Lightning protection is a mystery to many, and often a value engineering target for those who do not understand the purpose of a lightning protection system, according to a blog by Krista Biason, HGA Architects & Engineers, on the Electrical Construction & Maintenance website.
Lightning protection is not necessarily a “design preference,” but the need for a lightning protection system is determined by the requirements of NFPA 70 and NFPA 780, a lightning risk assessment and (often) the facility’s insurance carrier.
The primary reason for a lightning protection system is to route that electrical energy to a less destructive path to ground — instead of traveling through the building’s electrical wiring, water piping, structure, or low-voltage cabling paths where it could create significant chaos inside the building, the blog said.
A lightning protection system needs to be installed correctly to add safety to the building. Any gap in the system provides an area of vulnerability for the structure.
Cleanliness in Hospitals: Clinical Priority and Community Perception
Dana-Farber Receives $50M Gift for Planned Cancer Hospital
Clarinda Regional Health Center Reports Data Security Incident
Gaps in Nurses' Environmental Cleaning Knowledge Grow Amid Rising EVS Pressures
Ground Broken on the Southern Nevada Forensic Facility