Specification – Lightning Protection Systems

General:

Summary –
A) This Section specifies the lightning protection system for the building(s) or
structure(s). This system provides safety for the building and occupants by
preventing damage to the structure caused by lightning. The design of this
system is to be in strict accordance with this section of the specification and
all contract drawings that apply.
B) The work covered under this section of the specifications consists of
furnishing labor, materials and services required for the completion of a
functional and unobtrusive lightning protection system approved by the
architect and engineer.
C) A specialty contractor actively engaged in the installation of certified
lightning protection systems.

System Description –
The entire lightning protection system shall be designed and installed in
accordance with:
A) National Fire Protection Assoc. (NFPA) Document # 780
B) Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc. (UL) Standard # 96A
C) Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) Standard # 175

Submittals –
A complete shop drawing shall be submitted to the architect and engineer for
approval prior to commencement of the installation. The shop drawing will show
the extent of the system layout designed for the structure along with details of
the products to be used in the installation. The drawing will include the stamp of
the LPI Master Installer responsible for the system design.


Quality Assurance –
A) The lightning protection contractor shall furnish an LPI Master Installation
Certificate or a Limited Scope report upon completion of the installation.
B) The system installation shall be made by a contractor that specializes in the
installation of lightning protection systems and be under the supervision of
an LPI Certified Master Installer or Master Installer – Designer.

Products:

Standard –
All materials shall comply in weight, size, and composition with the requirements
of a nationally recognized testing laboratory. All equipment shall be properly
listed and labeled. The system furnished under this specification shall be the
standard product of a manufacturer regularly engaged in the production of
lightning protection equipment and a member of LPI. Equipment shall be the
manufacturer’s latest approved design of construction to suit the application
where it is to be used in accordance with accepted industry standards and with
NFPA, LPI, & UL requirements.

Acceptable Manufacturers –
A/C Security Lightning, LLC (www.aclightningprotection.com)
Advanced Lightning Technology, Ltd. (www.altfab.com)
East Coast Lightning Equipment, Inc. (www.ecle.biz)
FURSE, ABB Ltd. (www.furse.com; www.abb.com)
Harger, Inc. (www.harger.com)
Independent Protection Company, Inc. (www.ipclp.com)
PENTAIR/ERICO (www.erico.com)
Preferred Lightning Protection (www.preferredlp.com)
Robbins Lightning, Inc. (www.robbinslightning.com)
Thompson Lightning Protection, Inc. (www.tlpinc.com)

Materials –
A) Class I materials shall be used for systems on structures not exceeding 75 feet
in height and Class II materials shall be used for systems on structures
exceeding 75 feet above grade.
B) Copper shall be of the grade ordinarily required for commercial electrical

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work, generally designated as being 95 percent conductive when annealed.

Aluminum conductors shall be of electrical grade aluminum.
C) Lightning protection materials shall be coordinated with building construction
materials to assure compatibility. Aluminum lightning protection materials
shall not be embedded in concrete or masonry, installed on or below copper
surfaces, or used where contact with the earth is possible terminating 18”
above grade level minimum. Copper lightning protection materials shall not
be installed on aluminum surfaces. Copper system components within 2 feet
of chimney exhausts shall be tin coated to protect against deterioration.
D) Strike termination devices shall be provided to place the entire structure
under a zone of protection as defined by the Standards. Air terminals shall
project a minimum of 10 inches above protected areas or objects. Air
terminals shall be located within 2 feet of exposed corners and roof edges.
E) Metallic bodies having a thickness 3/16” or greater may serve as strike
termination devices without the addition of air terminals. These bodies shall
be made a part of the lightning protection system by connection(s) according
to the Standards using main size conductors and bonding fittings with 3
square inches of surface contact area.
F) Cable conductors shall provide a two-way path from strike termination
devices horizontally and downward to connections with the ground system.
Cable conductors shall be free of excessive splices and sharp bends. No bend
of a conductor shall form a final included angle of less than 90 degrees nor
have a radius of bend less than 8 inches. Structural elements and design
features shall be used whenever possible to minimize the visual impact of
exposed conductors.
G) Cable down conductors may be concealed within the building construction or
enclosed within PVC conduit from roof to grade level. Down conductors shall
be spaced at intervals averaging not more than 100 feet around the protected
perimeter of the structure. In no case shall any structure have fewer than two
down conductors. Where down conductors are exposed to environmental
hazards at grade level, guards shall be used to protect the conductor to a
point 6 feet above grade.
H) In the case of structural steel frame construction, cable down conductors may
be omitted and roof conductors shall be connected to the structural steel
frame at intervals averaging not more than 100 feet around the protected
perimeter of the structure.

