensitive equipment from any harmful surges.

8.4 Through the centuries ancient civilisations thought that lightning was a manifestation of
the power and wrath of the gods; a weapon used to show displeasure or to punish the
wrongdoers.

Today, fatalities and costly damage to property still occur throughout the world, ften
through a complete lack of understanding or disregard of the underlying principles
behind modern earthing and lightning protection theory and practice.

A lightning protection system correctly designed, manufactured and installed in


accordance with international standards and the relevant codes of Practice will go a long
way towards ensuring the safety of a structure and its occupants for many years.

8.5 During the early design stage it is often the practice to consider lightning protection as
something separate to the earthing scheme. It must be accepted from the outset that both
are interdependent in that the objectives for each are one and the same.
A scheme must provide a safe, effective path to and from earth with no possibility that a
lightning strike could hit an unprotected part of the structure or that the charge could be
diverted by a failure in the system or a design fault.

8.6 A lightning protection system will only be as good as its weakest link. A failure in any
area will be detrimental to the integrity of the system as a whole.

8.7 On many buildings natural conductors can be found and it is important that these are
adequately bonded to any system being installed, whether being used as a prime
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conductor or not. Reinforced concrete piles, metal sheet piles, concrete foundations,
beams and all metalwork must fit within the protection system. The system must be
properly designed by qualified engineers with experience and knowledge to appreciate
potential hazards.

8.8 A lightning protection system should provide:


1. External lightning protection;
2. Internal lightning protection;
3. Limitation of lightning over voltages;
4. Protection against over voltage induced by lightning; in incoming supply
services.

8.9 The main parameters of a typical lightning protection scheme normally consist of an
aerial network on the roof of copper or aluminium conductors. This is located around the
perimeter of the building with perhaps some inter-connecting tapes or cable conductors
and then down conductors to connect to the earth mass. The spacing of these conductors
and their relative positions on the building are covered in the British Standard Code Of
Practice for the protection of structures against lightning BS 6651: 1985.

8.10 Generally, conductors should be placed at the highest point with no roof area being more
than 5 m from the nearest horizontal conductor. Where, say, roof or plant rooms are
raised above the general roof level of the building, these should have their own lightning
protection aerial network bonded back to the remainder of the building’s lightning
protection scheme. -

8.11 security or lightning system including their cables or any metal objects ie fire escapes,
guttering air conditioning units, vents, hand rails etc, projecting more than 0.3 in above
the roof surface must be bonded to the system.

8.12 Wherever possible, the metal framework of a building can be considered as the lightning
protection system, whether this be as down conductors of the complete aerial network in
the case of all metal roof buildings.

8.13 Special consideration should be given to the fact that a lot of these metal roofs are now
so thin that they require special non-metallic fixing devices to hold them onto the fabric
of the building and that these fixing devices, in conjunction with sealing type mastic, do
on occasions completely isolate each metal sheet from its neighbour and from the main
fabric of the building. Should this be the case, then obviously a completely separate
aerial network will be required.

8.14 If the all metal roof of a building is to be used in a lightning protection scheme, then full
continuity testing should be carried out to ensure that the whole of the building fabric is
within the accepted practices of continuity between the upper part exposed to the
lightning strike and the base of the column at the foot of the building.

8.15 Down conductors should be arranged as symmetrically as possible around the building at
approximately 20 m centres. These should follow the most direct vertical path to earth
with the absolute minimum of bends. Test points must be provide each down
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conductor at about 1-5 m above ground level. If a bi-metallic joint is necessary it must
be fixed above the test point and be made to confirm to BS CP 6651: 1985.

8.16 Each down conductor needs to be protected against corrosion where it enters the
ground with a PVC sheath sealed at both ends between the test point and its connection
to the earth electrode. A common earth for all services is recommended at the lowest
resistance required by any one of the services, a good earthing system provides:-

1. Low electrical resistance measured in ohms;


2. Good corrosion resistance;
3. Ability to carry high currents repeatedly;
4. Ability to perform above functions for 30 years or more;

There are many methods of providing a good earthing system, the main ones being:

1. Deep driven earth rods;


2. Parallel driven earth rods;
3. Buried conductors (wires or tape etc);
4. Buried earth plates or mats;
5. Underground metal pipe system;
6. Steel reinforcing rods and/or wires for concrete; -

8.17 The final choice will depend on the prevailing ground conditions; low soil resistivity,
high moisture content, and an earth temperature above freezing. -

8.18 Soil resistivity tests should be carried out to estimate the number of electrodes required
for a particular installation. BS CP 1013 provided the formula for calculating
resistivity.

