Lightning Protection

[V.Cassidy]

I have a Liquid Nitrogen tank getting installed on site, its 16m high adjacent to a taller building and I'm providing the power to it. There are plenty of earth spike locations near it but, purely from observation

other sites don't appear to have any means of protection so,​

how do I know if it does or doesn't need lighting protection?

Thanks

 

[snowhead]

Contact whoever maintains and certifies the Lightning protection on the building.
I would imagine the company's Buildings Insurer would have requirements.

 

[V.Cassidy]

Thanks, but what dictates whether it's needed? Does it come down to flammability/ combustibility of contained material?
I've looked through GN8 but minimal guidance in that.
How do insurers/ building certifiers decide on necessity?

 

[Strima]

A risk assessment needs to be carried out taking into account many factors such as frequency and types of strikes in the area, you need to look at BS EN 62305 which isn't cheap.

 

[Lister1987]

A quick Google brings back this;

 

[Robson689]

An LP firm will carry out a risk assessment using the suitable software such as Furse StrikeRisk and make recommendations on the required installation.

 

[davesparks]

It's not completely clear from your OP, does the existing taller building have lightning protection?
If it does then the new structure needs to be assessed by a competent person, it will at a minimum need it's metalwork bonded in to the lightning protection system.

 

[V.Cassidy]

It's not completely clear from your OP, does the existing taller building have lightning protection?
If it does then the new structure needs to be assessed by a competent person, it will at a minimum need it's metalwork bonded in to the lightning protection system.

The original building does. This is a large tank next to it. The rod locations around it I presume are part of the building main earth.

 

[V.Cassidy]

A quick Google brings back this;

This was really helpful, thanks a lot.

 

[davesparks]

The original building does. This is a large tank next to it. The rod locations around it I presume are part of the building main earth.

Then you need to get a specialist to assess it, at a minimum the exposed metal of the tank must be bonded in to the lightning protection, but will likely need an extension of the lightning protection to cover it.

 

[UNG]

I have a Liquid Nitrogen tank getting installed on site, its 16m high adjacent to a taller building and I'm providing the power to it. There are plenty of earth spike locations near it but, purely from observation
other sites don't appear to have any means of protection so,
how do I know if it does or doesn't need lighting protection?

Thanks

How "near" are these earth spike locations

Seems strange that this is at the build stage and no one has taken account of the existing lightning protection earthing points and the possible implications of installing a metal structure in close proximity at the planning and design stage.

Was asked many years ago about putting lightning protection on a metal framed weather shelter located out on a golf course the structure was virtually finished and after consulting a lightning protection companies tech dept they said it was too late to install lightning protection without it being dangerous due to possible step potential issues if it was struck. Their solution prior to the start of construction would have included a copper lattice under the concrete base and extending out from it by a metre and a number of rods around it to give proper voltage degradation and limit any step potential. The conclusion in this case was it was actually safer to do nothing or alternatively demolish the new shelter and start the whole project again

 

[SparkyHarry]

It sounds like you need to get a specialist to review it and recommend what needs doing.

Many things will be taken into consideration not just to pass regulations, but to calculate and minimise risks. So it all depends on the particular situation: what's at stake, how severe the impact could be, and the likeliness.
It depends on a huge number of things, such as if there is a large number of people that congregate nearby. If essential public services are concerned. If lighting is prevalent in the area. If there are very tall isolated structures. If the structures are historic or of cultural importance. If nearby structures contain explosive or flammable contents etc. etc.