Chapter 17

Lightning Protection, Surge

Protection and Earthing System
1.0 Lightning Protection
Lightning protection system needs to give direct strike protection by arresting the
lightning discharge current and minimizing the possible generation of induce
voltage by proper grounding and bonding. Early Streamer Emission (ESE !ype
shall not be used.
"efore installing the lightning protection system# some assessment needs to
consider such as$
%uantify the risk of a lightning strike to your business premises
&dentify vital e'uipment (hich could be damaged in the event of such a
strike
)o(ever buildings and structures re'uired to be protected due to security
reason or safety reason or locations on high ground or environmental
re'uirements shall be provided (ith lightning systems regardless of the
heights.
*ssess building material used and structure design
*ccurately estimate the impact in terms of both cost and image that
do(ntime due to a lightning strike could have on your business
+evelop and implement a strategy to limit the impact of such a strike
Schedule a future reassessment to ensure that your strategy keeps pace
(ith the gro(th of your company and maintenance is not neglected
!he above consideration should be advisory to the client or actual confirmation of
the client.
Lightning protection systems shall be the integrated type complying to latest
version of "S ,,-1 .Code of /ractice for /rotection of Structures *gainst
Lightning0.
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Chapter 17

2.0 Faraday Cage / Structural Bonding Concept
!he 9araday cage concept together (ith the earthed reinforcements of the
building structure and foundations shall form the basis of the lightning protection
system for the office building. *n air termination net(orks and the bonding of all
e:ternal metallic fi:tures;structures to the reinforcements and do(n conductors#
together (ith the earth electrodes shall be an integral component of the lightning
protection scheme.
<eason to using this system is because of$
=echanical and electrically bonded in concrete structure and permanent
in nature
<outing of the conductor using building structure
*chieving good earthing
Create e'ual potential and minimized the chance of surge generated
&ntended to last the life of the structure
"lend (ith the style and the materials of a structure
*esthetic of the building
/revent theft > vandalism
!he bonding bet(een the reinforcement and the e:ternal connections shall be
e:othermic (elding type or as per details in *ppendi: 1.
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Chapter 17

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Chapter 17

1.0 Surge Protection e!ices
Surge protection devices (S/+s shall be provided for the main electrical
distribution system including sub2s(itch boards and distribution boards#
computers# electronic e'uipment# fire alarm panel# /*"? e'uipment# @/S
e'uipment# CC!A e'uipment# =*!A e'uipment# card access e'uipment# etc.
(hich are susceptible to lightning and s(itching surges. !hey shall be installed in
various locations of lo( voltage and e'uipment installation.
!he S/+s shall be one2port type compatible (ith the 435;31- A# 8 phase# 3 (ire#
-5 )z (ith solidly earthed neutral supply system it is protecting. !he S/+s
modes of protection shall be each phase2to2neutral# each phase2to2earth and
neutral2to2earth for either single phase or three phase supply system. )o(ever#
for cases (here the incoming feeder circuit breaker in the main s(itchboard is
rated ,55* or less# S/+s (ith modes of protection at each phase2to2neutral and
neutral2to2earth may be allo(ed to be installed in the (hole electrical installation.
S/+s for three phase supply system installation shall be of mono block or
modular type. @nless other(ise specified# S/+s shall be of the type complying
(ith =S &EC ,1,3821 and =S &EC ,1,38214 and in accordance (ith
recommendations of &EC ,485- and the relevant parts and sections of =S &EC
,58,3.
!he S/+s shall be of voltage limiting type (ith metal o:ide varistors (=BAs or
combination type (ith =BAs and gas discharge tube (C+!;spark gap. =BAs
and C+!;spark gap shall comply (ith =S &EC ,1,382881 and =S &EC ,1,382
811 respectively. !he normal operating voltage shall be 435A and the ma:imum
continuous operating voltage (@c of S/+s shall be minimum 47-A (phase2to2
neutral# phase2to2earth and neutral2to2earth. !he continuous operating current
(&c for each mode of protection shall not e:ceed 8 m*. &n the case (here the
=BAs are used# the S/+s shall be provided (ith integrated thermal protection
function to avoid thermal runa(ay due to degradation.
!he impulse current (&imp# nominal discharge current (&n# ma:imum discharge
current (&ma: and open2circuit voltage (@oc rating per mode of protection of S/+
and the respective voltage protection level (@p shall be as indicated in !able 1.
@nless other(ise specified# the class of S/+s to be installed (ith respect to the
location of s(itchboard and;or distribution board shall be as in !able 1.
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Chapter 17

