New release

Latest technology

Guardian
Lightning Protection
International Pty Ltd

TM

Guardian Lightning TM

Protection System 5
 Who is LPI?
Lightning Protection International Pty Ltd (LPI) is a
fully owned Australian manufacturer and supplier
of direct strike lightning, surge and transient
protection equipment and grounding products to a
wide range of industries throughout the world.
LPI personnel and their associates have combined
experience of over 70 years in servicing customers
throughout the world on many types of projects in
some of its most lightning prone areas. Our personnel
have vast experience in providing direct strike area
protection, surge and transient protection and
grounding solutions. Our extensive experience has
involved risk management, system design, training,
certification and installation and commissioning in
key industry groups such as:
Telecommunications and Broadcasting
Petrochemical, oil and gas
Highrise buildings and hotels - all types of
structures
Sporting centres and grounds - Golf courses,
race tracks, stadiums
Aviation - Civil and Military
Mining - coal, gold, nickel, iron, copper,
bauxite etc.
Industrial facilities of all kinds
Defence - communications, surveillance and
storage of armaments
Power generation and distribution
Rail / transport systems
Monuments / Ecological sites
Did you know? - Lightning strikes the
earth approximately 6000 times a
minute.
2
LPI Endorsement
Lightning Protection International Pty
Ltd forms "Partnerships" with our
customers to provide complete
lightning, surge and grounding
solutions. Our core competence is
the ability to consistently deliver
superior performance, quality and
value to customers in a broad range
of market segments.
www.lpi.com.au LPI's Endorsement confirms our
assurance of a long-term partnership with our customers
and endorses the product quality and performance. All
products offered by LPI come with the quality
endorsement and compliance with International
standards and bodies wherever possible.
LPI's GuardianTM System 5
LPI offers a family of air terminals and accessories. Our
product design is based on the most recent advances in
the field whilst maintaining proven principles associated
with the successes of the past.
LPI's GuardianTM System 5 provides a purpose-designed
package for direct lightning protection.
1. A Family of LPI CAT (Controlled Advanced
Triggering) series air terminals.
2. A Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) mast which
provides an insulated mast for mounting of LPI
CAT series air terminals.
3. A purpose designed LPI High Voltage Shielded
Cable (HVSC) specifically designed for the
conveying of lightning energy to ground.
Alternatively, depending on the local codes and
applications, other materials such as, Copper flat
tape or stranded cable may be used.
4. LPI Lightning Strike Recorder (LSR) which
confirms system efficiency and effectiveness.
5. A grounding system consisting of Earth rods,
clamps, Copper tapes and LPI Ground Resistance
Improvement Powder (GRIP).
The LPI GuardianTM System 5 provides a safe and
efficient system for the protection of your facility from
direct lightning strikes. The LPI CAT terminal attracts
the lightning energy to a preferred point and the energy
is transferred to ground via the High Voltage Shielded
Cable with minimal risk of electrifying the structure.
Once the energy enters the dedicated lightning earth,
it is safely dissipated without risk to personnel and
equipment.
Terminals
LPI Guardian™ CAT series terminals consist of
• A finial with a blunt tip.
• An electrically "floating" medium consisting
of 4 electrically isolated panels.
• A triggering procedure which allows the
initiation of an intercepting streamer of
energy earlier than any other competing
feature within the area requiring protection.
• A high voltage connection at the base of
the finial.
LPI offers a family of three terminals
• CAT I - G
• CAT II - G
• CAT III - G
These terminals are designed for
varying applications. Contact an
authorised LPI distributor or visit LPI
at www.lpi.com.au for further detail.
Typical formation of lightning
FIGURE 1
Negatively charged

What is lightning?
stepped leader moves
towards ground
Lightning initiates from an electrical storm
which usually generates within a cumulonimbus Launch of up streamer
from highest ground
cloud.
point as field +
When electrical energy has built up within such intensification rises +
+
a cloud a "leader" of energy leaves it and will
try to attach itself to a point on the ground
+
+
which contains the most particles of energy of +
reverse polarity.
Some 90% of such "leaders" contain negative
charges.
It has long been the endeavour of lightning FIGURE 2
protection specialists such as LPI to create a
preferred point of attachment as offered by the Stepped leader
LPI GuardianTM terminal and in more recent progresses towards
times, to do so effectively so that large areas ground
of protection can therefore be provided from
a single lightning terminal. Up streamer is
attracted towards +
WORLD THUNDERSTORM DAYS stepped leader +
+
+
+
+
+

FIGURE 3

Leader and streamer

meet to form ionised
path for lightning
discharge

Did you know? - many countries

situated around the equator are
subjected to between 100 and 260
thunderstorm days per year. +
+
+