8.19 All components must comply with BS Code of Practice 1013 and BS 6651: 1985.
These standards are currently under review and when reissued will certainly contain
specific selection and design. The key to success is not to sacrifice quality for cost.

8.20 Many engineers are still wary of using the zone of protection method to protect their
building as they feel that some of the outlying areas are subject to risk.

8.21 It is vital that any lightning protection system is regularly inspected for possible
damage and to check that it is providing optimum protection. Regular inspection will
also ensure that other metalwork has not been placed within a flashover distance
without being properly bonded to the system.

Testing and recording should be in accordance with BS CP 6651: 1985 and CP 1013.

1. Inadequate protection over the whole of a building. Roof areas outside the zone
of protection provided by the air terminal network could still leave the main body
of the building unprotected.

2. Incorrect routing of conductors.


This may cause re-entrant loops and flashovers.

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3. Inadequate or non-existent bonding

Fire escapes. guttering. air conditioning systems. handrails etc all need to be
permanently bonded to the lightning protection system. If not, a damaging flashover
can occur.
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LAMPIRAN I BAB 8

Extracted From Consultants Handbook


- Recommendations For The Protection
Of Structures Against Lightning
Crown House Furse

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q. If I fit lightning protection, am I guaranteed no damage will occur in the event of a strike?

A. Provided the installation is carried out to the relevant Code- of Practice and correctly installed
with approved materials, the risk damage is likely to be minimal, However, because of the nature
of lightning, it is impossible to guarantee total protection.

Q. Should the metal scaffolding on a building he protected against lightning?. -

A. BS 6651 strongly recommends that throughout the period oft. construction, all large and
prominent masses of steelwork including scaffolding should be effectively connected to earth.

Q. How often should a lightning conductor system be tested

A. It should be tested every 12 months, or preferably slightly less in order to vary the season in
which tests are made.

Q. If a lightning conductor system on a building has been Struck by lightning, does it need to
be tested afterwards?.

A. Most certainly. A thorough examination of all the components and conductors should take place
and any items that have suffered damage should be replaced The system should also be tested to
ensure that it still complies with the earth resistance requirement..

Q. Can lightning cause damage to my building or interior equipment without a direct strike?.

A. The proximity and magnitude of the indirect strike will determine whether any damage to the
actual building structure occurs. There is a greater chance that the indirect strike will travel into
the building via power supply cables or telecommunication or signal cables. In this case the -
induced voltage spike will cause damage to some or all of the ‘sensitive electronic- equipment’
housed within the building. -
This equipment should be protected by surge protection unit

Q. What special precautions have to be provided for buildings housing computers?. -

A. Apart from the provision of a conventional exterior protection system to the building, computers
or sensitive electronic equipment within the building also nerd their own ‘secondary
protection’.This would involve the installation of suitable surge protection devices close to the
sensitive equipment. These devices, if correctly designed and installed, should protect this type
of
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sensitive equipment from any harmful surges.

Q. What is Radioactive Lightning Protection?.

A. Radioactive lightning protection is based on claims that a radioactive source around the head of
an air terminal enhances its natural ion discharge which naturally takes place during a static
buildup associated with lightning storms. This enhancement is claimed to be so great that it
improves dramatically the ability of an air terminal to attract to itself a lightning strike.

This form of protection, however, has never been accepted by any international body and is
disputed by many leading authorities on the subject.

The reports contained in the Furse document “Papers on ‘Exotic’ Lightning Protection System”
confirms the view that a radioactive source has little, or no effect as a lightning protection unit.
The foreword in BS 6651 makes the following statement:
“It- is recommended that the materials extent and dimensions of the air terminations, down
conductors, earth terminations, bonding, components, etc. as laid down in this which are claimed
to provided enhanced protection”.

