Grounding and lightning protection

Grounding must protect against the effects of electrical voltage on a person resulting from contact with steel parts through which no current flows, but which, as a result of damage, become under electrical voltage. Therefore, the main task that grounding performs is to ensure the safety, first of all, of people. This refers to the risk of electric shock in case of contact with various electrical equipment.

In our own methodology, our company uses the modular-rod principle of organizing the grounding of a building and a country house. This is a deep method that makes it possible to immerse grounding conductors to a depth of 30-35 meters. We use only high-quality materials and components from world-class manufacturers. Grounding systems typically have a rod plated with 99.9 percent pure copper. The coating method is electrolytic, forming a coating with an inextricable and molecular bond with the steel. The rods are endowed with a high steel tensile strength of 600 N/mm, as well as high corrosion resistance of the metal. The thickness of the copper coating of the grounding system is 250 microns along the entire length of the rod. This ensures that the grounding will last for more than 30 years.

This technique makes it possible to vertically immerse, using a vibrating hammer, deep-seated, copper-coated grounding rods. The depth increases gradually - from 1.5 meters to 35 meters. The rods are 1.5 meters long and are connected with brass couplings. The junction of the rods with the couplings is treated with a special conductive and anti-corrosion paste. At great depths, we obtain stable characteristics of the ground loop resistance. These characteristics will remain constant for the entire service life specified in the warranty and will no longer be affected by weather conditions.

Experts from our company calculate the immersion depth of grounding conductors, as well as the number of deep points in the building’s grounding loop, first taking measurements of the earth’s resistivity. During the design process, we necessarily take into account the parameters of soil resistivity, which varies depending on the level of humidity and temperature, and, no less important, to a significant extent for different types of soil.

Lightning protection

The negative consequences that result from exposure to a natural phenomenon - lightning - fires, mechanical damage, injuries and deaths of people and animals, damage to important electrical power and especially expensive electronic equipment, significant disruptions in power supply and production work. The most important task of a lightning protection system when struck by lightning (direct strike, strike to the ground) is, first of all, the safety of people and animals, keeping the building safe and sound, and to solve this problem, lightning protection systems are installed.

Passive lightning protection is a classic lightning protection system that uses ordinary metal elements (stretched cable, pins, and a metal mesh of rods) - they play the role of a lightning receiver (lightning rod). Most often, a combination of lightning rods is used, and the operation of only one of their types is used occasionally. Installation of lightning rods is carried out on all parts of the building that protrude from the roof.

The materials used in construction, such as copper, steel or aluminum, for a lightning protection system do not affect its functionality. Options for using products made from various materials are possible. But in such a situation, it is worth checking again whether the relevant regulatory requirements are met.

Active lightning protection arose back in the 1980s, where so-called active lightning rods were used. Inside they have an ion generator that initiates early emission of a counter leader at the tip of the head. This happens precisely when a thundercloud approaches. The generator safely guides and intercepts the lightning strike into the ground. Such lightning rods have a protected zone that is significantly superior to their classical counterparts. These lightning rods are classified as inconspicuous; moreover, this seriously reduces the load on the roof due to less use of materials. In this way, not only the house itself is protected, but also everything that is within the range of the active head.

A direct lightning strike into a house is a very rare occurrence, but the likelihood of a strike nearby one hundred or two hundred meters away poses a more serious threat, so internal lightning protection is seriously more important than external one. Since not only lightning strikes, but also short-term electromagnetic pulses that occur can damage objects and objects placed in the house. The only existing solution to this difficulty is the installation and use of an internal lightning protection system. A protective measure will be the division of all electrical networks of the building into separate zones. A surge suppressor is installed in each of these zones. Each type of limiter has its own engineering parameters and features. Consequently, the selection of any limiter is a rather labor-intensive process, which is why it is recommended to contact qualified experts.

Please check with the manager at one of the contact phone numbers for the cost of installing grounding, lightning protection in the city of Kyiv and other electrical installation work.