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I) Exposed cable conductors shall be secured to the structure at intervals not

exceeding 3 feet – 0 inches. Fasteners, nails, screws, or bolts shall be of
suitable configuration for the intended application and of the same material
as the conductor or of electrolytically compatible materials. Galvanized or
plated steels are not acceptable.
J) Connectors and splicers shall be of suitable configuration and type for the
intended application and of the same material as the conductors or of
electrolytically compatible materials.
K) Ground terminations suitable for the soil conditions shall be provided for each
downlead conductor. Where the structural steel framework is utilized as
main conductors for the system, perimeter columns shall be connected to the
grounding system at intervals averaging 60 feet or less on the protected
perimeter. For any structure in excess of 60 ft. in vertical elevation above
grade, a ground loop interconnecting all ground terminals and other building
grounded systems shall be provided.
L) Common interconnection of all grounded systems within the building shall be
accomplished using main size conductors and fittings. Grounded metal
bodies located within the calculated bonding distance as determined by the
formulas of the Standards shall be bonded to the system using properly sized
bonding conductors.
M) Surge suppression shall be provided at every system entrance to the
structure to prevent massive lightning overvoltages from entering the
structure. Additional surge protection for internal electronic equipment may
be determined through cost-benefit analysis by a trained engineer.

Execution:

Standard –
The installation shall comply with the requirements of NFPA 780, UL 96A, and
LPI 175.

Acceptable installers –
The installing contractor company shall be listed with the Lightning Protection
Institute. The installation contractor shall have personnel on staff Certified by the
LPI as a Master Installer or Master Installer – Designer of lightning protection
systems. LPI qualified staff shall provide supervision of the installation to the
Standards.

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Installation –
A) The installation of the lightning protection system components shall be done
in a neat and workmanlike manner.
B) Roof penetrations required for down conductors or for connections to
structural steel framework shall be made using through-roof assemblies with
solid rods and appropriate roof flashings. The roofing contractor shall furnish
the methods and materials required at roofing penetrations of the lightning
protection components and any additional roofing materials or preparations
required by the roofing manufacturer for lightning conductor runs to assure
compatibility with the warranty for the roof.
(Note: The roofing contractor will be responsible for sealing and flashing all
lightning protection roof penetrations as per the roof manufacturer’s
recommendations. The lightning protection roof penetrations and/or method
of conductor attachment should be addressed in the roofing section of the
specifications.)
C) LPI certification requires a signature by a representative of the owner for two
stages of the installation – the concealed in-ground system and the exposed
or roof level area at completion. LPI certification also requires photo
documentation of the in-ground system and concealed portions of the
installation. LPI certification requires inspection by their third-party field
staff after completion of the installation. Upon completion of the lightning
protection installation, the installing contractor shall provide to the owner an
as-built drawing of the system, along with copies of the LPI Certificates of
completion.
D) If the protected structure is an addition to or is attached to an existing
structure that does not have a lightning protection system, the contractor
shall certify that the system installed complies with the requirements of the
Standards, and advise the owner of the lightning protection work required on
the existing structure to obtain full certification for the structure. If the
existing structure does have a lightning protection system, the contractor
shall advise the owner of any additional work required on the existing system
to bring it into compliance with current Standards and thus qualify for LPI
certification.

lightning.org 804-488-6864