In effect, researchers who have examined the various claims of ‘exotic’ system, have found them
to have no scientific credibility.

Q. If the steelwork of the building is used as part of the lightning protection system, and a-
person is touching it, i.e. when it receives a strike, will that person suffer injury?.

A Providing the path offered to the lightning strike (in this case the building steelwork) is of a
sufficiently low inherent resistance (usually less than one ohm) and the earthing system meets
the requirement of ES 6651 both in terms of earth resistance and voltage gradient at the surface,
the person should not suffer any injury. The lightning current will prefer to travel down the path
lowest impedance - in this case the building steelwork.

Q. What is step potential?.

A. Step potential is the voltage gradient, or the potential difference measured in volts existing
between the feet of a person standing on the ground.

When a lightning strike reaches earth and is being dissipated in the soil, there can exist a
difference in-potential between a person’s (or animal’s) feet.

Q. If you bond metal window frames, ducting, etc. into a lightning protection system, will
these then become ‘live’ when lightning strikes, therefore, becoming potentially dangerous
to any contents or person nearby?.

A. By not bonding any metalwork close to the lightning protection system, if lightning should
strike, the voltage difference between the lightning conductor and the metalwork could cause a
flashover,
therefore, becoming ‘live’ and finding a dangerous and uncontrollable path to earth from this
point.

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By bonding all the metalwork into the lighting protection system, the voltage always remains
the same, thereby preventing any flash-over and ensuring safety for contents and persons nearby.

Q. When would I use a catenary wire suspended above the area to be protected?

A. In instances where a high degree of protection is required. For example, with high risk structures
as explosive factories, etc.

Q. When can I use an aluminium system instead of a copper one?.

A. Aluminium could be chosen for a lightning protection system for a variety of reasons. The
structure to be protected may, for instance, be sited in a location where a copper corrosive
atmosphere is present. The natural colour of the structure may require the choice of aluminium.
Certain locations with a salt laden environment may cause verdigris on the copper, which would
ultimately cause staining of the building. In these situations, aluminium could be considered.

Q. Can I mix circular/stranded conductor with tape conductor on my lightning protection


system? -

A. It is not normal practice to mix the various types of conductors, but for instance, circular
conductor can change to tape conductor at the test point.

Q.- The building next door has a lightning conductor, do I need one or will it protect -me?.

A. No reliance should be placed on the possibility that a nearby structure is offering some degree of
protection to your building. You should, therefore, through Furse free advisory service, seek
expert advice. -

Q. What is Naval Brass?.

A. Naval brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, with a small amount of tin. Naval brass contains no
lead. Unlike commercial brasses, it exhibits good corrosion qualities and is mechanically robust.
It is included in the material section of ES 6651. -

Q. Does copper attract lightning better than aluminium?.


A. ‘No’. The choice of materials for a lightning protection system is dictated by their resistance to
corrosion, overall comparative costs and their compatibility with other metals used on the
structure - not by the material’s ability to attract lightning. Lightning will be attracted to any
earthed conductive (metal) part of structure in preference to a non-conducting material;

Q. When using an aluminium system, does the conductor size have to be greater than when
using copper?. --

A. According to BS 6651, ‘No’. When lightning strikes a conductor, the current is of a high
magnitude, flowing along the conductor for only a fraction-of a second. The choice of material is
not as important as in a continuous current carrying application. The minimum size
recommended in ES 6651 is 50mm2 for both copper and aluminium.

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Q. Furse sell non metallic DC clips. Do they comply with the British Code of Practice?.

A. The Code merely states that, where non-metallic mixing materials are used, then consideration
should be given to their possible degradation due to ultraviolet light, frost, etc. Furse clips are
manufactured from a polycarbonate which exhibits excellent mechanical and thermal properties.
They provide a high resistance to ageing when exposed to ultraviolet light over many years.

Q. Can I use metal cladding around the parapet wall as part of lightning protection?.

A. ‘Yes’, provided the cladding is of sufficient thickness, is electrically continuous and is bonded
into the other parts of the lightning protection system. BS 6651 gives minimum thickness of
sheet metal for this application.

