A Proposal on

Investigating the impacts of lightning on communication towers and sites in

the perspective of communication faults, instrumental damages and hazards.

Background:
Lightning has been one of the major threats to the communication system and towers in
particular. In most parts of the world, communication towers are all-metal structures, which
make them prime targets of lightning that may come within their vicinity. During the last few
decades, a large number of lightning related accidents and damages have been reported in many
countries in connection with communication and broadcasting tower sites. In a tower
environment, lightning related hazards may occur at various stages of a lightning strike.
 A lightning step leader may attach with an antenna structure, aviation warning light or
signal/power cable in the tower, in which case the object which is subjected to the
lightning attachment may be severely damaged. There can also be secondary effects, as
the item struck by lightning may be detached from the tower or fragmented, giving rise to
falling parts that will cause damage to the objects underneath or injuries to the staff at
ground level. The lightning current will most probably enter the cables connected to the
object struck, and flow into the signal feeding devices or power panels in the base
transmission station (BTS) causing many other hazards to both equipment and staff
 As the lightning current flow to the ground level through any possible path, melting or
burning of materials and side flashing to nearby objects or antenna structures in the tower
itself, may occur depending on the resistance and impedance of the path taken by the
current. The lightning current flowing through the down conductor, produces a large
electromagnetic field in the proximity which may induce large voltage impulses in the
nearby electrical systems. Such voltage pulses may also damage the equipment.
 Once the lightning current reach the ground level, a low impedance path should be
provided to that to be dissipated into mother earth within a very short period. In the
absence of such path the current may take surface routes in the form of arcs and/or enter
into electrical networks through the electrical grounding system (or even by insulation
breakdown between the path of the lightning current and the electrical system). Such
cases may lead to severe injuries or even death of the staff in the site and also cause
heavy equipment damage and triggering of fire/explosions, etc.

In order to mitigate the possible damages and hazards due to lightning on the communication
towers and sites, a field assessment is needed. This field assessment is therefore aimed at
investigating the installation sites of communication tower with the view of hazardous
environment.

Objective

The main objective of the assessment is to investigate the status of the communication tower
sites with the perspective of possible lightning hazards and hence to recommend the techniques
for improving the installation and hence to mitigate the imminent damages, losses and human
hazards.

Methodology
Field assessment will be carried out at the installation sites of most lightning prone towers that
have been often struck by the lightning. During the assessment following parameters will be
investigated:
1) Obtain the history of faults for about 5 years
2) Nature and status of lightning air terminal
3) Nature and status of down conductors
4) Nature and status of earth termination system
5) Nature and status of lightning
6) Measure the ground resistance of earth electrode
7) Measure the soil resistivity of the site
8) Check the existence of surge protective devices (SPDs)
9) Check the status of the functionality of the SPDs
10) Check whether or not the communication cable is grounded.
11) Check the type of communication cable used
12) Identify the altitude of the site and that of the tower.
13) Investigate the distance of human settlement from the site.

Expected Outcome:

About 50 tower sites will be assessed and investigated for their status in the perspective of
lightning hazards. The results of the investigation will be analyzed for each and every site. The
status of the installation will be compared with the recommendations mentioned in the
international standards such as IEC 62305 (1-4), NFPA 780-2008, IEEE C62, 1999 etc. Possible
reason for the faults will be discussed and techniques for further improvement of the status will
be recommended.

The outcome and recommendation will be very much useful to the telecom companies, internet
service provider companies and other communication companies to mitigate the economic loss
and possible hazards.

Duration of the Project

Two researchers will be employed for the field assessment. Two towers per day will be assessed
spending a month for the 50 sites within Kathmandu and its outskirts. Investigation and analysis
will be performed in another 15 days. Report writing and preparation of the presentation with
recommendation will be carried out in 15 more days.

Budget Estimate

SN Description Unit Rate Amount (NPR)

1 Field assessment 2 persons 25000 /person/ month 50,000.00
2 Analysis and investigation 2 persons 25000 /person/ month 25,000.00
3 Preparing the report and 2 persons 25000/person/ month 25,000.00
recommendation
4 Recommendation and 1 person 25, 000.00 25,000.00
Presentation by an expert

Note: 1) Travel expenses and accommodation for the sites located outside Kathmandu will be
clients scope.
2) Clients must provide assistance for assessing the sites.
3) Rental for the earth resistance meter will be clients scope.