Sophisticated Lightning Protection Design for Your Complex Structures
At SLS, we design custom lightning protection systems and solutions for complex structures, facilities, and assets to provide maximum protection against lightning discharges. Our sophisticated Standards+ Lightning Protection System Design tool suite offers specialized capabilities, including proprietary 3D simulation tools to target the specific lightning vulnerabilities of complex structures.
Critical structures that lack properly designed lightning protection systems are at risk for both structural damage and damage to electrical and electromechanical systems, jeopardizing the integrity of the asset and disrupting operations. If your structure is not properly lightning protected, our expert engineers can help.
LIGHTNING PROTECTION BEYOND THE STANDARDS
Existing national standards (NFPA 780, UL96A, IEC 62305) for the design of external lightning protection systems provide general guidelines for addressing lightning protection on traditional structure geometries. For many of today’s complex structures and installations, comprehensive lightning protection can only be achieved by applying more advanced techniques to augment the standard guidelines.
SLS offers our customers the Standards+ Smart Lightning Protection System Design capability to address these specialized challenges. Our Standards+ tool suite is applicable to the design of lightning protection for new construction and the modification of lightning protection on existing structures.
HOW DOES STANDARDS+ LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM DESIGN WORK FOR YOUR STRUCTURE?
- Utilizes a 3D rolling sphere simulation tool to illustrate lightning-vulnerable regions on a high-resolution 3D model of your unique structure
- Adds 3D models of the lightning protection system to your structure model, and iteratively repeats the lightning vulnerability tests until the required level of protection is achieved
- Uses Monte Carlo technique to calculate the probability of direct lightning attachment to a detailed 3D model of your structure and lightning protection system
- Calculates the polarity and peak current distributions of lightning events attaching to your structure
SLS uses the Standards+ tool suite to design and validate complex lightning protection systems for various large-scale utilities, chemical storage facilities, and oil & gas infrastructure. In addition, SLS applies Standards+ for designing catenary wire lightning protection systems for space launch complexes operated by NASA and commercial space flight providers, including SpaceX and Blue Origin. These mission-proven, innovative tools will work for you too.
Our lightning protection design capabilities are applicable to a wide range of industries:
- Power Plants
- Space Ports
- Airports
- Fuel/Chemical Refineries & Storage Facilities
- Military Installations
- Solar and Wind Farms
- Data Centers
- Hi-Tech Manufacturing and Warehouse Facilities
- Communications Infrastructure
- Stadiums and Arenas
- Water Treatment and Desalination Plants
Contact us today for more information regarding our custom-designed lightning protection systems and solutions. Let’s discuss how the specialized capabilities of the Standards+ lightning protection design tool suite can be applied to ensure that your structure is lightning protected.
The Launch Complex 39B lightning protection system design at the Kennedy Space Center features an overhead catenary wire system and nine down conductors.
Snapshot of a lightning strike point Monte Carlo study for a hazardous material storage tank.
3D rolling sphere mesh highlighting lightning-vulnerable areas at a power generation facility.