Q. Can I us the TV aerial as a lightning conductor?.

A. ‘No’, but the support of the aerial should be bonded into the lightning protection network. The
co-axial cable should have some from of surge suppressor installed between the aerial and TV
monitor.

Q. Can I hide the system under the roofing?.

A. BS 6651 permits the use of air termination conductors to be installed below the roof covering,
but advocates that it is used in conjunction with O.3m high bare vertical rods projecting through
the roof.

Q. Can I use the flagpole as an air rod?.

A. Providing the pole is conductive (i.e metal) then it should be bonded into the air termination
network. It can then be considered as an air terminal.

Q. If a roof conductor is painted, does this impair its efficiency?.

A. In Furse’s opinion-, any covering that acts as an insulator wilt impair it’s efficiency. The extent of
the reduction of efficiency is dependent upon the characteristics and thickness of the material
However, BS 6651 advocates the use of bare conductor for air termination network wherever
possible. If for, say, corrosion reasons-, a covering is required, a PVC coating or painting is
permitted.

Q. The British code of Practice infers that horizontal roof conductor are sufficient. Why
then should I use air rods?.

A. ES 6651 does not regard vertical finial as essential except where dictated by practical
considerations, the American code, however, recommends the use of vertical finial. the choice of
use is, therefore, governed, to a large extent, on which Standard is being adopted.

Q.. If a building has a metal roof, is it necessary to install a roof conductor as well?.

A. Provided the roof is electrically continuous and meets the thickness requirements of Table 5 in

-- 8-8
BS 6651 and is connected to the down conductors, there is no need to install roof conductors.

Q. Can down conductors be run behind marble cladding?.

A. This depends upon whether there is sufficient air gap between the outside frame of the structure
and the decorative cladding, and how it is fixed. If there is insufficient movement of free air
behind the cladding, it may be inadvisable to install the down conductors there, due to the
mechanical forces created by the shock wave during a discharge, causing the cladding to be
dislodged, further information regarding these mechanical effects can be found in clause 4.4 of
ES 6651. -

Q. Can down conductors be run inside a building?.

A. A down conductor should preferably run down the outside of a building. If an external route is
inadvisable, for example, buildings of cantilever construction from the first floor upwards should
not have their down conductors following the outside contour of the buildings. In these cases
down conductors may be housed in non-metallic, non-combustible internal ducts and taken
straight to the ground. For further details of this application see clause 15.7 of ES 6651.

Q. As several down conductors are needed can I bring them down in the same place?.

A. - ‘No’. All standards state that they should be equally spaced, wherever possible, -around the
building.

Q. Can I run the down conductor through a lift shaft, or use the lift guide rails as a down
conductor?.

A. ‘No’, BS 6651 strongly advises that lift shafts should not be used for this purpose. Down
conductors may be housed in an air space provided by a non-metallic, non-combustible internal
duct and taken straight down to ground.

Q. In what circumstances can I use the re-enforcing bar in concrete structures as a down
conductor?.
A. ES 6651 permits the use of re-enforcing bars as a natural down conductor providing that the bars
have multi-crossing points and provided a definite electrical continuity between the air and earth
termination networks. - - - -

Q. How do I route a down conductor in a cantilevered building?.

A. There is no easy answer to this question. - Where possible, the down conductors could be sited at
the corners where a straight path may be possible, but if as in many buildings, the cantilever
continues around the whole building, then natural down conductors could be used, such as the
reinforcing bars or steel work. Or, if the building is in the course of construction, a fire resistant
duct could be built in for the down conductor. In any case the possibility of voltage gradients at
the earthing positions must be considered.

Q. I have a problem with moving cranes, can they be earthed?.

- 8-9 - -
A. Assuming that the crane is on rails, it is normal just to earth these at 20m intervals, the crane
being all steel, forms a natural conductor, but as the crane has a number if moving joints, these
may need to be bonded across to avoid damage to bearings, etc. How this is done depends
entirely on the type of crane.

