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Shield Your Home From Lightning
Posted by Pradeep Sadanapalli | June 24, 2007 | 257 views
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Loading ...A single direct lightning stroke could end up in physical damage to buildings and also electronic equipment if proper protection is not in place.
A safe house is the one which seeks to factor out all risks and puts in place measures to avoid possible disasters. A small precautionary step in time can really help avert potential threats that could be lurking in different forms, lightning being one of them.
The natural phenomenon of lightning is an unpredictable force of nature that pose danger to a structure, electronic equipment and also the occupants of a dwelling. It might be hard to believe but a single direct lightning stroke that measure in micro seconds could end up in physical damage to buildings and also the electronic equipment.
Believe it or not, but it has been estimated that about 40,000 lightning storms keep striking different parts of the world every day and also that about 100 lightning strokes make their presence felt every second. Lightning is a huge spark caused by the electrical discharge taking place between the clouds, within the same cloud and between the clouds and the earth.
A lightning discharge could come with a discharge ranging between 10 kilo amperes to 90 kilo amperes with the duration of the flash being just one millionth of a second. In fact, the real danger of a stroke lies in its short duration or in other words the over voltage, around five to 20 million volts, is the real culprit.
If the charged cloud induces a charge on the stationary object such as a highest point of the building, then the induced charge distribution causes concentration and results in the electrostatic stress being large at that highest point. The charged particles are then emitted from the highest point of the structure.
Though the threat might appear very remote, it is appropriate and advisable to put in place certain precautionary measures to safeguard one’s dream nest. For once a dwelling falls in the path of a lightning, there is hardly much left behind.
There are ways of draping a dwelling with necessary protection from lightning.
Some expert advice and skilled technician is what is needed to put this protection in place and then rest peacefully.
Those planning to take up construction of a house will do well to remember that installation of lightning protection will cost less if installed at the time of construction. The cabling that runs from lightning rods on the roof to the ground earthing system can also be concealed easily if it is taken up alongside the mason’s work. Also, it needs to be ensured at this stage that the earthing lead for any lightning arrestor is not passed through any iron, steel pipe or plumbing pipes. It should be taken directly from lightning arrestor and ends up with earth electrode.
N.S.R.H.V. SUBBA RAO,
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER,
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF CONSTRUCTION
SOURCES:
The Hindu
Topics: Construction, Tips, Real Estate |
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