Lightning Protection System
When is a Lightning Protection System required on an industrial facility in Canada?
Canadian building codes do not mandate LPS on all structures but require that when provided, it conforms to CAN/CSA B72. LPS is strongly indicated for structures with explosive or flammable contents, tall slender structures, and those housing critical systems. Risk assessment must consider lightning strike density, occupancy, and economic impact. WorkSafeBC users should consult the electrical authority having jurisdiction for specific requirements.
How should LPS be integrated with the site grounding system in an industrial plant?
Provide a low-impedance, loop-type grounding system interconnecting building steel, LPS conductors, and major equipment. Ensure at least two independent grounding connections per major item, with accessible ground wells for testing. Bonding jumpers must be sized per CSA B72 tables. Coordinate with CSA C22.2 No. 41 and the Canadian Electrical Code to avoid conflicting earth paths and dangerous touch/step voltages.
Can rooftop equipment be considered protected without dedicated air terminals?
Project specifications allow termination devices without air terminals if equipment is not damage-sensitive. However, for critical equipment like HVAC units or solar arrays, best practice per CSA B72 and NFPA 780 is to place air terminals within the protected zone and bond equipment enclosures to LPS conductors. Unprotected sensitive equipment should be treated as a design deficiency unless justified by the design engineer.
A Lightning Protection System (LPS) is an engineered electrical system comprising air terminals, conductors, bonding, and grounding electrodes that intercept lightning strikes and safely conduct current to earth, limiting damage to structures and occupants. It is defined under CAN/CSA B72:20 and NFPA 780 as a controlled path for lightning current, preventing fire, hazardous sparking, and physical damage.
On a manufacturing shop floor, an LPS is integrated as site-wide protective infrastructure. It protects main buildings, warehouses, silos, tanks, and tall process structures, with risk assessment per CSA B72 and NFPA 780 determining protection levels. The system includes a low-impedance loop grounding network interconnecting structural steel, equipment, and LPS conductors, with at least two grounding connections per major item for redundancy. Bonding connects metallic piping and cable trays to reduce arcing. In Canada, LPS installation requires an electrical permit and compliance with CSA B72, often supplemented by UL 96/96A and CSA C22.2 No. 41. Inspection by an LPI-IP Certified Field Inspector may be required to verify code compliance.
Treating LPS as non-electrical and bypassing electrical permitting, leading to unsafe grounding integration and regulatory non-compliance.
Incomplete coverage of structures, such as protecting only the main roof while leaving tall process structures like silos and stacks unprotected, or using inadequate down conductors with sharp bends.
Poor integration with grounding/bonding and inadequate inspection, including use of non-listed components, lack of documented bonding, and no periodic inspection of ground wells, causing system non-functionality.