Q. Is it dangerous to have a lightning conductor earth where people walk?.

A. ‘Yes’, it is potentially dangerous to have an earth electrode in a location where people walk or
have access. When a lightning discharge takes place, the potential difference or gradient at
ground level could be of a sufficiently high magnitude to be lethal to both humans and
animals.this ‘step potential’, as it is known, can be minimised by burying the earth electrode so
that its top is at least Im below the surface and to insulate the connection between the down
conductor and the earth’s electrode, further advice is given in clause A.12. of ES 6651. -

Q. How do I obtain a good earth for a building constructed on rock?. -

A. There is no simple or easy solution to this question. Local soil conditions will have a significant
bearing on the result. Guidance is given in clauses 16.5 and A. 1.5 of BS 6651 for structures
erected on rock.

Q. Can copper earth Eods be connected to galvanised tape underground?.

A. ‘Yes’, providing the galvanised tape, where it enters the ground, has a protective coating to
isolate it from the soil and the copper rod. The earth rod joint should be sealed to prevent any
ingress of moisture. - --

Unless it is unavoidable, we would not recommend the use dissimilar metals in underground
applications. -

Q. When an aluminium system is used, what ii the best way to connect to the copper earthing?.
A. The mating surface of the aluminium system should be cleaned thoroughly by wire brushing and
an approved grease or jointing compound applied. The copper surface should be hot tinned and
two mating surface bolted together. the complete joint should then be protected from the ingress
of moisture by the application of an approved protective wrapping.

Alternatively a purpose designed friction welded bi-metallic connector manufactured by Crown


Rouse Furse offers a quick. easy and reliable method of terminating the copper and aluminium
conductors.

Q. Which is the best type of connection to use in earthing and lightning protection system - the
crimp connector, bolt connector, or thermic welded connection?. –

A. The final choice will depend on the application. Bolted connections are obviously suitable for
fittings such as test clamps, where the conductors have to be removed when testing. Thermic
welds are ideal for underground connections, as they possess the following qualities:

- mechanical strength

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- excellent current carrying capacity
- reliability -
- low electrical resistance
Crown House Furse would be pleased to offer expert technical guidance on the choice and type
of fitting to suit your application. -

Q. When installing a lightning conductor system, how- far from a building should the earth
rods be placed?. - -

A. They should be driven into the ground beneath, or as close as practicable to the structure and
down conductor. The aim is to offer a lightning strike as direct a route as possible from the top of
the structure to the earth.

Q. It is common practice to pour water and salt on a newly installed earth rod, is it good
practice?.

A. No. This action merely creates an artificially low local soil resistivity. As soon as the water and
salt have leached out of the local soil the earth resistance value will increase. The addition of salt
will also greatly increase the risk of corrosion to the electrode.

Q. If I cannot use salt to help me achieve lower earth reading, is there anything on the market
-that can?.

A. Furse use two main conditioning agents - Bentonite and conductive cement.
--
Bentonite is mixed with water to form a slurry - its resistivity being determined by the amount of
water used.

Conductive cement is made with graded granular carbonaceous aggregate in place of the
conventional sand or aggregate. It has a resistivity of 10 ohm.cm.

Both agents can be laid in a horizontal bed or poured down a drilled vertical hole, creating a
lower resistance between the embedded earth electrode and the surrounding soil.

Q. What is the minimum distance for spacing earth rods?.

A. Views vary considerably on this question, but it is generally accepted that the distance between
rods should be at least equal to, and preferably greater than, its depth.
-
Q. A minimum resistance of 10 ohms is often quoted – what action should be taken if this
cannot be obtained? -

A. A further reduction can be achieved by extending or adding to the number of existing electrodes.
Or by installing a ring conductor buried a minimum of 0.6m below the ground. This ring would
inter-connect the individual earth electrodes at each down conductor.

Q. If I increase the diameter of my earth rod, will it significantly reduce the resistance to
earth?.

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A. Increasing the diameter of an earth rod has the effect of only slightly reducing the resistance to
earth. Typically increasing the diameter of a copper covered steel rod from 12.5mm diameter to
25mm diameter will increase -the cost by 49%, increase the weight by 400%, but only decrease
the resistance by 9.5%. -

Q. When should I use a solid copper earth rod rather than a copper covered steel one?

A. A solid cooper rod has nothing like the mechanical robustness of a copper covered steel rod and
so should only be used in soil that is comparatively easy to drive into. One reason for choosing
solid copper could be because of the aggressive nature of the soil, where the presence of steel
may ultimately create a corrosion problem.

