Lightning protection study
Call on the expertise and know-how of the only African company certified QUALIFOUDRE
Scientists now estimate that for every additional degree of global warming, thunderstorm activity increases by 10%. That is why we are witnessing in recent years an upsurge of events related to lightning, in several countries of North Africa.
Lightning, an increasingly frequent phenomenon
With approximately 32 million discharges per year worldwide, lightning strikes statistically 50 to 100 times per second. It is a major cause of death in the world, with a rate of 6 deaths/million/year or more than 40,000 deaths annually.
From a financial point of view, the annual cost of damage is in the tens of billions of dollars. In the USA alone, the cost of lightning damage in 2011 was estimated at 1 billion USD.
Direct and indirect effects
The effects of lightning can be direct, as when it strikes a building roof, a transmission tower or an electrical transmission cable, for example.
But its most frequent effects are rather indirect: ground rise, because of the step voltage, coupling phenomena by inductive radiation, and disturbance transmissions by capacitive crosstalk.
Protection against direct lightning strikes is achieved by lightning conductors placed above the structures to be protected, while protection against indirect effects is achieved by lightning arresters and surge protectors judiciously placed at the level of the electrical installation.
Recognized know-how and guaranteed quality of services Qualifoudre
ELEXPERT, offers you a total management of your problem based on a proven expertise and certified by the National Institute of Industrial Environment and Risks of France (INERIS) according to the referential
QUALIFOUDRE
In addition to being certified in Lightning Risk Analysis (LRA) and Technical Study (TS) activities,
ELEXPERT
is also certified in
QUALIFOUDRE
in the fields of
Installation
and the
Verification
.
Our technical and site teams have undergone rigorous training in this field and all our technicians, who work on this type of project, are certified Level 1 according to the Qualifoudre reference system.
To carry out the various studies, we have the most complete software in the field such as: JUPITER, SPARC or PROTECRISK
Our approach to ensure maximum safety
Collection of geographical and technical data of the site to be protected (a site visit may be necessary in some cases for an accurate survey of the installation). Analysis of the site’s activity, Identification of the types of networks supplying the site (electricity, telecoms, pipes) and their configuration, Identification of risk areas (ATEX). Analysis of the neighborhood (heights, existence of lightning protections in the neighborhood. Consideration of future developments in the structure and the neighborhood.
Realization of a
Lightning Risk Analysis
(ARF), using the standard
IEC 62305-2 :2012,
according to the following methodology:
- Evaluation of risks and losses based on the estimated storm activity, the nature and dimensions of the structure or buildings, the human presence, the stored products, the electrical and electronic equipment, the particular risk linked to the activity, the existing protection and prevention measures, …
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of the grounding network and equipotentiality of the installation.
- Determination of the threshold of acceptable losses and determination of: Protection needs and levels of protection to be reached for structures, equipment, networks of incoming or outgoing links of structures (energy networks, communication networks, pipelines).
- Prevention needs to complement protection
- Formalization of the ARF in a report.
Realization of the technical study (ET)
which defines the provisions to be taken against direct and indirect lightning strikes to obtain a satisfactory protection system for people and structures. It includes:
External Lightning Protection Facility (IEPF)
Protection against the direct effects of lightning. It is carried out according to the standard
IEC62305-3:2012,
or according to the standard
NM 06.1.050:2020
or
NF 17102:2011
in accordance with local regulations or customer requirements.
Internal Lightning Protection System (IIPF)
Protection against the indirect effects of lightning. It is carried out in accordance with the standard
IEC62305-4:2012.
It defines the means to be put in place to protect equipment and installations against the effects of flashover and stray currents caused by lightning strikes on the site or in its vicinity. It also describes how to build the grounding networks, so as to ensure a uniform potential rise of the grounds and masses on the site, in case of direct or indirect lightning strike.- Formalization of the ET in a report.
- A notice of verification and maintenance is written in addition, in accordance with the requirements of the Qualifoudre standard
Once the lightning protections have been installed, a verification of the installation is compulsory according to the Qualifoudre standard, and must be carried out by an organization certified by Qualifoudre. In addition, periodic checks must be carried out. Their purpose is to control the maintenance in good condition of the protections and their ability to always ensure their functions.