New grounding accessories provide lightning protection

L-com has introduced a line of grounding accessories to prevent shock hazards and disruptions to facility power systems generated by lightning strikes.

The accessories are intended to protect commercial facilities, industrial complexes, and pipelines, both indoors and outdoors. They comprise isolating spark gaps, equipotential bonding bars and lightning rods.

These new isolating spark gaps equalise the potential between an AC service's high-voltage and low-voltage sides, providing a controlled path for equalisation currents to flow safely. Each unit has two electrodes with a small air gap between them. The gap remains open throughout normal operating conditions. If a dangerous electrical system fault occurs and the voltage exceeds a certain threshold, the air gap ionises and becomes conductive, short-circuiting the gap and stopping any harmful voltages from posing a risk to personnel.

The isolating spark gaps offer a high current-carrying capacity of 100kA. Their resilient indoor/outdoor construction keeps them operating in temperatures from -40F to +176F (-40C to +80C). They are available with or without a wiring kit.

The company's new equipotential bonding bars minimise the risk of dangerous voltage differences between interconnected conductive elements in a facility. They connect all metallic components within the protected area, such as structural steel, pipes, HVAC systems and electrical panels. By connecting them with low-resistance conductors, the bonding bars ensure they are all at the same electrical potential, stopping arcing or sparks that could damage equipment or create a safety hazard.

The new panel-mount equipotential grounding bonding bars come in two models, with six or 16 attachment points to suit different sizes of commercial, industrial or pipeline installations. They offer the same wide operating temperature range as the isolating spark gaps and the lightning rods.

These new lightning rods safely pass the lightning energy into the grounding system through the overall building lightning protection system. The three new models present options for a single-spire rooftop, a triple-spire rooftop, or direct mounting to a security camera. The rods can be mounted to rooftops, superstructures, chimneys or outdoor equipment. They are light but strong, created from highly conductive aluminium and geometrically designed to maximise effectiveness.

"Insurance claims for lightning damage in the U.S. top $1.65 billion a year, and a lot of it is due to improperly grounded electrical systems in facilities," said product line manager Dan Rebeck. "But the damage can be minimised by installing these robust but cost-effective grounding accessories."