Every lightning protection system must undergo an acceptance test following installation.
Data and information technology systems are used in many different applications. Almost every electronic system used to process information is considered extremely important. Ever increasing volumes of data are being stored and must be accessible at all times at very short notice. It has become even more important to protect these systems too against dangerous surges. In order to prevent failure or even destruction of these systems, they must be integrated into the lightning and surge protection concept.
Very large surge voltages are caused mainly by lightning strikes on or close to energy systems.
Correct use of equipotential bonding systems prevents dangerous touch voltages between system components.
The lightning protection equipotential bonding represents internal lightning protection in the building. When lightning strikes, a voltage drop occurs at the earthing resistor, producing dangerous voltage differences between the metal building components and the power and data cables, which need to be prevented. The equipotential bonding connects together all metal installations (gas and water pipes, etc.), electrical systems (power and data cables), the lightning protection system and the earthing system, either directly or via lightning current arresters (SPD type 1 or type 1+2). Surge protection devices (SPDs) can guarantee a voltage limitation according to the insulation coordination.
The standards specify that each system must include an earthing system.
IsCon conductor an insulated, high-voltage-resistant arrestor is used in the field of external lightning protection to reduce or avoid the separation distance according to IEC 62305-3 (VDE 0185-305-3).
For architectural reasons, it is often not possible to maintain the required separation distance in contemporary buildings. In these cases, and in industrial plants, the high-voltage-resistant, insulated isCon® conductor enables compliance with IEC62305 ( VDE0185-305 ) 62305 and offers an equivalent separation distance of 0.75 m in air and 1.5 m in solid materials.
Metallic installations can be used as natural components of a down-conductor system, provided that: • Electrical continuity is permanent, • Their dimensions correspond at least to the values for standardised conductors (Table 2.6). • Pipelines with combustible or explosive contents are not permitted, if the seals in flange couplings are not connected so that they are electrically conductive.
The conductors should preferably be installed near the corners of the building. In order to achieve optimum splitting of the lightning current, the conductors must be evenly distributed around the outer walls of the building.
Down-conductors are the part of the external lightning protection system designed to route the lightning current from the air-termination system to the earthing system.