INDELEC LIGHTING PROTECTION

Lightning protection
Two types of protection exist : protection against direct lightning strike and protection against surge due to lightning activity.



Protection against direct lightning strikes
Lightning rods are dedicated to the protection of structures against direct lightning strikes and then to conduct the lightning current safely to the ground (through the down conductors and the earthing system)
Lightning rod history starts in 1753.



1753
Benjamin FRANKLIN invents the lightning conductor. He was the first to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning with his now famous «kite experiment». At more or less the same time in France, DALIBARD confirms the theory in Marly with his experiment with a metal rod which was electrified during storms. Jacques de ROMAS also reaches this conclusion, with a different kite than FRANKLIN’s : a copper wire is winded around the rop to the ground. The discovery rapidly lead to an extraordinary fascination for lightning conductors. They began to appear first of all on church spires and shortly afterwards on buildings. This trend in lightning conductors even gave rise to a number of original inventions including a certain lightning conducting umbrella.



1880
A Belgian physicist, named MELLSENS, recommends protecting buildings by covering them with metal wires connected to a series of spikes on the roof and then well earthed. This was the very first meshed cage.



1914
First attempts to improve on the single lightning rod by the Hungarian-born SZILLARD and the Frenchman, DOZÈRE.



1986
Following several years’ research resulting in improved awareness of the physical properties of lightning, a new type of lightning conductor is developed giving stronger ionisation around the terminal through the use of electrical equipment independent of any external power source. Indelec decides to develop this new theory and registers its first world patent for the PREVECTRON® technology. Immediate national recognition for the initiative comes in the form of two awards for innovation.



1996
The PREVECTRON® lightning conductor has been used successfully in France and throughout the world for 10 years. Making the most of the 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 on-site test campaigns carried out in real- life lightning conditions in the USA and in France by the C.E.A. (French Atomic Energy Commission), Indelec has developed the latest addition to their range of lightning conductors : the PREVECTRON®2.



1999
Indelec is certified ISO 9002 delivered by BVQI for manufacturing and marketing the PREVECTRON®.



2000
Indelec opens its firts foreign subsidiary on the american continent in Florida.



Several standards are available, depending on the type of air terminals :



Early Streamer Emission Lightning conductors :

NFC 17-102 (France)
UNE 21 -186
I 20
JUS N.B4.810
STN 3-1391




Single rods and Meshed cage :
Single rods and meshed cage :

NFC 17-100
CEI 62 305 Part 1 to 4
BS 6651
DIN 48-850
NFPA 780




Early Streamer Emission Lightning conductors
Single rods and Meshed cage
Thanks to its wide range of lightning rods, INDELEC is complying all the existing standards.



Protection against the indirect effects of a lightning discharges
The Surge Protection Devices (SPD) are designed to limit the transitory excess voltage caused by a lightning discharge. It can affect every types of cable for power supply, telecom lines, computer networks, remote control system, TV and CCTV network….

Lightning can cause these phenomena either directly through a discharge on high voltage overhead power lines or indirectly by coupling. The choice of the SPD is based on each model nominal and maximum discharge current, maximum permissible operating voltage, protection level as well as power supply distribution set-up.



The following standards are available for choosing and installing the SPD’s :

CEI 61643-11 : Low voltage SPD
CEI 61643-12 : Installation of low voltage SPD
NFC 61740/95 : Low voltage SPD
NFC 15100 - 534 & 443 : Protection against overvoltage due to lightning or industrial interferences