Chapter 9

Lightning
Protection and
Earthing System
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9.1. Lightning protection

Ø Lightning:

Lightning is a visible discharge of static electric charges occurring within a

cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and earth. Such charges always
develop in pairs, one negative and one positive. The potential power
depends upon the size of the charge that builds up between these opposite
charges which are separated by an insulating air gap. When the electrical
potential between the positive and negative charges becomes great enough
to break down the air gap insulator, the charges rush to meet. This action
produces a sudden release of energy heating the air to incandescence to
form the intense white spark we call lightning.

Ø Lightning protection:

The fundamental principle of lightning protection is to provide a safe

conductor pathway for lightning to follow without destroying a structure or
other object. Adequate protection systems for buildings must include:

1) Properly sized, placed, and installed air terminals (lightning rods) to

receive the lightning strike.

2) Conductors designed to carry the discharge from the air terminal to

the ground.

3) Ground rods properly sized and installed to carry the charge to the
earth.

The air termination network is that part which is intended to intercept

lightning discharges. It consists of vertical and horizontal conductors
arranged to protect the required area.

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(Air termination)

The earth termination is that part which discharges the current into the
general mass of the earth. In other words, it is one or more earth electrodes.
Earth electrodes for lightning protection are no different from earth
electrodes for short-circuit protection systems. The total resistance of an
earthing system, with all electrodes in parallel, should not exceed 10ohms. It
is clearly safer to ensure that the resistance of each electrode is less than
10ohms. The electrodes should be rod or strip type, and should be either
beneath or as near as possible to, the building being protected

(Grounding rod)

The down conductor is the conductor

which runs from the air termination to
the earth termina on. There should be one down conductor for every 20m of
perimeter. For buildings higher than 20m there should be one down
conductor for every 10m of perimeter. The down conductors should
preferably be distributed round the outside walls of the building. If this is for
any reason not practicable, then a down conductor can be contained inside a
non-metallic and non- combustible duct.

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In order to prevent side flash over; all metallic objects should be bonded to
each other to the protection system

We can see examples of this bonding in the following figure:

Ø Bonding to prevent side flashing

1. Air termination.
2. Down conductor.
3. Bond to aerial.
4. Bond to vent.
5. Bond to re-bar.
6. Bond to metal staircase.
7. Bond to metal window frame.
8. Bond to vent pipe.
9. Bond to steel door/frame.
10. Test clamp.
11. Indicating plate.
12. Main grounding terminal of
electrical installation.

And according to British standards; the minimum allowable distance

between the down conductors and any metallic object (that will not be
connected to the protection network) can be given by:
D=0.3R + (h / 15n)
Where:
D: minimum distance allowed in meter.
h: building height in meter.
R: Grounding resistance in ohm.
n: number of down conductors.
Whether a building needs protection against lightning or not is a matter of
judgment. It obviously depends on the risk of a lightning stroke and also on
the consequence of a stroke. Thus a higher risk of a strike can probably be
accepted for an isolated small bungalow than for, say, a children’s hospital.
While no exact rules can be laid down that would eliminate the designer’s
judgment entirely, some steps can be taken to objectify the assessment of
risk and of the magnitude of the consequences.

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The method recommended in BS 6651:1999 is to determine the probable

number of strikes per year, apply a weighting factor to this, and see if the
result is more or less than an acceptable level of risk. The weighting factor is
the product of individual factors which take into account the use of the
structure, the type of construction, the consequential effects of a strike, the
degree of isolation and the type of country.

The probable number of strikes is given by:

P=Ac×Ng×10 exp(-6)
Where:

P = probable number of strikes per year

Ac=area protected by conductor, m2

Ng=lightning flash density, i.e. the number of flashes to ground per km2 per
year.

Also

= + + +

Where:

L: is the length of the building to be protected.

W: is the width of the building to be protected.

H: is the building height.

And (Ng) factor can be taken from the standard map that gives number of
flashes to ground per year for each region in the world.

ü That number equal 10 for Egypt and Sudan

So the risk factor will be:

=
× × × × ×
The standard recommends that protection is needed if RF is greater than
(1/100,000) per year

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Ø In our hotel:

It's Reinforced concrete with non-metal roof. Its Structure is in area

which has few other structures of similar height on a flat level.
It will be (34) m in length, (27) m width and (92) m in height.
So factors will be:

Ac= 38732.44

P= Ac×10×10 exp (-6) = 0.3873244

A= 1.7
B=0.4

C=1.7

D=1

E=0.3

, RF= (1 / 7.44) that greater than (1/100000)

So we need a lightning protection system.

