While looking at a tall building, you might wonder about its height. Tall buildings in Sheffield are typically commercial buildings, and although they may appear premium, they are highly vulnerable to damage during lightning strikes. There is no fixed height requirement according to the law that mandates lightning protection services.
Instead, the decision comes down to a proper risk assessment in accordance with the legal obligations under BS EN 62305 standards. While tall buildings are at risk for lightning strikes, even a relatively low building might get exposed to lightning strikes. Before availing themselves of lightning protection in Sheffield, commercial building owners need to be aware of the relevant regulations.
Why is Height Important for Lightning Protection?
Building height plays a significant role in determining the risk of lightning strikes. According to different legal regulations, a 50m building is 10 times more likely to be struck by lightning compared to a 10m building in the same location. The height certainly attracts the lightning. The lightning takes the easiest path to the ground, and taller buildings act as suitable anchors for the strikes. Thus, it becomes essential for taller buildings in Sheffield to avail themselves of suitable lightning protection services.
Understanding the Regulations of BS EN 62305
The regulations under BS EN 62305 determine how buildings identify protection needs. Unlike the older rules, which relied solely on height rules, the new regulations under BS EN 62305 adopt a more comprehensive approach, considering different factors.
According to the regulations of BS EN 62305, engineers use basic guidelines, where all buildings up to 20m are required to have a 45-degree protection zone from the lightning rods. For buildings that are over 20m, the rolling sphere method is required to calculate the exposed areas.
According to BS EN 62305, a thorough risk assessment is necessary, which will help in checking the factors beyond the height factor. This thorough examination considers the geographical location, terrain, building materials, and the consequences or extent of a lightning strike on the exposed areas of the building. For instance, if a commercial building with sensitive electronic systems exposed has a height of 15m, even then, the other factors make it liable for providing lightning protection services.
What Factors Beyond Height Can Cause Damage due to Lightning Strikes?
- Type of Building Structure
Buildings with sensitive equipment, such as data centres, hospitals, and manufacturing facilities, are always at risk of significant damage due to lightning strikes. Again, if there are important electrical components and control systems installed on the external part of the building structure, then regardless of the height, these buildings are vulnerable and are at risk from lightning strikes.
- Surrounding Terrain
If the building or house is situated on an isolated hilltop, it faces a higher risk of damage from lightning strikes compared to tall buildings in urban areas, amidst many construction sites. Hence, they should be safeguarded from the strikes.
- Construction Materials
Steel-framed buildings are natural conductors of electrical energy and are better than wood-framed structures. Thus, the wood frame structures are at risk and need protection.
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