1. General design of a protection system

1.1 Lightning protection system

A lightning protection system comprises two protection systems that complement each other.

• The function of external protection systems is to capture lightning strikes which would otherwise have struck the structure, and then to discharge the lightning currents to earth, without allowing them to cause damage or penetrate the volume to be protected. Equipotentiality with the metal elements of the structure or connected metal services (e.g. pipes) is also part of the external system.

• The purpose of indoor protection systems is to protect indoor electrical installations and equipment, as well as people, against conducted or induced overvoltages and potential surges (we'll...