Q. How do I know what type of earth electrode to use?

A. The choice of earth electrode type is governed, to large extent, by the prevailing soil conditions.
A soil resistivity survey indicating- lower soil resistivity at greater depths will make the deep
driven earth rod electrode a logical choice. -

The ground that has a one metre depth of soil before encountering bedrock would best be suited
to a buried radial strip electrode, provided the system in- installed below the frost line and below
the area that is subject to the influence- of seasonal weather changes.
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LAMPIRAN II BAB 8
LIGHTNING AND SYSTEM EARTHS:
SEPARATE OR COMMON? -

ABSTRACT -

This paper discusses the effects and consequences of adopting separate and common lightning
and system earth. Recommendations of the various codes of practice on the subject are
highlighted. The advantages of bonding lightning and system earth to form a common earth far
outweigh the present requirement of the Singapore Code on Lightning Protection of separate
earth. It is recommended the such bonding be permitted to improve overall performance.

INTRODUCTION

The question which is always asked is should lightning earths and system earth be separate or
common. Invariably, different answers and opinions are-given to the same question arguing both
for and against either of the cases. Every electrical engineer needs a good earth for the correct and
efficient operation of his system the lightning protection engineer to carry the stroke current
safely to earth, the power utility engineer to carry fault current and to ensure the unsafe voltage
do not occur, and the telecommunications and computer engineer as a reference potential and to
carry unwanted components of signals, such as noise, sway. should these earths be the same? If
so, will they interfere with each others performance? Which party will then be responsible for the
continued integrity to the earth? If not, can the earths! be really isolated and independent from
one another? Will there be potential difference problem~ between these separate earth?. Can all
the earth resistance be kept low reasonably economically?. There now seems to be more
questions than answers to the problem. - - -

WHAT DO THE RELEVANT CODES SAY? --

The Singapore Code of Practice for Lightning Prote4tion CP33: 1985(1) emphatically and
unequivocally states in Clauses 2,8,3 that “Common earthing for lightning protection and
electrical services shall not be permitted”. -

The British Standard Code of Practice for Protection of Structures Against Lightning BS
6651:1985(2) on the other hand recommends a common earth termination network for the
lightning protection system and all other services (clause 16.3). The resistance to earth should, in
this case, be the lowest value required for any of the, individual services. However, it does also
state that in the case of structures supporting an overhead electric supply, telephone and other
lines should not be bonded to the lightning protection system without-the permission of the
appropriate authority. -

The relevant clause (clause 3.11.3) of the Australian Standard on Lightning Protection AS 1768:
1983[3} on common earthing states. “Where conditions permit potential equalisation techniques
to be used, a common earthing electrode may be installed for the lightning protective -system and
for other services-. It should be in accordance with the recommendations in this standard and
comply with any regulations which may govern the appropriate services. The resistance to earth
should be the lowest required by an~ of the regulations for such services”. As a foot-note it
further qualifies that ‘AS3000[4] does not permit the combining of the power

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system earth with the lightning system earth. However bonding is permitted’.

``The United States National Fire Protection Association Inc.Lightning Protection Code NFPA
78: 1980[51 recommends a truly common earth and clause 3.22 on common groun.i5 state that”
All grounding mediums shall be bonded together. This shall include electric telephone and
antenna system grounds and others underground metallic piping system which enter the
structure’. It proceeds to include piping system such as water services well using within
7.6m(25ft) of the protected structure, gas piping, underground conduits, underground liquefied
petroleum-gas piping systems, etc. On common ground bonding it also states that if electric
service and telephone service are grounded through the water pipe system, interconnection with
the water pipe is all that is required, provided the water pipe system is electrical]; continuous
between all system. If plastic water pipe sections are present, they can be bridged the main size
conductors. However, the Code qualifies that lightning arresters, protectors or antenna discharge
units shall: be installed on electric and telephone service entrances and on radio and television
antenna- lead-ins. - - - - -

It is clear that there is no consensus among the above major codes on the subject c~ separate or
common earths. -However, -one point is clear. None of the codes support ~ simple or
indiscriminate or unqualified tying-together of lightning and system earths. - -

SEPARATE OR COMMON EARTHS?~ -

Basically, a good earth is required in any system to ensure safety of operating and maintenance-
staff and users in the presence of dangerous voltages. The practice of keeping different or
separate earth, in particular, lightning, system and communication earths, is based principally on
the assumption that -earth potential - rise on the afflicted earth termination due to a lightning
discharge or short-circuit current due to line fault- would not effect the neighbouring earth. – In
practice, however, this has many disadvantages.

