Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems – Part

seventeen
In Article " Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems – Part Two ", I indicated the lightning
protection design process involves a number of design steps as in below Fig.

The Lightning Protection Design Process

Step#1: Characteristics of the Structure to Be Protected

 Explained in Article " Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
Part Two "

Step#2: Risk Assessment Study

Also, In above Article, I indicated that the risk assessment study can be done by (4) different methods
as follows:

Methods Of Calculations
For Risk Assessment Articles
Study
Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
Part Two
Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
First: Manual Method Part Three
(Equations And Tables Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
Method) as per IEC Part Four
62305-2 Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
Part Five
Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
Part Six
Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
Part Seven
First: Manual Method
Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
(Equations And Tables
Part Eight
Method) as per NFPA 780
Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
Part Nine
Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
Part Ten
Second: Software Method
Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
For Performing The Risk
Part Eleven
Assessment Study
Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
Part Twelve
Third: Excel Sheets
Method For Performing
Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
The Risk Assessment
Part thirteen
Study

Fourth: Online
Calculators Method Used Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
for Need for Lightning Part Fourteen
Protection calculations
 Step#3: Selection Of External LPS Type and Material
Explained in Article " Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems –
Part Fifteen "

Step#4: Sizing of Air Termination System Components

In Article " Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems – Part Sixteen ", I explained the following
points:

 Types and forms of Strike Termination Subsystem,

 Sizing of Air Terminals Based on IEC 62305-3 and Based on BS EN 62305-3,
 Sizing of Natural Air Terminals,
 Positioning / Placement of Air Termination System Components.
 The Class of LPS/LPL influences on the (3) Positioning Methods.

Today, I will explain in detail the (3) Positioning Methods for Air Termination system which were:

1. The Rolling Sphere Method (RSM),

2. The Protective Angle Method (PAM),
3. The Mesh Method.

For more information, please review the following Articles:

 Design Process for Lightning Protection Systems
 Design Calculations of Lightning Protection Systems – Part One

Step#4: Sizing and Positioning of Air Termination System Components -

Continued

1- The Rolling Sphere Method (RSM)

:

1.1 The striking distance approach

 For lightning flashes to earth, a downward leader grows step-by-step in a series of

jerks from the cloud towards the earth. When the leader has got close to the earth
within a few tens, to a few hundreds of metres, the electrical insulating strength of the
air near the ground is exceeded.
 A further “leader” discharge similar to the downward leader begins to grow
towards the head of the downward leader: the upward leader.
 Upward leader will be launched at points of greatest electric field intensity (see
Fig.1) and can move in any direction towards the approaching downward leader. It is for
this reason that lightning can strike the side of tall structures rather than at their highest
point.

Fig.1:Development of downward leader striking distance

 The distance of the last step of a downward leader is termed the striking
distance and is determined by the amplitude of the lightning current. This striking
distance can be represented by a sphere with a radius equal to the striking distance (see
Fig.2). The striking distance r is given by:

0.65
r = 10 I

Where I is the peak current of the resulting stroke.

 Fig.2: striking distance

Notes to the above formulas:

 The larger the amount of charge carried by the lightning leader, the larger the
resulting lightning current, the greater will be the distance at which this happens.
 The head of the downward leader approaches the objects on the ground,
unaffected by anything, until it reaches the final striking distance.
 It is more difficult for an air-terminal to intercept a smaller lightning flash than a
larger flash, as the smaller flash must approach closer to the air-terminal before the
upward leader is launched.
 To protect the structure against smaller lightning flashes, air-terminals must be
spaced closer together. For smaller lightning flashes there is a risk that an air terminal
may not be close enough to intercept the down leader, thus a closer structural point
releases an upward leader which intercepts the flash (i.e. the building is struck).
 1.2 Relation between Lightning Protection Levels and Rolling Sphere Radius

The below Table#1 indicates the following:

 The Lightning Protection Levels LPL,

 Minimum current level to be protected against,
 Probability percentages that lightning may be greater than these levels,
 The rolling sphere radius used in the rolling sphere design method.