!able 1 D Classification of S/+s
Location of
S(itchboard ;
+istribution
"oard
S(itchboard
<eceiving Energy
from the Licensee or
Bther "uilding
Sub2
S(itchboard
and;or
+istribution
"oard <eceiving
Energy from
S(itchboard
Located in the
Same "uilding
9inal +istribution
"oard <eceiving
Energy from Sub2
S(itchboard or
+istribution "oard
Located in the
Same "uilding
&mpulse !est
Classification
(=S &EC ,1,382
1
Class & Class && Class && Class &&&
&mpulse Current#
&imp (15;8-5 Es
per mode
F 15 k*
Gominal
+ischarge
Current# &n (6;45
Es per mode
F 45 k* F 15 k*
=a:imum
+ischarge
Current# &ma: (6;45
Es per mode
F ,- k* F 35 k*
Bpen2Circuit
Aoltage# @oc
(1.4;-5 Es per
mode
F , kA
Aoltage
/rotection Level#
@p (L2G# L2E# G2
E at &imp or &n or
@oc
H 4-55 A H 4555 A H 1-55 A H 1555 A

!he size of connecting leads shall be as recommended by the S/+
manufacturer. !he connecting leads shall be as short as possible and shall be
tightly bound together throughout the (hole length (ith cable2ties or other
approved means. Either a four2pole moulded case circuit breaker (=CC" or a
fuse of rating as recommended by the S/+ manufacturer shall be provided for
disconnecting the S/+s from the system in the event of S/+s failure or for
maintenance. &n the case (here an =CC" is used# the breaking capacity of the
=CC" shall comply (ith the a.c. interrupting capacity of the s(itchboard or
distribution board.
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Chapter 17

!he S/+s shall be e'uipped (ith visual indicator sho(ing the protection status of
the S/+s. @nless other(ise specified# S/+s shall be provided (ith au:iliary
contact for connection to remote monitoring of S/+s protection status. * durable
label (ith red lettering on a (hite background (ith (ords as stated belo( shall
be fastened e:ternally on the front cover of the S/+s compartment.
E'uipment susceptible to voltage variations shall be provided (ith suitable surge
protection and automatic voltage regulating systems.
2.0 SP "# $ating
!he follo(ing (ill discuss on the rating of S/+.
<efer to +iagram 1
a S/+ k* rating should be based on the (eakest link in the design
e.g. if the S/+ is using 35k* varistor for L2G (hile G2E is using 65k* varistor
the S/+ should be rated at 35k* not 65k*
b S/+ should not use multiple varistor for rating
e.g. if the S/+ rating is 65k* it has to be a single varistor at 65k* and not 3
nos of 45k* varistors in parallel (/lease refer diagram 4
2 theoretically it is correct in normal operation ho(ever it (ill not apply in
transient condition or surges since the (aveform is e:ponential non linear in
nature and not sinusoidal steady state. !his micro second phenomenon may
result in varistor does not operate at the e:act response time and one may
operates earlier to bare the ma:imum burden of the surge current.

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*=*<*G
1. /emasangan ini dilindungi oleh Surge /rotective +evice# S/+
4. S/+ tidak lagi berfungsi apabila .petun7uk0 bertukar (arna.
8. Sila buat pemeriksaan pada S/+ secara bulanan dan setiap
kali selepas berlaku ke7adian kilat;petir.
3. Sila hubungi Iorang kompetenJ untuk penggantian S/+.
-. /astikan 7uga Icircuit breakerJ ke S/+ sentiasa berada dalam
keadaan BG (&.
Chapter 17

