When people think about lightning protection, they often picture a single metal rod (an air terminal) positioned at the top of a building.
While this component is critical, it is only one part of a complete lightning protection system.
Protecting a building requires more than intercepting a lightning strike. Effective protection therefore depends on several components working together as an integrated system.
At Pekat, we advocate 360° protection – bringing together different layers of protection, mitigation and monitoring that can be selected according to the facility’s requirements.
- Protection
An air terminal is useful for protecting buildings, but protection for personnel can begin much earlier.
Pekat’s StormChaser provides advance warning of approaching thunderstorm activity, allowing asset owners to take appropriate precautions before conditions become hazardous.
This can be particularly relevant for facilities with outdoor operations, exposed personnel or operational procedures that need to be adjusted during thunderstorms.
It serves as an early warning layer of your lightning protection strategy.
- Mitigation
Traditional lightning protection usually involves a controlled path for lightning current when a strike occurs.
With Pekat’s StormPlasma Compound Plasma Lightning Rejection (CPLR) system, it introduces a different layer of protection by taking an active approach to lightning risk.
The CPLR system is designed to respond to changes within an electrical field. Upon detecting this change in the weather system, the system releases high-density plasma ions into the surrounding air, with the aim of neutralising lightning formation around the protected area.
This makes StormPlasma more than a passive component waiting for a lightning event. It is designed to actively respond to the electrical environment as conditions develop.
For businesses operating facilities with sensitive equipment, critical processes or a strong requirement for operational continuity, this provides another option to consider as part of a broader lightning protection strategy.
- Monitoring
Understanding how your protection tools are performing and what these systems have experienced is important for another layer of protection.
Pekat’s StormObserver E&LP Monitoring System, together with Lightning Strike, Surge and Earthing Monitoring Devices, provides greater visibility into a facility’s protection infrastructure.
These solutions help facilities monitor and record lightning strikes as well as electrical surges s providing useful information to support system assessment, inspection and maintenance.
For businesses with sensitive electronics, automated systems or critical infrastructure, this monitoring layer helps turn lightning protection from a passive installation into an actively managed system, while providing valuable event records that may support post-incident assessments and insurance documentation.
A Malaysian condominium1, for example, reportedly experienced repeated lightning-related damage involving lifts, CCTVs and electrical components, resulting in claims exceeding RM100,000 in total. The frequency of the incidents eventually affected the property’s ability to obtain insurance renewals affordably. The case highlights how lightning risk can extend beyond the immediate cost of damaged equipment — recurring incidents can affect have an effect on premiums.
This is where monitoring can provide additional value. Records of lightning and surge events can contribute objective information when facility managers, technical teams and insurers investigate what happened following an incident. Such data does not determine whether a claim will be accepted, but it can form part of the evidence used alongside equipment assessments, maintenance records and site inspections.
1 Dindings Corporate Insurance Agency Sdn Bhd, “Claim Story #30: Risk Improvement for Lightning Arrester”
Not every facility operates in the same environment
At Pekat, we understand that every commercial building, manufacturing plant and data centre can have very different operational requirements and levels of electrical sensitivity.
Our Earthing & Lightning Protection solutions are designed to consider the entire journey — from identifying an approaching thunderstorm, protecting the building, to managing electrical surges and monitoring the system over time.
By taking a holistic view of lightning protection, businesses can build a solution that is better aligned with their operational risks, critical equipment and long-term protection needs.
Reach out to us at [email protected] with your contact details and a brief description of your lightning protection needs.
Our E&LP experts can advise and help businesses consider the layers of protection required for their facilities and operations.