Table#1

Also, The above Table#1 explains the relation between Lightning protection levels and
rolling sphere radius as in the following examples:

Example#1:

Suppose that a lightning protection system to provide LPL I such that 99% of all lightning
flashes are intercepted (all those of 3 kA or greater). There is only a 1% probability that
lightning may be smaller than the 3 kA minimum, and may not be close enough to an air-
terminal to be intercepted. It should be noted that flashes of less than 3 kA are rare, and
typically would not be expected to cause damage to the structure. Protection greater
than LPL I (99%) would require significantly more material, is not covered by the standard
and generally is not required for commercial construction.

Result:

The lower lightning protection levels (LPL II, III & IV) each increase the air-terminal
spacing, reducing their ability to capture smaller lightning flashes, thus reducing overall
the percentage of lightning events they can protect against.
Example#2:

Suppose that a lightning protection system to provide LPL IV, designed using the rolling
sphere method, would use air-terminals placed using a rolling sphere radius of 60 m.
These air-terminals would be positioned such that they would capture all lightning
flashes of 16 kA or greater, thus offering protection to at least 84% of the lightning (the
term “at least” is used to indicate that the percentage of lightning captured might be
greater, since smaller lightning flashes could be captured if they were closer to the air-
terminal).

Result:

To offer a greater lightning protection level (e.g. LPL I, II or III) a smaller rolling sphere
radius would be used. This would result in a reduced spacing between air-terminals
(more air-terminals), thus positioning the air-terminals to capture smaller lightning
flashes, and increasing the total percentage of lightning flashes captured.

1.3 The Rolling Sphere Method Protection Applications

The rolling sphere methods can be used for the following applications:

1. Rolling sphere method with rod air-terminations,

2. Rolling sphere method and mesh/catenary conductors,
3. Rolling sphere method and Tall structures.

1.3.1 Rolling Sphere Method With Rod Air-Terminations

When rods are to be used as the air-termination for the protection of plane surfaces (see
Fig.3), the following formula can be used:

d = 2 √ (2rh – h2)
Where:

d = distance between two rods (m)

r = radius of the rolling sphere (m)
h = height of the rods (m)
 Fig.3: Rolling Sphere Method With Rod Air-Terminations

The following Table#2 shows some examples of rolling sphere protection distance
(distance between Air terminals) according to the Air terminals height and the Rolling
Sphere Radius according to lightning protection level LPL.
 Table#2

When rods are to be used as the air-termination for protection of roof top
items/structures (see Fig.4) and The arrangement of the air-termination rods, over
which no cable is normally spanned, means that the sphere does not “roll on rails” but
“sits deeper” instead, thus increasing the penetration depth () of the sphere. In this
case the following formula of sphere penetration distance can be used:

p = r – √ (r2 –d2/4)
Where:

p = penetration distance (m)( part of the sphere below the horizontal lines between top
of air terminals)
r = radius of the rolling sphere (m)
d = Distance between two air-termination rods or two parallel air-termination
conductors (m)
 Fig.4: Penetration distance of rolling sphere

The following Table#3 shows Rolling sphere penetration distance according to the
distance between Air rods and the Rolling Sphere Radius according to lightning protection
level LPL.
 Table#3

Note:

The height of the air-termination rods h should always be greater than the value of the
penetration depth p determined to ensure that the rolling sphere does not touch the
structure to be protected.

1.3.2 Rolling Sphere Method And Mesh/Catenary Conductors

 Where the rolling sphere method is to be used to evaluate the protection provided
by mesh conductors or network of catenary wires, the mesh must be mounted at some
distance above the roof (see Fig.5), to ensure the rolling sphere does not touch its
surface in a similar way to the catenary conductors.