2 the impedance of the =BA of the same rating may not be e:actly the same.
!he difference in the impedance during the occurrence of surge may result in
une'ual distribution of surge current
c !here are some S/+ that has 8 performance indicators
2 the degradation indication S/+ (yello( usually design using multiple parallel
=BA. !his is not proper as e:plain in item (b.
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Chapter 17
iagram 1% Basic Circuit o& SP
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Chapter 17
iagram 2% Single 'aristor 's (ultiple 'aristor
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During transient,
I1I2I3I4
Chapter 17

d 9or Cat C D Lhy high k* rating per phase (L2G is re'uiredM
@sing 65k* per phase (L2G as an e:ample. =alaysiaJs highest lightning
discharge current recorded is around N35k*. !he induced surge current into
electrical system is assume highest at -5O of the lightning discharge current i.e.
45k* surge.
Lith 65k* per phase (L2G surge protector it can (ithstand the fre'uency of
lightning surges in =alaysiaJs condition (hich is about N4552855 days per year.
Lhereas for Cat " chances only 45O surge current induced and Cat * is only
about 15O because of the reduce size of cable in the electrical system.
).0 Let *hrough 'oltage
+eclared S/+ let through voltage shall be accompanied (ith the test value;type
of (aveform in kA;k*. !he (aveform used are the Combination Lave 1.4;-5Ps#
Bpen Circuit Aoltage and 6;45Ps# Short Circuit Current as per 9ig 1 > 9ig 4 if test
to =S &EC ,1,38 D 1$4553 Class &&& as per table 1.
Fig 1 : Combination Wave, Open Circuit Voltage
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0 20 40 60 80 TI!, "#
100
1$0
V%t&'Vp
0$8
0$6
0$4
0$2
0$0
Chapter 17

( )ource: ala*#ian eteorological +epartment
Fig , : Combination Wave, )-ort.Circuit Current
Fig 2% Com+ination ,a!e, Short Circuit Current
*a+le 1% *est 'alue as Per Compliance Standard o& (S -EC .1./) 0 1%200/
Cat * Cat " Cat C
1.4;-5Ps 4kA ,kA 45kA
6;45Ps 1k* 8k* 15k*
Let !hrough
Aoltage
Q8-5A Q1kA Q8kA
9or Cat C the let through voltage does not necessary be too lo( since generally
all the e'uipment in Category C could (ithstand up to 8kA of surge current.
=oreover there are fe( stages of surge protective device that should be installed
at Category " and at Category * before the current supply reach to the electronic
e'uipment in order to be safe.
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Chapter 17

Cat C the let through voltage shall not necessary be too lo(. !he Cat C
R
voltage
limiting device is e1pensi!e for very lo( let through voltage comparing to the
total cost of S/+ installed in stages before the electronic e'uipment.
2
!oltage limiting de!ice i.e. !aristor and suppressor diode
/.0 Location Category
+iagram and tables belo( illustrates the application of three location categories
to the (iring of a po(er system.
Cat # Cat B Cat C
5.-Ps;155k)z ,kA ,kA Gone
5.-Ps;155k)z 455* -55* Gone
1.4;-5Ps 4kA ,kA 45kA
6;45Ps 1k* 8k* 15k*
Cat # Cat B Cat C
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#rea 1 Cat # #rea 2 Cat B #rea ) Cat C
Long final sub-
circuits and power
outlets
Major sub mains
s!ort final sub-
circuits " load
centers
#$ternal ser%ices, o%er!ead
lines &underground cable to
detac!ed buildings
iagram )% *he #pplication o& *hree Location Categories *o *he
,iring o& # Po3er System
*a+le 2% #pplica+le Standard ,a!e&orms &or Location Categories #, B and C
Chapter 17

