Common Mistakes in Lightning Protection Design and Installation

Improper design and installation of lightning protection systems can result in severe consequences for buildings and their occupants. This paper presents some common mistakes in lightning protection design and installation, including the absence of a lightning protection system for metal tanks, inadequate surge protection for field devices, improper cable management, and inadequate earthing methods. Remedial actions have been proposed to mitigate these mistakes, including the installation of a lightning protection system for metal tanks, the installation of a surge protection device (SPD) on the field devices, proper cable management and segregation of signal cables, the adequate separation distance between the electrical earth (E) chamber and the extra low-voltage earth (ELVE) chamber, and proper record of resistance value between the E and ELVE chambers. Finally, the paper emphasizes the importance of hiring qualified professionals to design and install lightning protection systems to ensure proper design and installation.