NEWS FLASH !
The recent “Australian Lightning Safety Seminars “A SUCCESS”

During August 2008 Lightning and Surge Technologies conducted six Lightning Safety Seminars across Australia which had attracted the attendance of five (5) x EL024 Committee Members (who preside over the AS1768 Lightning Protection standard), the Chief Electrical Mines Inspectors from two (2 ) of the State Mining regulators, as well as six (6) Electrical Mines Inspectors (from three (3) states).

Others in attendance included the who’s who of Australian Mining companies, drilling companies, Energy providers, Telco, various National and State sporting groups, Electrical Engineering companies and Government departments.

Richard Kithil, Founder and President of the National Lightning Safety Institute of Denver Colorado was brought to Australia as the Key Note speaker for these Seminars, and the feedback post the Seminars is that the suggested Lightning Safety Framework proposed would provide a solid basis on which to base a structured approach towards the development of Policies and Procedures associated .

In the face of over 750 lightning related fatalities, and many injuries in the past 20 years (globally), unbelievably there has been little or even no emphasis by Standards of the need for a framework within the relevant Codes, on which organizations who have concerns with the lightning risk, could use to develop their Policies and Procedures.  Our recent Seminars have squarely put this issue on the agenda, where the Standards, the Mining regulators and all high risk organizations, have all agreed that such a framework is absolutely warranted for inclusion within Australian Standards and Regulatory guidelines, and which would ensure that a commonality in approach could be developed across and within all industry sectors.

 

NEW AS/NZS 1768-2007 Lightning Protection Standard

RECOMMENDED SURGE RATINGS
AS/NZS 1768-2007 is the first major standard in the world to clearly defined and recommend surge ratings for SPD’s (8/20us).  Table 5.1 now recommends what rating Surge Protective Devices should be installed at various strategic installation locations.
 
NEW DEFINITION GIVEN TO DEFINING THE PERFORMANCE OF AN SURGE FILTER
The performance specification for Surge Filters has never been well specified in previous and/or other Standards, and AS1768-2007 finally places some parameters into print which should remove much of the confusion that surrounds what does and does not constitute a Surge Filter,  in a power protection application.
 
The main reason for incorporating a filter component into SPD design is to reduce the dv/dt, and dI/dT associated with transient activity. A suggested performance measure is now included specifically for application for those who wish to consider, or are specifying Surge Filters.
 
TOV TEMPORARY OVER VOLTAGE
This new AS1768-2007 Section 5.6.3.6 relates to SPD’s installation safety, especially where SPD’s may be subjected to ”TOV” Temporary Over Voltage conditions at 50 Hz.
 
In some TOV Fault conditions, SPD’s can overheat, and have been known to have caused switchboard fires.
5.6.3.6 now recommends a test regime that SPD manufacturers are urged to comply to, which safely deals with this risk.