Commercial and Industrial protection from lightning strikes for buildings and site assets
Design and Analysis in a sophisticated and flexible CAD environment
Supporting documentation to demonstrate compliance
Using our own in-house developed software, we can generate protection models using common lightning protection (LP) devices. We will recreate your site in a CAD environment including buildings, structures, equipment and lightning protection devices and generate a LP model using the rolling sphere method. The software does not require the overheads of an electrical design package, the model can be quickly setup using non-attributed graphics with lightning protection devices added and amended using our custom software.
Deliverables can include interactive 3D PDF models, screen shots, plan views and section views demonstrating the protection solution achieving the required protection for your assets. The 3D drape is presented with a transparency allowing you to see the assets through the drape.
Provide us with your existing 2D or 3D geometry to save time in creating the site model. We can accept your data in a wide variety of CAD or vector formats, point clouds or products from reality modeling.
The rolling sphere method uses an imaginary sphere of a defined radius over the surface
of a building or substation. The sphere rolls up and over (and is supported by) lightning
masts, shield wires, substation fences and other grounded metallic objects that can provide
shielding from lightning. A piece of equipment is said to be protected from a direct stroke
if it remains below the curved surface of the sphere.
Based on your site location and the assets your protecting, you will choose the level of protection required. Our software allows you to select this level of protection prior to generating the solution. The four levels offered under the Australian Standard for a ground based rolling sphere radius includes 20, 30, 45 and 60 metres.
Protection of ground based assets can be achieved by locating lightning masts or shield wires to intercept lightning strikes before they reach equipment or assets. Masts can be positioned to draw away the current and direct it into an earth grid. The height and positions of masts can be used to generate a zone of protection under a rolling sphere draped surface.
Under the Australian Standard AS1768:2007 the roof of a building is subject to a different set of risks and calculations for lightning protection. Our software will calculate the zone of protection in accordance to the guidelines. Masts and linear protection are both supported, and you can even use a mix of both. The quick generation of the protection drape means you can test many scenarios to work out which is best for your situation.
The software calculates the protection zone from 1 to hundreds of masts, as required by your individual site requirements. Each mast can be at a different height. The software will warn you if you define a mast taller than the sphere radius (possible over-design).
A shield wire joining two masts will offer linear protection, and forms a increased zone of protection between masts. The linear protection is supported by the software and is integrated using the rolling sphere method.
The software supports up to 8 separate mast groups in the same site. This may be useful for large sites with disconnected or sparse equipment. Mast groups that are separated by more than the sphere diameter can be created as its own mast group or cluster. Masts are easily grouped at time of placement, or after placement.
For a level roof with linear protection, the software will generate the protection solution drape in accordance with the standard. The software will identify which linear protection is on the edge of the building, and generate the correct linear drape (roof) and curved drape (to the ground).
Many roof designs have an inclined surface or perimeter handrail. Our software will let you place inclined linear protection, at a given distance above the roof surface. The protection solution will include the roof linear protection together with the subsequent point protection occuring at the corners and inclined linear protection occuring along the edges.
Masts are supported for roof top protection. In addition to the custom roof calculations for protection, the software will ensure the design also meets maximum spacing limits.
The LP solution is created with software using Australian Standard AS1768:2007 as the basis for calculations. Documentation can be incorporated directly into your project documents. Whether you need just a 3D PDF or a complete set of photographic stills with plan views and cross sections, the solution will meet your requirements.
Compliance with the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1768:2007
Interactive 3D PDF output viewable on almost any computer*, complete with layers that can be turned on and off. (* 3D PDF viewer required)
Supports air terminals (masts) of any complying height above the site ground level
Supports Linear protection devices terminating at the ground level via masts
Supports air terminals mounted on buildings or a roof, using specific calculations for roof items
Supports linear interception devices mounted on buildings or a roof, using specific calculations for roof mounted items
Cross sections through the protection drape showing buildings and assets confirming the protection zone
Plan view of the site showing the protection zones with dimensions to build the solution. A tabular list of masts and linear items detailing the protection devices
We would be happy to discuss your requirements, and help you generate the lightning protection model and documentation for your current project requirements. Our contact details are below. Send us a message and let's get started.