The air termination must be a network of conductors on the roof. One strip
will run round the perimeter, and an additional lengthwise strip down the
centre of the roof.

The building perimeter is

= (2×28) + (2×34) =124m and the number of down conductors required will
therefore be124/20=7. Each will terminate in a rod type earth electrode.

Down conductors and air termination conductors may be Aluminum or

copper strip 20×3 mm
With minimum allowable distance
D=3.87 m.

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9.2. Grounding System

9.2.1. Introduc on
Earthling system is an important part of the protection of the electricity
supply network. It ensures that fault current will enable protective devices to
operate correctly. It protects us from danger of electrocution by dissipating
the polluting energy into the earth and at the same time reduces the
potential difference between equipment and earth. Correctly designed and
installed grounding systems will safeguard both lives and equipment.
Substations must have a low earth resistance to reduce excessive voltages
developing during a fault which could endanger safety of nearby people or
animals.

When installing an earth system; the resistivity of the nearby ground should
be measured. Inaccurate resistivity tests can lead to unnecessary cost in the
design of the system. In order to obtain a low enough value of earth
resistance, earth systems may consist of an earth mat covering a large area
or many interconnected rods.

Despite the low conductivity of soil and rock, large volumes surrounding the
earth electrode enable a low resistance to earth to be obtained.

Proper grounding and bonding through low impedance ground is essential to

facilitate dissipation of the unwanted signals such as lightning, electrical
surges and other transient pulses received through power or signal lines.

Basic ingredients of good earth connection are:

1. Low electrical resistance to earth.

2. Good Corrosion resistance.

3. Ability to carry high currents repeatedly.

4. A reliable long life system.

5. Low loop impedance path of grounding to reduce L(di/dt) effect.

Although grounding effectiveness depends on the dimension of the

grounding electrode and the earth’s conductivity, technological and

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economic barriers restrict the size and type of electrodes, leaving the soil
conductivity as the only flexible parameter, to improve grounding
effectiveness.

It is possible to increase the earth conductivity by enhancing its absorption

power and increasing its richness with charge carrying ions.

Factors, which affect the soil resistivity:

1) Physical composi on:

Different soil composition gives different average resistivity.

Table below gives the effect of soil type on resistivity.

2) Temperature:

With the fall in soil temperature; the resistivity increases. For a change in soil
temperature from +20°C to -5°C the resis vity increase more than ten mes.
For a mixture of sand & clay, at 15% humidity the behaviour is as below:

3) Moisture Content:

Increased moisture content of the ground rapidly decreases its resistivity.

4) Chemical composi on:

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Different minerals and salts affect soil resistivity. Although the addition of
salt can lower soil resistivity but it increases the corrosion.

9.2.2. Why we need Earth?

Earth can mean different things to different people. In this context it means
a place of zero potential, a place where fault currents can be directed of
sufficient capacity to enable fuses to rupture. In reality it is usually the
substance beneath our feet and we connect to this in a number of different
ways.

Buildings are connected to the ground and therefore the floors on which we
stand are at the same potential. The electrical connections that come into
our homes and offices need to be safe. This is why the earth connection in a
domestic location is usually made to a metal pipe (such as water pipes)
somewhere close to where it enters the ground. It was found that when the
distribution transformer has an earth connection, it usually be in the form of
a copper rod anchored in the ground. Lightning conductors that are found on
tall buildings will also be rooted in the ground, so that in the event of a
lightning strike the current passes harmlessly to ground and not into the
structure of the building, thus saving the building from damage.

9.2.3. Grounding Systems for Low Voltage Installa ons

This chapter is based on IEEE Guidance notes and it is intended to provide
information that it is hoped will prove helpful.

BS 7671 lists five types of earthing system:

(TN-S), (TN-C-S), (TT), (TN-C), and (IT).

T = Earth (from the French word Terre)

N = Neutral

S = Separate

C = Combined

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I = Isolated (The source of an IT system is either isolated from earth or

connected to earth through a high inductance)

All exposed-conductive-parts of an installation are connected to an earth

electrode.

When designing an electrical installation, one of the first things to be

determined is the type of earthing system. The distributor will be able to
provide this information.

The system will either be TN-S, TN-C-S (PME) or TT for a low voltage supply
given in accordance with the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity
Regula ons 2002. This is because TN-C requires an exemption from the
Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations.