Fig.5: Rolling Sphere Method And Mesh Conductors

 Also, As with a free standing mast, catenary conductors can be used to keep the
rolling sphere away from the structure to be protected (see Fig.6). One or more catenary
conductors may be utilised to ensure that the sphere does not come into contact with
any part of the structure’s roof.
 Fig.6: Rolling Sphere Method And Catenary Conductors

 If the system is required to be isolated from the structure then a conductor

suspended between two free standing masts may be employed. This arrangement is
suitable for small sensitive structures such as explosive stores.
 In a non isolated system, a catenary conductor may be used to protect larger items
of roof mounted equipment from a direct strike (see Fig.7).
 Fig.7: catenary conductors used to protect larger
items of roof mounted equipment

 The two formulas in the case of rod air-terminations can be used also in case of
using mesh/catenary conductors. The distance/height of the mesh/catenary replaces the
rod distance/height. As in fig.4 Note that the distance for penetration or protection
distance is the diagonal of the grid (distance between points A & B).

1.3.3 Rolling Sphere Method And Tall Structures

Research shows that it is the upper 20% of the Tall structure that is most
vulnerable to side strikes and potential damage (see Fig.8).
 Fig.8: Rolling Sphere Method And Tall Structures

Case#1: Buildings Above 60 m High

In the IEC standards, for buildings above 60 m, protection is required to the

sides of the upper 20% of height. The same placement rules used for roofs
should apply to the sides of the building. While the mesh method is
preferable, particularly if using natural components, protection is permitted
using horizontal rods and rolling sphere method. However, horizontal rods
on most structures are impractical due to window washing access
equipment, etc.

Case#2: Buildings Less Than 60 m High

 Note that for structures less than 60 m high the risk of flashes to the sides
of the building is low, and therefore protection is not required for the
vertical sides directly below protected areas.

Case#3: Buildings Taller Than 120 m High

For structures taller than 120 m, the standard recommends that all parts
above 120 m be protected. It is expected that due to the height and nature
of such a structure, it would require a design to LPL I or II (99% or 97%
protection level). For tall buildings, the actual risk of flashes to the side are
estimated by the industry to be less than 2%, and typically these would be
the smaller lightning flashes, e.g., from branches of the downward leader.
Therefore, this recommendation would only be appropriate for high risk
locations or structures.

Note For Buildings Taller Than 30 m:

For buildings taller than 30 m, additional equipotential bonding of internal

conductive parts should occur at a height of 20 m and every further 20 m of
height. Live circuits should be bonded via SPDs.

1.4 How To Apply The Rolling Sphere Method for

Lightning Protection Design?

The basic concept of applying the rolling sphere to a structure is as follows:

Step#1: Scale The building / structure to be protected (e.g. on a scale of 1:100) (see
Fig.9) Depending on the location of the building under design, it is also necessary to
include the surrounding structures and objects with the same scale of the building, since
these could act as “natural protective measures” for the building under design.
 Fig.9: Scaled Building and Scaled Rolling Sphere of LPL I

Step#2: calculate The radius of the sphere which must be equal to the striking distance
associated with the minimum current level for the chosen lightning protection level.

Step#3: Scale the radius r of the “rolling sphere” calculated from Step#2 with the same
scale of the building (see Fig.9). (For example, if the building with scale 1:100,
from Table#1 for a lightning protection levels I, the rolling sphere radius will be 20 cm
and for LPL II will be 30 cm and for LPL III will be 45 cm).

Step#4: Make a circular path around the building under design with distance apart equal
to the scaled rolling sphere radius (see Fig.10). This circular path will terminate on the
corner of the building.
 Fig.10: Circular path around the building

Step#5: Roll an imaginary sphere over the surface of the structure in all directions (see
Fig.11).
 Fig.11: imaginary sphere rolled over the surface
of the structure in all directions

Note: the rolling process of the imaginary sphere is controlled by the distance between
Air terminals as given in part#3 in this Article i.e. each roll is far from the previous one
by the allowable distance between air terminals calculated from part#3.

Step#6: Where the sphere touches the building, A lightning protection would be needed
by placing Air Terminal. Using the same logic, the areas where the sphere does not touch
the Building (see shaded area in Fig.11) would be deemed to be protected and would
not require protection.
 Note: Generally a lightning protection system is designed such that the rolling sphere
only touches the lightning protection system and not the structure i.e. The air
termination system is placed such that the sphere only touches the air-terminations, and
not the structure.

In the next Article, I will explain other Positioning Methods for Air Termination system: The Protective
Angle Method (PAM) and The Mesh Method. Please, keep following.