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13-Year Study Demonstrates the Effectiveness of the ERITECH® SYSTEM 3000 Lightning Protection System

ERICO® conducted a 13-year field-validation study of the Collection Volume Method of lightning protection with the ERITECH® System 3000 lightning-protection system

ERICO® conducted a 13-year field-validation study of the Collection Volume Method of lightning protection with the ERITECH® System 3000 lightning-protection system. The Collection Volume Method (CVM) defines the lightning “capture volume” of potential strike points on a structure. The unprecedented study was recently published in the Proceedings of The Royal Society.  The Royal Society is an independent scientific academy of the UK dedicated to promoting excellence in science.

 

The field-validation study used 86 structures in Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley in Malaysia. Klang Valley is the ideal setting for the study because it has one of the highest levels of lightning activity in the world. The structures were subjected to 384 flashes over a 13-year period.

 

The number of strikes to the protection system of the structures in this study were obtained from “lightning event counters” (LEC) placed around the lightning current downconductor cable. All of the LEC’s were tested and calibrated using an 8/20 μs current impulse. Overall, estimates of the strike “yield” demonstrate that the interception rate predicted by the CVM is in excellent agreement with the observed capture frequency. This means that the lightning-interception rate is at least as high as the claimed protection levels of 85% - 98%. The actual percentage of strikes captured was about 87%, which supports the three leading theoretical models of lightning interception. 

 

The patented ERITECH® SYSTEM 3000 is a technically advanced lightning protection system that offers reliable lightning capture. It incorporates the ERITECHÒ DYNASPHERE MKIV air terminal that provides a preferred dissipation point for lightning discharges. The system is applied to buildings via the CVM to maximize lightning capture potential.

 

ERITECH SYSTEM 3000 places ERICO® at the forefront of advanced lightning-protection technology worldwide.  It represents a number of improvements over previous technology including a mechanically stronger design, reduced visual impact and more versatile applicability across facilities.  The complete ERITECH SYSTEM 3000 lightning-protection system offers users a combined solution for lightning capture, conduction and grounding. The system also includes ERITECHÒ ERICORE down-conductors, lightning event conductors, a purpose-designed low impedance grounding system and air terminal placement software.

 

About nVent

nVent Electric plc, ("nVent") with a principal office in London, England, and U.S. management office in Minneapolis, Minn., is a global leader of inventive electrical solutions that connect and protect customers by creating safer systems to ensure a more secure world. The nearly 9,000 employees worldwide design, manufacture and distribute electrical enclosures, electric heat tracing solutions, complete heat management systems, and electrical and fastening solutions. In 2018, nVent became an independent, publicly traded company (NYSE: NVT). Its robust portfolio of leading electrical product brands dates back more than 100 years and includes nVent CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, RAYCHEM, SCHROFF and TRACER.

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