Designing to Lightning Standard, NFPA-780-2011 - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Land Surveyors and Architects

Designing to Lightning Standard, NFPA-780-2011

Course Outline

This course starts with a generalized drawing of a Franklin lightning protection system and discusses each of the components, along with typical and limiting values. References are made to numbered paragraphs in the Standard. More examples are shared. Several specifications are reviewed to emphasize the critical paragraphs. The structure of the Standard is reviewed.

The course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Be able to report the high lightning incidence and low lightning incidence parts of the US;
Be able to explain the importance of surge protection devices as part of a lightning protection system;
Know the National Electrical Code requirements for surge protection devices;
Be able to explain the importance of inter-system bonding as part of a lightning protection system;
Know the recommended terminal length;
Know the maximum terminal spacing on ridges or along the parapet;
Know the maximum terminal spacing on a large flat roof;
Know the minimum terminal connection cable size;
Know the minimum cross-connect cable spacing for a large flat roof;
Know the acceptable layout of cross-connect cables;
Know what Class I and Class II means;
Know the minimum main cable and downcomer cable for a Class I installation;
Know the minimum main cable and downcomer cable for a Class II installation;
Know the minimum required protection for the downcomer cable;
Know the minimum number and spacing of downcomer cables for a given structure;
Know the minimum ground rod specification;
Know five alternates to conventional ground rod installation;
Know the hardware acceptable for splicing lightning protection cables and for connecting to terminals and grounds;
Know the National Electrical Code requirements for bonding lightning, power, data and communications systems;
Be familiar with the obsolete “cone of protection method”; and
Be able to apply the basic “rolling ball protection method”.

Intended Audience

Lightning may be the most destructive force of nature. This course will be of value to persons responsible or making decisions regarding expenditures for lightning protection, for persons who design lighting protection, for persons who value their own lives and the lives of others.

Benefit to Attendees

The primary thrust of this course is design of lightning protection to the NFPA Standard, 780-2011. In order to achieve this, we must address the characteristics of lighting as the threat and the characteristics of the human body as the protected asset. Since most persons apply previous learnings to their understanding of lightning, related subjects, such as electrical circuit theory and meteorology will be coordinated with the lightning subject.

Course Introduction

This course presents examples and supporting reasoning for a NFPA 780 Franklin lightning protection system. Lightning behavior is not fully understood and damage can result to a structure protected by a system designed and installed per the Standard. But, you are in a strong position to argue that the best available technology was applied.

Course Content

In this lesson, you are required to download and study the following course content in PDF:

Designing to Lightning Standard, NFPA-780-2011

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

This course covered the concepts and available products for a Franklin lightning protection system, per UL and NFPA 780-2011. It introduced devices, interconnection diagrams, connection details and very general specifications. The links provide access to design and hardware suppliers. Following successful review of the reference material and the associated quiz, the student should be able to discuss lightning protection principles, design and installation effectively with sales persons and management representatives.

Related Links and References

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

http://www.nfpa.com/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=780 - Publisher’s page on NFPA-780, $43.00, list, at time of this writing.

Lightning Protection Hardware and Service Providers

http://www.erico.com/products/S2000E.asp - This is the page for Erico’s Franklin lightning protection system. Erico is a long-standing respected leader in providing high-quality lightning protection components.
http://www.harger.com/ - Harger provides a full range of lighting protection components and spends a tremendous amount of money on marketing.
http://glenmartin.com/catalog/lightning.htm - Glenmartin is now part of TWR Group. Lightning protection is a small part of the Glenmartin line. Their recommended designs are not consistent with NFPA-780-2011.
http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=lightning&sp-a=00091ea8-sp00000000&sp-p=all - NovaLynx is recommended as a source of lightning detection instruments. They offer a lightning protection kit which is not consistent with NFPA-780-2011.
http://lightningrodparts.com/parts1.html - This firm offers excellent service and a good selection of good quality lightning protection components. Their product illustrations are consistent with NFPA-780-2011 and very interesting to study.
http://lightningrod.com/ - This firm retails lightning protection components. Their product illustrations are consistent with NFPA-780-2011 and very interesting to study. See, especially, their tree protection webpage.
http://www.protectiongroup.com/Surge - I have had unfavorable relations with this firm in the past. Nonetheless, you should review their surge protection devices and look at the Knowledge Base website.
http://bondedlightning.com/commercial.php - Bonded Lightning is an installer in Florida, the state with highest lightning incidence in the US. They would like to sell you a high-markup innovative lightning protection system, but will also install a quality Franklin lightning protection system. See especially the [Erico] System 2000 Confentional Lightning Protection System illustration.
http://standards.ieee.com/findstds/standard/1100-2005.html - The IEEE Emerald book, 1100-2005 – IEEE Recommended Practice for Powering and Grounding Electronic Equipment, 700 pages, $180, list, at time of this writing.
http://ecmweb.com/mag/electric_lightning_strikes/ - Readable article in Electrical Construction and Maintenance magazine and source of the Isoderaunic map.
http://www.bartlett.com/resources/Lightning-Protection.pdf - Nice paper on lightning protection for trees. Source of tree protection illustration in course content. Used by permission.
http://www.ipclp.com/html/2011_IPC_Product_Catalog_No._211.pdf - Excellent catalog of lightning protection components. Source of HVAC protection illustration in course content. Used by permission.
http://www.wlrc.net/docs/ULlightning.pdf - explanation of UL Master Label Certification.
http://www.lightning.com/mission - Homepage for Lightning Protection Institute, a marketing organization for low-end suppliers and installers. The apparent goal is to distract specifiers and buyers from NFPA and UL.
http://www.csinet.com/ - The Construction Specifications Institute is mentioned in the course content without detailed reference. This is their homepage. Historically CSI has been closely allied with AIA, the American Institute of Architects. AIA is very big on clear, consistent documentation.
http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_info.html - National Lightning Safety Institute. This is their reference page with 43 free downloads.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.