Elements of Lightning Protection System

1. Air Termination System:

Purpose: To capture the lightning strike and safely conduct it to the ground.
Description: Consists of metallic elements installed on the highest parts of the building, such as:

• Air termination rods: Vertical rods on the roof, chimney or other elevated points. They are the first to be struck by lightning.
• Ridge conductors: Conductors stretched along the ridge of the roof, connecting the air termination rods.
• Roof conductors: Conductors stretched across the roof, connecting the air termination rods and ridge conductors.

2. Down Conductors:

Purpose: To safely conduct the captured lightning current from the air termination system to the ground.
Description: Thick metallic conductors running down the facade of the building, connecting the air termination system to the grounding system.

3. Grounding System:

Purpose: To disperse the lightning current into the ground, preventing damage to the building or harm to people.
Description: A system of metallic elements buried in the ground, connected to the down conductors. It may include:

• Ground rods: Vertical rods driven into the ground.
• Grounding strips: Metallic strips buried in the ground around the building.

4. Disconnecting Terminals:

Purpose: To allow safe disconnection of individual parts of the lightning protection system for maintenance, repair or inspection purposes.
Description: Special terminals installed on the down conductors, allowing for easy disconnection and reconnection without the need for tools.

In Layman's Terms:

* Air termination system is like a "lightning rod" on the roof that attracts lightning.
* Down conductors are like "wires" that carry the lightning down the wall of the house.
* Grounding system is like a "trash can" in the ground that "absorbs" and disperses the lightning.
* Disconnecting terminals are like "switches" on the wires that allow you to "turn off" part of the system when you need to work on it, without having to turn off the whole system.

Updated Description of Lightning Protection System Elements:

1. Air termination system: Captures the lightning strike.
2. Down conductors: Conduct the lightning current to the ground.
3. Grounding system: Disperses the lightning current into the ground.
4. Disconnecting terminals: Allow safe disconnection of parts of the system for maintenance.