Planet Earth gets struck by lightning 6000 times every minute, on average. That means the average person or facility has a higher chance of getting struck by lightning than winning the lottery. The US alone endures approximately 40 million strikes each year, and Florida receives proportionately more lightning strikes each year than the rest of the US. In fact, the area from Tampa to Titusville has the infamous title of “lightning alley.” From all these numbers, it is easy to understand why considering lightning protection for chemical plants is not a luxury, but a necessity.

You can take steps to prevent damage from lightning strikes. The best option for proper lightning protection is to work with Lightning Master Corporation. Our team of highly experienced field technicians and engineers follow will inspect your chemical plant and install lightning protection equipment. Our equipment will reduce the chances of a dangerous lightning strike and help you maintain safety and compliance rules for lightning protection. This is important to understand because installing lightning protection is a specialized discipline. It should be installed by a knowledgeable Lightning Protection System Installer to make sure it is properly bonded and grounded.

Clearing Some Misconceptions About Lightning

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding lightning strikes is that it will not occur once the equipment is placed. Unfortunately, this is not true. A lightning protection system using SRAT’s is designed to delay the formation of lightning completing streamers from the structure, thereby reducing the likelihood of a direct strike.

Why is Lightning Protection for Chemical Plants Necessary?

Depending on the state, there will be some general guidelines and rules regarding lightning protection. OSHA, for example, has put in place rules and guidelines regarding providing employees with adequate lightning protection. In fact, OSHA will give citations to companies who do not follow proper guidelines. This has prompted engineers and architects to include provisions for proper lightning protection when constructing a building or facility.

Who to Turn To for Lightning Protection for Chemical Plants

As mentioned, any kind of lightning protection, including lightning protection for chemical plants, will need to be done by experienced installers. Lightning Master Corporation is not only a leading institution but a pioneer in the lightning protection industry. Founded in the mid-1980s, Lightning Master has gone on to provide leading-edge services for many companies, facilities, and institutions, including chemical plants. Lightning Master uses their expertise and knowledge to create products to provide superior lightning protection services and systems.

SRAT’s

Lightning Master Steamer Retarding Air Terminals:
Since we cannot, with currently available technology, influence the formation of cloud charge or of stepped-leaders, if we want to influence the attachment of cloud-to-ground lightning, we must influence the formation of ground charge and of streamers. Hence, the introduction of streamer-influencing technology.

The purpose-designed streamer-delaying air terminals are designed to delay the formation of lightning-completing streamers from the structure, thereby reducing the likelihood of a direct strike. A good illustration of the general principle is found in the debate between the relative merits of a sharp lightning rod versus a blunt lightning rod. Please refer to the lightning propagation section  of these white papers for a review of lightning strike mechanism. Assume we have a sharp rod and a blunt rod side-by-side with the axis between them perpendicular to, and directly facing, an oncoming electrical storm. As the ground charge reaches the two rods, the potential rises on both. The sharp rod will tend to break down into corona under a relatively low potential, leaking off some of the ground potential to the atmosphere. The blunt rod will hold its charge, with ions accumulating on the blunt end.

As the ground potential builds, the corona builds around the sharp rod, while the blunt rod still tends to retain its charge. When the ground potential becomes very high, as when stepped leaders are on their way down from the cloud and there is going to be a strike in the immediate vicinity, the corona will build in density and elevation around the pointed rod. When the blunt rod finally breaks down, it breaks down catastrophically, and the accumulated charge jumps off of the blunt rod in a streamer extending well upward toward the stepped leaders.

Since the object on the ground that throws off the best streamer is the one most likely to be struck, the blunt rod is more likely to trigger a strike than the sharp rod. Streamer-influencing technology

Contact Lightning Master for More Information About Lightning Protection for Chemical Plants

If you are concerned about providing adequate lightning protection for chemical plants, contact us at (+1) 727-447-6800. Our friendly customer service will direct you to the next step. In most cases, this will involve our team visiting your chemical plant and recommending the necessary requirements. Once all tools are in place, you can rest easy knowing that the chance of lightning damaging equipment will be greatly reduced thanks to proper lightning protection for chemical plants.