9.2.4. Overview of grounding systems

A) TN-S system earthing

In a TN-S system, shown in fig 1, the neutral of the source of energy is

connected to earth at one point only, and the consumer’s earthing terminal
is connected to the metallic sheath or armor of the distributor's service cable
into the premises.

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B) TN-C-S system earthing

In a TN-C-S system, shown in fig 3, the supply neutral conductor is connected

to earth at source and at intervals along its run. This is usually referred to as
protective multiple earthing (PME). With this arrangement; the distributor’s
neutral conductor is also used to return earth fault currents arising in the
consumer’s installation safely to the source. To achieve this, the distributor
will provide a consumer’s earthing terminal which is linked to the incoming
neutral conductor.

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C) TT system earthing

In a TT system, shown below, the neutral of the source of energy connected

as for TN-S, but no facility is provided by the distributor for the consumer’s
earthing. With TT, the consumer must provide their own connection to earth,
i.e. by installing a suitable earth electrode local to the installation.

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D) IT system earthing

In an IT network, the distribution system has no connection to earth at all, or

it has only a high impedance connection. In such systems; an insulation
monitoring device used to monitor the impedance

9.2.5. Ground system design

Simple grounding systems consist of a single ground electrode driven into
the ground. The use of a single ground electrode is the most common form of
grounding and can be found outside your home or place of business.

Complex grounding systems consist of multiple ground rods, connected,

mesh or grid networks, ground plates, and ground loops. These systems are
typically installed at power generating substations, central offices, and cell
tower sites. Complex networks dramatically increase the amount of
contact with the surrounding earth and lower ground resistances.

9.2.5.1. Our Design

We design the grounding

system of the hotel in our
project using TT system.

We connect a network of
electrodes under the hotel
building connected in parallel
with the water and gas pipe
lines to decrease the
grounding resistance as
shown.

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9.2.5.2. Why TT system?

With TT, the consumer must provide their own connection to earth, i.e. by
installing a suitable earth electrode local to the installation. In some
circumstances; the distributor can’t provide a means of earthing for the
consumer such as:

1- When the distributor cannot guarantee the earth connection back to the
source, e.g. a low voltage overhead supply, where there is the likelihood of
the earth wire either becoming somehow disconnected or even stolen.

2- For certain outdoor installations, e.g. a construction site temporary

installation, leaving it to the consumer to make suitable and safe
arrangements for which they are fully responsible.

Construction site, farm or swimming pool installations might be

inappropriate unless additional precautions are taken, such as an additional
earth electrode.

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9.2.6. Earth electrodes

BS 7671 recognizes a wide variety of types of earth electrode. Regula on
542-02-01 lists the types recognized which include earth rods, earth plates
and underground structural metal work. The soil resistivity of the ground is
probably the single most important factor in the determination of the type
of earth electrode.

Rods can only be as effective as the contact they make with the surrounding
material. Thus, they should be driven into virgin ground, not disturbed
ground.

When it is necessary to drive two or more rods and connect them together
to achieve a satisfactory result, the separation between rods should be at
least equal to their combined driven depth to obtain maximum advantage
from each rod. In some locations low soil resistivity is found to be
concentrated in the topsoil layer, beneath which there may be rock or other
impervious layers which prevents the deep driving of rods, or a deep layer of
high resistivity. Only a test or known information about the ground can
reveal this kind of information. In such circumstances, the installation of
copper earth tapes, or pipes or plates, would be most likely to provide a
satisfactory earth electrode resistance value. Whatever form an earth
electrode takes, the possibility of soil drying and freezing, and of corrosion,
must be taken into account. Preferably, testing of an earth electrode should
be carried out under the least favorable conditions, i.e. after prolonged dry
weather. Further information on earthing principles and practice can be
found in BS 7430: 1998 “Code of Prac ce for Earthing”.

9.2.7. Grounding conductors

Grounding conductors which are defined in BS 7671 as a protec ve
conductor connecting the main earthing terminal of an installation to an
earth electrode or other means of grounding must be adequately sized
particularly where buried partly in the ground, and be of suitable material
and adequately protected against corrosion and mechanical damage. The
size of an earthing conductor is arrived at -in basically- the same way as for
a circuit protec ve conductor, except that Table 54A of BS7671 must be

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applied to any buried grounding conductor. For a TN-C-S (PME) supply, it

shouldn't be smaller than the main bonding conductors.

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