<ecommended k*
rating per phase
Q15k* 45k*235k* 35k*265k*
<ecommended let2
through voltage at
,1v;8k*
Q755A Q1kA Q4kA
4.0 SP esign $e5uirement
!he follo(ing is the re'uirement on S/+ design.
(odule 's )61 (odule
7 =odule S/+ shall be used instead of 8 S 1 =odule
/lease refer to +iagram 3
(ono+loc" *ype 's (odular *ype
=onoblock type S/+ shall be used instead of modular type S/+.
(ono+loc" *ype (odular type
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7 (odules ) 6 1 (odules
1 /rotection bet(een Live 2 Geutral#
Live D Earth > Geutral D Earth
1 /rotection only bet(een Live D
Geutral > Geutral D Earth Bnly
4 *ll =BA operates on its o(n rating 4 !he neutral to earth protection have
more burden as all current (ill pass
through this =BA irrespective of
surge entrance and may damage
faster
8 Longer life cycle since more path for
surge to travel to earth
8 Less path for discharge current and
(eakest point at Geutral to Earth
makes it life cycle shorter
*a+le /% Physical 8 *echnical Comparison Bet3een 7 (odule 's )61 (odule
*a+le )% $ecommended $ating 8 Let9through 'oltage &or Location Categories #, B and C
Chapter 17

1 Lo(er &mpedance since most
contact are soldered > permanent
1 )igher &mpedance since there are
many mechanical contact
4 Lo( risk of sparking 4 =echanical contact can result in
sparking. Lhen one module is
being replace# the contact become
loose and may cause more
sparking.
8 !here is only one unit and the
indicator sho(s the e:act status
i.e. good or damaged
8 Lhen one module is damaged the
(hole unit has to be replaces as
(ell to avoid more sparking.
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*a+le 4% *echnical Comparison Bet3een (ono+loc" *ype 's (odular *ype
Chapter 17
iagram /% )61 (odule 's 7 (odule
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Chapter 17

..0 SP -nstallation
!he follo(ing is the method on ho( to install the S/+$
!he S/+ should not be more than 4- cm from the incoming po(er supply. &f
space constraint and should the S/+ located more than 4- cm from the incoming
po(er supply an =CC" should be installed and bigger cable should be used to
connect the supply to =CC" before connecting to the S/+. !his is to take into
account the impedance of the cable.
1,mm cable should be used to connect the incoming po(er supply to the S/+.
Go strand should be cut in order to make sure that full strength of the cable is
being used.
=CC" is used in normal circumstances to ensure that the S/+ is being isolated
from the main electrical system for easy maintenance to avoid po(er supply
interruption.
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!
/
#L'(
L1 L2 L3
)*)
+ot more t!an 2,- mm
Main *witc! .incoming
isolator/
0rom circuit brea1er
on main switc!board
iagram 4% ,iring For Single Phase and *hree Phase -nstallation
12mm cable
'!apter 13
*ypical esign &or Surge Protection System
Surge protection System &or Po3er System
iagram .% *ypical Surge Protection &or Po3er System
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'!apter 13
Surge Protection System &or Fire #larm System
_ _
_ _
_
_
_
_ _
_ _
_
_ _
_ _ _ _
iagram 7% *ypical Surge Protection &or Fire #larm System
Surge Protection System &or P#B: System
/anduan !eknik Edisi 1e23 4556 Ca(angan 1e7uruteraan Elektrik /g 1- of 8,
'!apter 13
_
_ _
_
_
_
_
_
_ _
_ _ _ _
iagram ;% *ypical Surge Protection &or P#B: System
Surge Protection System &or CC*' System
/anduan !eknik Edisi 1e23 4556 Ca(angan 1e7uruteraan Elektrik /g 1, of 8,
'!apter 13
< _
_ _

_
_
_ _ _
_ _ _ _
iagram =% *ypical Surge Protection &or CC*' System
Surge Protection System &or -C* >et3or"ing System
/anduan !eknik Edisi 1e23 4556 Ca(angan 1e7uruteraan Elektrik /g 17 of 8,
'!apter 13
_
_ _
_ g_
_
_ _
_
_ _
< ? _ g_
_ _
< _ g_ q
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_
_ _ _ _
iagram 10% *ypical Surge Protection &or -C* >et3or"ing System
/anduan !eknik Edisi 1e23 4556 Ca(angan 1e7uruteraan Elektrik /g 16 of 8,
'!apter 13
/anduan !eknik Edisi 1e23 4556 Ca(angan 1e7uruteraan Elektrik /g 1K of 8,