3
Principles of the LPI
Guardian™
The LPI Guardian™ CAT series are
effective Controlled Advanced
Triggering devices which intercept
lightning discharges and attaches
them to a preferred point. They
have been designed to emit a
"streamer" of energy at precisely the
right time so that an approaching
"leader" is intercepted and brought
under control.
The concept of "controlled" is
important because there is no point
launching a "streamer" too early -
the median or ambient field will
not be large enough to sustain
propagation and the "streamer" will
die. This will leave a space charge
behind which may inhibit future
"streamer" development. An electric
field of ~ 3 MV/m is essential at
the tip of the air terminal to initiate
a corona streamer but an electric
field of ~ 500 kV/m is needed in
the region between the air terminal
and the downleader to convert
the streamer into a leader and to
sustain propagation of this upward
leader. The "snap" change in the
electric field caused by the
triggering of the LPI Guardian™ at
the correct time is the key - both
electric field criteria are met and
thus the GuardianTM launches its
streamer earlier with greater
reliability.
Mounting Masts
LPI supplies a range of masts for
different applications.
When installing a LPI GuardianTM System
5, an FRP mast of appropriate height is
a standard component.
The use of an insulated mounting
mast provides a "cleaner" electrical
atmosphere for the GuardianTM Terminal
to perform its task of launching the
intercepting "streamer".
When a conventional type of down
conductor is used, an aluminium or
galvanised steel mast of appropriate
height can be provided.
Guyed mast
4 effective on structures
How does the LPI
Guardian™Terminal
work?
A Guardian CAT terminal
consists of a grounded blunt
lightning rod surrounded by an
electrically floating medium.
Rounded or blunt tips have
now been proven to be more
efficient than sharp points by
producing minimal corona
effect. This has been clearly
proven in tests conducted at
South Baldy Peak in the
Magdalena Mountains of
central New Mexico, USA.
(Source: "The Measurement of
Lightning Rod Responses to
Nearby Strikes" by C.B.
Moore, G.D. Aulich, and W.
Rison / May 2001).
During the static thunderstorm
phase when the electric fields
are steady at around 5-15
kV/m and even in the very
early stages of leader
approach, the medium
presents as a relatively low
field intensification surface
due to the blunt configuration
of the finial tip. This restricts
the production of "corona" or
"point discharge" ions and
is critical because
excessive production of ions
(corona) results in a "space
Cantilevered Freestanding
mast mast
charge cloud" above the air terminal
which tends to mask the electrical field
and inhibit the operation of the air
terminal. (See Step 1)
The medium is comprised of four
separate electrically isolated panels
arranged to allow the section facing the
stepleader to rise in voltage due to a
capacitive coupling effect. Because the
medium is essentially isolated from
ground potential (see Step 2), the
electric field increases as the discharge
approaches closer to the panel facing
the stepleader. It then experiences
repeated pulsing until this section
(panel) rises in voltage to the point
when a triggering arc is generated at
precisely the right time which in turn
initiates the streamer which connects
with the approaching down leader.
(See Step 3)
This triggering arc creates two key
effects, namely:
(i) It produces a large number of ions
which are needed to initiate an upward
leader, and
(ii) It causes a large snap change in the
electric field immediately above the air
terminal which provides the necessary
"kick" for the inception of an early,
stable, propagating upward leader.
The result of such advanced
triggering results in the approaching
leader being intercepted earlier, which
ensures a larger protective area around
the GuardianTM terminal of your choice.
Downconductors
When the Guardian terminal
has captured a lightning
discharge, it is necessary to
convey this very large
amount of energy to the
ground mass where it will be
dissipated into a grounding
system and will no longer be
a threat to personnel, struc-
tures or equipment.
LPI's High Voltage Shielded
Cable (HVSC) provides high
integrity low impedance
method of performing this
task with minimal chance of
"side flashing" or structure
electrification.
Our HVSC is particularly

