Health Infrastructures to Be Protected Against Lightning Strikes

As lighting events become more frequent, hospitals, labs, and research centres remain the key focus for providing protection solutions against this risk. Electrical storms are downpours that are a common source of surge generation inside and outside the building. This is mandatory inside such facilities. There can be an excellent concentration of people. Electric devices designed to work on a certain amount of current, electric equipment diagnosing patients or systems on which patients survive cannot be compromised on safety concerns. Ameliorated and comprehensive (jmv) lightning protection system has to be installed as per prescribed codes and standards guidelines that can guarantee quality safety. 

This year has been a crucial one for the healthcare sector that has negatively impacted many ways. A primary safety measure that ensures the protection of people and property is of utmost importance for infrastructure, services and facilities to keep up hospitals and laboratories. Electric/ electronic appliances and gadgets bind our lives. Still, they have to be protected against power surges, for which we recommend installing surge suppression units and the external lightning protection system.

Lightning and Its Effect on the Normal Functioning of Hospitals:

Lightning strikes always had a negative impact causing severe damages to buildings/ structures, power systems and appliances if no provision for capturing and dissipating the lightning strikes is installed. In this era, lighting is not unusual and technological advancement has made things complicated.

Adequate protection provision is vital when considering hospital structures and equipment inside as it can affect the life of associated patients. For some patients, the uninterrupted and proper functioning of equipment becomes vital for their survival, so the protection system must be set up before a catastrophe happens. Moreover, these equipment in hospitals are mostly quite expensive and so recommended such safety installations.

Which Protection Solutions Are Required for Both External and Internal Protection of Hospitals:

1. External lighting protection as per IEC EN 62305 is practised for years due to its proven comprehensive protection against lightning strikes utilizing the lightning arrester network and down conductors. The capture system, i.e. the lighting arresters, safeguards buildings are minimizing the effect of lightning by conducting the lighting to the ground via a down conductor.

2. Internal lightning protection as per IEC 61643 is a strong defence. It is wise to use surge protection units complying with all requirements of IEC 61643 as they are rugged solutions for your electrical & electronics equipment guaranteeing protection from power surges generated due to lighting, switching activity or electromagnetic induction etc. They are installed as internal protection units to disconnect the line when an overvoltage is detected and further dissipate it safely to the ground, protecting the associated device. We have surge suppressors for the mains panel and equipment level protection available for different voltage and current ratings with visual warning and connections. Transient surge suppression units offer a higher level of reliability adequately protecting from both high direct strikes in 10/350µs and switching surges in 8/20 µs. They are an inevitable part of the structural lightning protection system.

Related Post: Why Do We Need Surge Protection Devices

Value of Proper Maintenance Free Earthing System in Hospitals:

When considering both lightning and surge protection installation, the final level is an earthing system that dissipates the fault and ensures safety.  Maintenance-free earthing consisting of copper bonded rods, earth enhancement material, and exothermic welding is indispensable in every electric network. Its proper installation is recommended as per NBC 2016 so that these fault currents can find no other alternate path. Tripod earthing is recommended for each Lighting arrester and the resistance value permissible is 10 ohm.