The standards for the earthing system are set by law and require design limits to be met. All of the tests carried out by Spectrum are compliant with the British Standards.

Lightning strikes happen more regularly in the UK than you might think. The main reason a lightning protection system is required, is to ensure that excess electrical energy from these strikes takes a less destructive path to the ground through your building. This means that instead of flowing through the building's electrical wiring and piping where it could cause significant damage, it travels down a safe path into the ground.

A correctly installed system should protect your building against lightning strikes and the destructive force of electrical energy. Any personnel or equipment that is within the building will be offered protection, and costly damage can be avoided.

In the same way that fire alarms, sprinklers and security systems offer your building protection, a lightning protection system gives you peace of mind. Why wait until the worst happens when you can be prepared for every eventuality?

There is also the issue of compliance with guidelines and legislation, in terms of installation and testing, to bear in mind. For example, the BS 62305 standard for lightning protection came into effect in 2006. According to the compliance legislation, it ‘reflects the increased scientific understanding of lightning and its effects over the last twenty years, and takes stock of the growing impact of technology and electronic systems on our daily activities’.

Why Lightning Protection Testing is so Important

Installing lightning protection systems that comply with the industry-recognised safety standard is a key part of commercial lightning protection. The standards for the earthing system are set by law and require design limits to be met. In order to make sure your system fully meets with these standards, regular testing by an accredited body is required.

All of the tests carried out by Spectrum are compliant with the British Standards, meaning you can be sure that your building, its contents and anyone within it are protected to the best possible standards.

Why you need a Lightning Protection System

Commercial lightning protection is something that any business can benefit from. But just how does lightning and lightning protection work? Lightning is an electrostatic discharge that can occur in the air or from the air to the ground. When a lightning strike makes contact with a building, the surge of electricity damages fuses and potentially any electronic devices connected to the system.

A commercial lightning protection system safely transfers the electrical energy from a lightning strike away from the building and into the ground. Here it can be safely discharged. Therefore, the purpose of a commercial lightning protection system is not to prevent the lightning from striking – in reality nothing can do this. The real aim is to provide a path of low resistance for the lightning to pass around or through the building. The major components of any commercial lightning protection system include lightning rods, conductor cables and grounding rods, configured in a way to ensure easy passage of energy.

A lightning protection test has several key parts. Once the system is installed, or after a certain amount of time has elapsed, you will be required to test each part of the system to ensure it is in working order. This is to guarantee that your system can withstand the high energy discharge of a lightning strike without causing any damage to your property.

Here at Spectrum, we can test the component parts of your commercial lightning protection system. We use our specialist access equipment to reach and test all sections of a system, no matter where they are located in your building. Here’s what we do:

Lightning Conductor Testing

Crucial to the installation of any lightning protection system, lightning conductor testing should also be carried out on existing systems by skilled personnel. This should happen on a regular basis, using calibrated test equipment. This will ensure the system complies with the relevant legislation and maintains its safety.

Earthing System Testing

Testing the earthing system of a lightning protection system is important to ensure it is functioning effectively and safely. Each conductor has its own electrode termination, and the resistance to earth of the whole system must not exceed 10 ohms. Our experienced engineers will measure all readings and ensure they fall within the safe limit.

Soil Resistivity Testing

In order to achieve an effective lightning protection system, soil resistivity is a crucial factor. So, when considering any electrical grounding design, you need to take this into account. Soil resistivity describes the degree to which the soil will resist the flow of electricity. When designing systems reliant on the current passing through the surface of the earth, this should be considered. Our team of engineers can ensure your soil resistivity levels meet all of the required levels.

Carrying out your Lightning Protection Risk Assessment UK

As part of our lightning protection testing services, we can conduct a thorough lightning protection risk assessment. This means we assess the risk of lightning strike to your property, taking all factors into consideration.

Once we have done this first part of the risk assessment, we can then recommend what kind of lightning protection you will need. This will depend on the size and nature of your property, as well as its intended use and associated risks. We will also carry out all the required testing after installation to ensure your system is in top working order.

If you would like more information about commercial lightning protection, BS 62305 regulations, or to arrange a Lightning Protection Risk Assessment UK, then get in touch with a member of our team. We have experienced engineers who have the correct equipment and access to test all aspects of your system.

If you have an existing system in place that is long overdue a test, then don’t put it off. However unlikely it might seem, lightning is a real threat to buildings of a certain size. You can prevent potentially massive costs with a straightforward and affordable test. Get in touch with our team to book in your commercial lightning protection assessment, and get the peace of mind you need for your building.