* resistances of the separate earth terminations will be greater than would be the case for them
connected together. - - - -

* high currents can still flow to a foreign earth in -the event of insulation failure of the power
system. This will pose fire risk and danger td human life because a difference in Potential might
occur between parts connected to different earth electrodes.

* in practice, it is virtually impossible to ensure that the various earth electrodes ~.re separated
because of casual and uncontrolled connections and because of the connection through the mass
of earth. -

* to the extent that separation of decoupling of the earth is possible, potentials, often, dangerous,
can occur between nearly “earthed” points. -

* problem of electrolytic corrosion may occur with earth currents flowing through met.,1 structures

The above problem may be reduced or even eliminated with a single or common earth system (or
bonded multiple earth system) as all the points to be earthed are now kept at more or less the
same potential.

8-14 -
Effects of Separate And Common Lightning And System Earth.

If the majority of problem can be eliminated with a common earth, they why should there by
any hesitation to bond connect or to have a truly common earth termination with the
lightning protection system and power system?. The defects of separate and common
lightning and system earths can be illustrated as follows.

Considers a block of flats 15m high with dimensions 40m x 20m protected by lightning
protection system with 6 down conductors of size 25mmx3mm as show in fig. 1. The overall
earthing resistance of the 6 earth points is 10 ohms. This example is given in
B.S.6651:1985[2] for the estimation of clearances to prevent side, flashing. The voltage
differences between 12m high earthed pipe and a corner lightning down conductor for a 200
}CA lightning stroke with maximum (ditch) of 200 KA/us is calculated for 2 cases.

Case(i): Metal pipe bonded to earth termination at base.


For this case the voltage (Vl) between the lightning protection system corner down conductor
and the earthed down pipe at a height of 12m consists of the inductive component VL only.
This is calculated at Vi + V2 + 570KV which gives a flashover distance [2] of 1.1 m. –

Case(ii): Metal pipe contacting the ground but with no bond between the pipe and earth
termination.

Fig: for illustrating Voltage Magnitudes with separate and Common Earth

8 -15
For this case, the voltage (Vi) now comprises both the inductive (VL+570 KV) and resistive
(VR+2MV) components. For the same 200 KA stroke, Vi is calculated at 2.57 MV giving a
flashover distance of 6m.

This example illustrates the voltage- differences that can develop between the lightning protection
system and a nearby metallic object which may be a pipe or the frame of a piece of electrical
equipment which is connected to system earth. The above example also illustrates that following the
200 KA stroke to the lightning protection system the voltage rise of the lightning earth above earth is
2 MV. -

That effects and consequences of having separate or common lightning and system earths can now
be illustrated as follows. -
(a) Separate lightning and system earths.

Fig.2 shows electricity supply to a load within premises which is protected by a lightning protection
system. The supply is obtained from a remote substation and present practice of utilities is to earth
the neutral of supply transformer at the substation. The neutral is not earthed at the customers!
premises but a local system earth is provided.

Following a direct -lightning stroke to the lightning protection system, the events which are likely to
occur are: the voltage of the lightning protection system and earth rises to a high value. The
illustrative example shows values as high as 2.5MV. Whit the lightning and system earth separate,
this full voltage will appear across the lightning protection system and nearby object earthed to the
system earth. This is likely to result in a side flashover as indicated by : (1) When this occurs, the
voltage of the system earth will be the same as that of the lightning earth (2MV in example) and may
in turn cause a flashover (3) to the neutral of the supply causing a surge to travel along it back to the
supply transformer where it is earthed.

