ERITECH Lightning Protection Systems

Lightning and Surge Technologies are specialists in all aspects of Lightning Risk Mitigation, and recognize the importance of an integrated strategy to the provision of providing lightning protection, which follows a holistic approach that encompasses all aspects of risk , which is condensed across a Six Point Plan of Protection:

1. Efficiently capture the lightning strike
2. Convey the energy to ground
3. Safely dissipate the energy into a low impedance grounding system
4. Equipotentially bond all grounds and metallic features
5. Protect incoming AC power feeders
6. Protect low voltage data/ telecommunications

 We can offer a range of lightning protection systems to suit any applications and to meet various Australian and international standrads.

 For  over 20 years, the team at  Lightning and Surge Technologies  have distributed the ERITECH range of Lightning Protection, manufactured by nVent ERICO® , a world leader in benchmark quality lightning and surge protection technologies.

ERICO products are manufactured to ISO 9001:2000, and are subjected to rigorous field and laboratory testing, as well as computer modeling during product development, and are backed by extensive literature, test reports, technical papers, data sheets, installation instructions, and risk-analysis software.

ERITECH System 1000 Lightning Protection System

 nVent ERICO offers three ERITECH® INTERCEPTOR SI air terminals.

• SI25 with a triggering advance of 25μs
• SI40 with a triggering advance of 40μs
• SI60 with a triggering advance of 60μs

The ERITECH INTERCEPTOR SI is an Early Streamer Emission (ESE) air terminal in accordance to the NFC 17-102 standard. The design requirements, protection level calculations and protection radius are obtained from this standard.

Due to the internal control circuit, the ERITECH INTERCEPTOR SI enables the early launching of an upward leader compared to other passive air terminal components.

Testing
The ERITECH® INTERCEPTOR SI ESE has been extensively tested at an independent high voltage laboratory* in accordance with the requirements of French NFC 17-102 and Spanish norm UNE-21186. The testing, as defined in the above two standards, was designed to simulate naturally occurring conditions and allow comparison of the performance between differing types of lightning protection systems.

The test simulates natural field conditions where a field impulse (the one due to the downward leader approaching ground, simulated by a Marx Generator with a long front time) is superimposed onto a permanent field (the one due to the charge between cloud and ground, simulated in the laboratory by a DC generator). The corona at the tip of the rod is measured by a photo-multiplier that enables the determination of the triggering time of both the simple passive rod (SR) and the ERITECH INTERCEPTOR SI ESE.

The average value is then determined for both a simple passive rod and the ERITECH INTERCEPTOR SI ESE. The time difference is then T(SR) minus T(SI) to achieve the ΔT advantage for the ERITECH INTERCEPTOR SI ESE.

Working Principles

During thunderstorm conditions when the lightning down-leader is approaching ground level, an upward leader may be created by any conductive surface. In the case of a passive lightning rod, the upward leader propagates only after a long period of charge reorganization. In the case of the ERITECH INTERCEPTOR SI ESE, the initiation time of an upward leader is greatly reduced.

The ERITECH INTERCEPTOR SI ESE generates controlled magnitude and frequency pulses at the tip of the terminal during high static fields characteristic prior to a lightning discharge. This enables the creation of an upward leader from the terminal that propagates towards the downward leader coming from the thundercloud.

Features

• Designed and tested to NFC 17-102, UNE-21186 and NP4426
• Stainless steel design suitable for most environments
• Available in three models to suit specific site requirements
• Suitable for connection to a variety of down conductor systems including tape, cable, smooth-weave and ERITECH® ERICORE conductor
• Fully compatible with the ERITECH SYSTEM 3000 mast, ERITECH ERICORE cable and accessories

ERITECH System 2000 Lightning Protection System

Since 1760, the most popular methods of lightning protection have involved the use of air terminals (Franklin Rods), horizontal and vertical conductors (Faraday Cage), or combinations of both.

ERICO offers the ERITECH System 2000 series of air terminals, down-conductors and fittings in accordance with National and International Standards such as Australian-AS1768, British-BS6651, Singaporean-CP33, European-IEC and USA-NFPA780.

Features:

• Based on conventional design principles rolling sphere, cone of protection and mesh method, as found in AS1768, BS6651, IEC, CP33 and NFPA 780
  
• Computer-aided design optimizes the location of air terminals providing the most effective lightning protection coverage
  
• Precision manufacturing ensures easy assembly and installation
  
• UL Master Label System for NPFA components
  
• Wide range of air terminals, bases, conductors, connectors and fasteners
  
• Air termination components and fittings are available in copper and copper and aluminum alloys
  
• Down-conductors are available as smooth weave or stranded construction, as well as copper, tinned copper and aluminium flat tapes