- -
--- ---
- -
--- ---
----- ----
Capacitive
coupling
--
--
- -
--- ---
+ +
+ +
+ +
containing high-density
human occupancy and,
those which contain
sensitive electronic
equipment, volatile liquids /
gases and other sensitive
applications.
Where installations do not
require such high level side
flash/induction prevention
or minimization, LPI offers
conventional down-
conductors of all types
including copper tape &
stranded cables, bare
aluminium, galvanized steel
cables & tapes or any of the
above in PVC insulated
form.
STEP 1
Grounded blunt
lightning rod
Air Gap Advantages of
4 electrically floating
GuardianTM Terminals
panels
1 For most applications, a
Guardian system consists of
TM
Downconductor
a single CAT lightning terminal
which provides an enhanced area
Lightning earth of protection, a single purpose-
designed shielded downconductor
for sophisticated structures, or a
STEP 2 conventional type for standard
Triggering arc across structures and a single low
impedance grounding system.
air gap initiates streamer
2 LPI’s CAD based design
program can determine the
Electrically isolated
panels rise in voltage number and location of terminals
as the electric field required for your project.
increases Alternatively you may use our
Downconductor instant design indicator to
Lightning earth determine your requirements.
LPI’s system can be installed
3
to comply with most lightning
protection standards.
STEP 3
4 LPI’s GuardianTM system is
simple to install and requires
Formation of ionised no special maintenance.
path for the lightning
discharge LPI’s GuardianTM system is a
Air Gap
5very economical solution for
providing your lightning protection
4 electrically whilst providing superior security.
isolated panels
The design of LPI’s CAT
Downconductor
6 terminals are based on the
most recent developments and
Lightning earth improvements within the industry.
Lightning Strike
Recorder (LSR)
LPI have developed a Lightning
Strike Recorder (LSR) which, when
installed on a downconductor,
effectively counts the number of
lightning discharges which
have been intercepted by
your GuardianTM CAT Terminal.
LSR compliments the System
5 approach and is an
optional item. It
can also be simply
installed on all
other types of
downcondutors.
Did you know? - In the
USA alone, it is estimated
that US$500,000,000
worth of lightning damage 5
occurs annually.
 Application
LPI GUARDIANTM TERMINAL LPI's Guardian CAT series terminals come in three sizes
ORDERING CODE: which permit the user to select a terminal which suits his
CAT I - G particular application. See the accompanying chart for an
CAT II - G indication of the model which best suits your
CAT III - G requirements.
CATIGI - G (For connection to 2
inch GI PIPE). For a more accurate design for your project, LPI provides
a CAD based design software program which
accurately takes into consideration important factors
relating to your project such as thunderdays per year,
LPI UPPER TERMINATION KIT height above sea level, level of protection desired /
ORDERING CODE Recommended (Standard - High - Very High), physical
UTERMKIT dimensions of your structures and materials used in your
structures. Such additional care ensures that competing
features which themselves also have the ability to create
streamer development are taken in to consideration.
LPI FRP SUPPORT MAST Unlike other lightning terminal suppliers, LPI consider the
ORDERING CODE development of competing structural features as
FRP - 2M particularly critical on very tall buildings and on sites that
FRP - 3M comprise more than one major structure. LPI's CAD
based design software program service is available via
your local LPI distributor or direct to LPI via
info@lpi.com.au.
LPI INLINE COUPLING Such designs are certified by LPI and therefore offer
ORDERING CODE additional security with regard to the provision of
IL/COUPLING satisfactory lightning protection levels particularly in
relation to the lightning activity.
LPI HIGH VOLTAGE
SHIELDED CABLE
ORDERING CODE
HVSC - PM
Height
(m) above Very High High Standard
LPI LOWER MAST ASSEMBLY structure Level Level Level
ORDERING CODE of installed Protection Protection Protection
CAT terminal
ALUM - 3M
ALUMB - 3M CAT I CAT II CAT III CAT I CAT II CAT III CAT I CAT II CAT III

LPI CONDUCTIVE SADDLES 10 45 58 75 60 70 80 66 77 85

ORDERING CODE
CONSAD 20 49 63 78 66 82 92 74 92 97

LPI GUY KIT

ORDERING CODE 30 50 65 80 72 84 104 77 108 116
GUYKIT - 4M
50 50 77 89 78 98 118 90 121 128

80 50 77 89 78 115 123 95 128 134

LPI LIGHTNING
STRIKE RECORDER 100 50 77 89 78 115 123 95 128 134
ORDERING CODE
LSR1
120 50 77 89 78 115 123 95 128 134

LPI GROUND RESISTANCE

150 50 77 89 78 115 123 95 128 134
IMPROVEMENT POWDER LPI LOWER
ORDERING CODE TERMINATION KIT The above figures are indicative only, a full design
GRIP - 10 ORDERING CODE should be completed by LPI upon application.
GRIP - 40 LTERMKIT All figures represented as metres (m).

6
 Research & Development
The company has an ongoing commitment to Research and
Development.
LPI personnel and its associates have been involved in a number
of field trials throughout lightning prone regions of the world, this
experience has extended throughout such countries as Australia,
Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the USA.

LPI 4-Step Approach to Lightning Protection

It is the strategic aim of our company to be able to provide a
complete packaged solution. LPI has identified 4 key steps when
considering the complete approach to Lightning protection, ask
for our "LPI 4 Step approach to lightning protection".

Our system design approach includes:

1. Definition and provision of area protection.

2. Creation of a bonded earthing system.
3. Protection of power lines.
4. Protection of signal, data and
communication lines.

Design for Area Protection

Please consult with your local authorised LPI distributor for a
lightning protection design for your facility.

DISCLAIMER
• LPI maintains a policy of on-going product development, specifications are
subject to change without notice.
• Application detail, illustrations and schematic drawings are representative only
and should be used as guides.
• It should be noted that 100% (100 percent) protection level for direct strike
lightning and surge and transient protection equipment is not possible and
cannot be provided due to the lightning discharge process being a natural
atmospheric event.

7
Innovative lightning protection solutions

Direct Strike Lightning protection products and solutions

Surge and Transient protection products and solutions for

power, data, communications and signal lines

Grounding products and solutions

GuardianTM Lightning
Protection System 5
Lightning Protection International Pty Ltd ABN 11 099 190 897
Suite 2, 17-19 Magnet Court,
Sandy Bay, 7005
Tasmania, Australia
PO Box 678, Sandy Bay, 7006
Tasmania, Australia
Telephone + 61 3 6223 7899
Facsimile + 61 3 6223 7800
Email info@lpi.com.au
www.lpi.com.au
© Copyright 2002