Fig. 2 Premises with Separate lightning and System Earths

8 -16
Even in the case for no flashover from the lightning protection system to equipment or system earth, the
system earth voltage will rise due to the close proximity of lightning and system earths (2), but perhaps to
a smaller value as compared to the cases where there was a flashover (1) or when lightning and system
earth are common. This can still cause a flashover to the neutral or line conductors of the supply system
though its probability of such flashover is somewhat reduced due to the smaller voltage rise. The extent of
voltage reduction and hence flashover probability is dependent on the proximity of the earths. It is
generally this slight advantage and the fear of flashovers occurring to the supply system that encourage
utility owners to opt for separate earth earths. However, it is seen that the probability of flashovers to line
and neutral is not eliminated by separate earths.
(b) Common Lightning and System Earth. -
With the common earth system as illustrated in fig. 3, a lightning stroke to the lightning protection system
will now cause both the lightning and system earths to rise simultaneously but the voltage difference
between locally earthed metal objects and the lightning protection system will generally be small (570kV
in example). This virtually eliminates side flashover between lightning protection system and nearby
equipment earth, but the likelihood of flashover from the system earth to the line and neutral conductors
of the supply system (1) increases slightly as compared to the unbonded or separate earth case. As stated
previously, it is this slight increase in flashover probability to the supply system which utility owners fear.
This has to be weighed against the advantage that a much lower overall earth résistance can be achieved
with a common earth so that voltage rise will be smaller. In practice, this may offset the theoretical
increase in flashover probability. The other major advantage is of course, that with the common earth
system there is very likelihood of little side flashes to earth object/appliances within the premises.

BEST COURSE OF ACTION -

Technically, it is seen that the advantages of a common earth far outweigh that of separate earths. This is
limited only to lightning and system earths but to telecommunications earths as well, as recommended by
the international Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT) in French)[7J. In practice,
however, one problem can arise i.e. who shall be responsible for the continued integrity of the common
earth, the lightning protection engineer, power utility or telecommunications authority If problems arise,
say, due to lightning, can the power utility who first installed the earth termination for its system earth -to
which the lightning protection system was subsequently connected to it, be liable?.

The first question can be indirectly answered as the earth resistance must be the lowest value required for
any of the individual services. The second question will not arise if this lowest value of resistance is
achieved. In any case, the premises belong to the owner or customer who must be responsible for its
upkeep. Notwithstanding the previous statements, the power utility would prefer to be free of the extra
burden of any possibility of liability and any additional problems.

8 -17
Fig 3: Premises with common Lightning and System Earths.

Remembering that if lightning earths were installed and system earths were present, the-action
of bonding these two earths would achieve the best of both worlds, viz., a reduction in overall
resistance and the effect of a common earth. Clearly this would be the best course of action.
Both the lightning protection and utility engineers must still provide and maintain their
individual earths. The act of bonding lightning and system earths should not be disallowed as in
the Singapore Code- CP33: 1985111 but, on the contrary, be encouraged instead. - Any fears of
additional lightning caused surges - being propagated towards the - utility transformer can be
overcome by the provision of a set of lightning arresters between each phase and neutral to earth
at the transformer terminals. Such is good practice anyway. This recommendation is basically
what is cited in NFPA 78:980[5]. –

8 -18
CONCLUSION
The advantages of bonding lightning and system earths to form a common earth far outweigh the
present requirement of separate earths which -can hardly be achieved in practice. It is
recommended that this restriction be removed from the present Singapore Code of Practice
CP33:1985 on Lightning Protection.

REFERENCES

1. CP 33:1985, “Code of Practice for Lightning Protection, Singapore Standard, Singapore Institute
of Standard and Industrial Research, 1985.

2. BS 6651:1985, “British Standard- Code of Practice for Protection of Structures Against


Lightning”, British Standards Institution, 1985.

3. AS 1768:1983, “Lightning Protection”, Standards Association of Australia 1983.

4. AS 3000, “SAA Wiring Rules”, Standards Association of Australia. -

5. - NFPA 78:1980, “Lightning Protection Code”, National Fire Protection Association, mc, USA,
1980.

6. IEEE Std 80:1976, “IEEE Guide for Safety in Substation Grounding”, Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers, Inc, U.S.A 1976.

7. CCIT’I’ Manual on “Earthing of telecommunications installations”, International telegraphic and


Telephone consultative Committee, 1976.

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