Lightning directly into the building causes a fire due to deformation of materials, a sharp and strong increase in their temperature. Therefore, lightning protection of buildings and structures is a necessary element in the equipment of any civil, administrative or industrial facility. This is a set of technical measures to ensure the safety of the structure, equipment, property and people in the building. And this is far from a far-fetched problem, since on the planet on average more than 40 thousand thunderstorms occur per day. But there is another aspect in the modern world - this is damage or complete failure of electronic equipment as a result of overload caused by even remote lightning discharges. And this is a very significant problem in the days of computers and the Internet.
In order to prevent this from happening, a system-wide integrated lightning protection of buildings and structures has been developed. Lightning striking a power line even at a distance of several hundred meters from the object causes a powerful impulse that can go into buildings nearby, disable engineering communications and create a fire. Due to the various nature of the threats, two systems have been developed: external lightning protection of buildings and structures and internal. Each of them is designed to solve specific problems.
The external system should catch lightning heading into the building, transport it through a special allotment to the ground, while completely blocking the possibility of harming the structure and the people in it. Internal lightning protection can provide a reduction in electromagnetic effects on communication systems located at the facility. Such systems are introduced without fail by regulatory documents both at the stages of project development, construction or reconstruction, and for the operational period of all types of facilities and industrial communications, regardless of ownership or departmental affiliation. But the situation is far from so simple, since there are two documents: lightning protection of buildings and structures 153-34.21.122-2003 and 34.21.122-87. These instructions are not equivalent.
Fundamentally, the lightning protection device of buildings and structures depends on the functions that it should perform. The external system consists of an air terminal, a down conductor and a grounding element. The inner one is more complex - these are lightning arresters, surge protection devices , spark arresters for gas and gas, lightning protection barriers. In the countries of America and Europe, the requirements for these systems are much higher than in our country. Lightning protection devices there activate their functions even in the event of a discharge threat due to special sensors capable of detecting an increase in voltage in the atmosphere. These are the so-called rod lightning rods. They are able to protect a much larger area.
Since ancient times, people have understood that high-quality lightning protection of buildings and structures is to ensure the safety of people and property from fire and death threats. This is primarily a guarantee of their own well-being.