Reliable protection of structures, industrial and commercialoperations and personnel, demands a systematic andcomprehensive approach to minimizing the threatscaused by transient over-voltages. Grounding, bonding,lightning protection and surge protection all need to beconsidered for comprehensive facility electrical protection.Each of these are interdependent disciplines that need aholistic design approach to ensure the facility is not leftwith a vulnerable “blind spot”. The investment in surgeprotection devices can be wasted if “blind spots” exist.

For example, installing a surge protection device on thepower supply to a programmable logic controller is of littlevalue if the I/O lines are not also protected. In addition, anair terminal on the facility may capture the lightning energybut without a dependable ground system, this energy cannot be safely dissipated. Equally, even the most expensiveSurge Protection Devices (SPDs) are poor performers if alow impedance electrical ground is not provided. Theseinterdependent disciplines are best applied when looking ata total facility rather than an individual piece of equipmentor portion of the facility.

ERICO has developed its comprehensive Six Point PlanTM

to protect the overall facility, assure safety of its personneland minimize exposure to transient damage based oncost/benefit and risk assessment principles. Implementationand coordination of all elements of the plan are requiredfor optimal protection and long term operational viability.

The six interdependent disciplines that form our protectionplan are:

1) Capture lightning strikes at a preferred point(s)2) Conduct the energy safely to ground3) Dissipate energy into ground4) Equipotentially bond all grounds5) Protect from surges on power lines6) Protect from surges on data/signaling lines

The plan prompts the user into considering a coordinatedapproach to lightning protection - one embracing all aspectsof potential damage, from the more obvious direct strike tothe more subtle mechanisms of differential earth potentialrises and voltage induction at service entry points.

The Need for Coordinated Protection

Phone: 800-248-9353 • Fax: 800-677-8131 • www.erico.com

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