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Facility Lightning Protection Fundamentals
Aleksander Andrzejewski, P.E.
Overview
Lightning Protection Systems (LPS) are designed to protect assets, but more
importantly to save lives. The Lightning Protection Institute estimates that
lightning causes billions of dollars in property damage each year. Common
misconceptions lead some to underestimate the challenge caused by lightning. It
is said that lightning never strikes in the same place twice; this is not true,
as can be demonstrated through photographs of such buildings as the Empire State
building. Others say that an LPS will prevent lightning strikes; this too is
not true as an LPS is used to intentionally attract the leader stroke to an air
terminal and thus discharge the energy through conductors to the earth.
This
course will refresh your general knowledge of LPS or provide you with general
information so that you can ensure that the structure to be protected receives
the proper number of Air Terminals, down conductors, and uses appropriate
materials. Additionally you will be exposed to surge arrestors and suppressors.
The student is required to read and review the material contained in Section
1.3 (Lightning Protection for Structures) of
MIL-HDBK-419A (29 Dec 1987) Grounding,
Bonding, and Shielding for Electronic Equipments and Facilities.
The
student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of twenty-five (25) questions at the end of
this course to obtain PDH credits.
Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and
skills:
- Integral LPS
- Stand alone LPS
- Components of an LPS
- Location of LPS on
structures
- Sizing and spacing of Air
Terminals
- Protection of Underground
Cables
- Surge Arrestors
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Materials used in and Corrosion Control of LPS
Course
Click on the following PDF attachments and review
Section 1.3 (Lightning
Protection for Structures) of
MIL-HDBK-419A (29 Dec 1987) Grounding, Bonding, and Shielding
for Electronic Equipments and Facilities prior to taking a
quiz for credit. Note that the document is split into two files to reduce
the download time.
LPS1 (1.4 MB)
LPS2 (1.1 MB)
Having Trouble Downloading the PDF File?
Right click on the link. Select "Save Target As..."
Then save on your desktop. To view the file, double click the icon on your
desktop and return to this page to take the quiz.
You may need Acrobat Reader to view this document.
Click on the link below to download a free copy of Acrobat Reader.
To obtain PDH credits for this course, you will need to take a quiz for
credit. Click on the link below.
(To take the quiz,
your web browser must be set to accept cookies. See how to
check your cookie settings.)
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