ILPA, auteur sur International Lightning Protection Association
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Author: ILPA

16 Jan

Posted at 15:04h in News, Technical Papers
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The relationship between pollution and lightning incidence has long been pointed out by many experts, but an unexpected situation allowed a great step forward in the study of this theory: WHO (World Health Organisation) recognized in March 2020 the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infections as a pandemic. In response to this situation, several countries decreed lockdowns to ensure social distancing. The result of the mobility restrictions was a decrease in emissions of air pollutants which enabled researchers to analyse in detail the influence of aerosols in lightning incidence both in Brazil and Italy. The group of Pinto Neto chose two large cities in Brazil, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, from 20 March to 2 April 2020. The authors found an important decrease in pollution in that period compared with the data obtained in previous years (from 2015 to 2020). Moreover, the percentage of cloud-to-ground lightning was lower than the values from previous years in São Paulo, while in Belo Horizonte was significantly higher. Therefore, the study showed the strong influence of pollution on lightning characteristics and that this influence could change depending on the city and the pollutant concentration. On the other hand, the lockdown decreed in Italy extended from 9 March to 18 May 2020, followed by a long period of de-escalation of the mobility restrictions. This period coincided with a 70% decrease in lightning activity in the Po valley. The Po Valley is a highly industrialized region, characterized by high lightning incidence due to certain meteorological features like the proximity to mountains, the humidity flow from the sea and the convergence of cold and warm air masses. The poor ventilation conditions in the valley, bundled with low temperatures, promote the permanence of aerosols for long duration. However, during the lockdown, there was a drastic reduction in the industrial activity, traffic and rail transport which led to a substantial decrease in the concentration of aerosols. The authors of this work used different models to estimate which percentage of the reduction could be attributed to the reduction in pollutants emission. Their calculations showed that about 36% came from the decreased pollution in the Po valley. These two studies support the hypothesis of an impact of anthropogenic aerosols on lightning activity. Ultimately, this statement should be considered for the optimization of lightning prediction in global climate models, as well as in the prediction of forest fires caused by lightning. References Pinto Neto, O., Pinto, I. R. C. A. & Pinto, O. Lightning during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. J. Atmos. Solar-Terrestrial Phys. 211, 105463 (2020). Pérez-Invernón, F. J., Huntrieser, H., Gordillo-Vázquez, F. J. & Soler, S. Influence of the COVID-19 lockdown on lightning activity in the Po Valley. Atmos. Res. 263, (2021)....

10 Nov

Posted at 14:53h in News, Technical Papers
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Some may say that Early Streamer Emission (ESE) technology suffers from lack of experience. The main argument is the location of the ESE historic and prominent manufacturers: they are based in Western Europe with low lightning density compared to the other regions in the world (see https://interactive-lightning-map.vaisala.com/). The explanation is rather simple: France and Spain where the first countries releasing a proper ESE standards (namely NF C 17 102 and UNE 21 186), then followed by several other countries. But this is a fact: these two countries, with Ng density of 3 on average, are far from the most lightning prone areas worldwide: more than 40 in South East Asia, Central Africa or Central America. The first hint came from two lightning high density countries: Malaysia has an average lightning density of 51.9 event/km²/year. A survey has been released in 2016 (conducted by Mega Jati institute on behalf of ST group, available here: Part 1 & Part 2): the percentage of buildings with lightning damages stands at 7.18% for meshed cage/single rods protected buildings vs 4.68% for ESE protected buildings. With a 60.1 event/km²/year, Cuba also stands as at a very high rate of lightning probability. In 2021, the local government agency APCI released a technical paper based on 20 years of ESE rods installation across the country. The “failure rates” of ESE installations is 0.2% whereas it reaches 0.59% for other lightning protection systems. In both cases, the rate of incidents / damages is lower for the ESE lightning protection systems. The ILPA is also working on another statistical survey to assess the geographic distribution of ESE installations worldwide: what is the percentage of ESE rods installed in high-density areas (Ng > 10 event/km²/year) compared with lower ones. We will soon release this data on ILPA website. Stay tuned !...

10 Nov

Posted at 15:48h in News
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Fundamental and applied research, test procedures, experimentation, prototyping … these phases are absolutely vital for every type of industries, prior to a product launch. But a product success, ie. its actual use in the said industry, relies on the field experience. As an example, a five-stars crash test result represents a nice promotional benefit for a new car. But it won’t make the success of this model. Its success is rather based on long term experience: reliability, safety, used-car valuation etc…. The Lightning protection industry follows the same path: Early Streamer Emission air terminals (ESE) are tested, certified, designed by engineers having studied in detail the lightning phenomenon. But what made the success of this advanced technology for the last 35 years is the users experience. Its reliability proven track record is the most key decision-making factor. Based on the International Lightning Protection Association data collected in 2020, 51.50% of the ESE rods are installed in regions where the lightning density Ng (number of discharge / year / km²) is higher than 10, which are the high lightning-prone areas in the world. As a comparison, northern European countries have a Ng value below 2. Ng (Discharge/km²/year) less than 2 2 to 5 5 to 10 more than 10 WORLDWIDE Average % of ESE 13,50% 28,50% 6,50% 51,50%     It illustrates both the reliability and the withstanding capabilities of these rods: Reliability since the protection of the structures and occupants is in line with the standards models. The Mega Jati survey conducted in Malaysia has proven that the statistics are equal or even lower for ESE rods vs Meshed Cage design in terms of damage occurrence. Withstanding capabilities because in such high lightning density regions, the probability for the air terminals to withstand several discharges is extremely high. The rods are designed to maintain the same level of safety, even if they are regularly stuck by lightning. Moreover, ILPA, in a study, has shown that the number of ESE installed worldwide during the 25 first years of ESE existence, is estimated above 500 000 units. By a simple rule of 3, we can extrapolate that much more than 700 000 units are now installed. And according to the statistics above it means that about 350 000 units are installed in high density areas… To conclude, lightning remains a natural phenomenon. Mother Nature remains therefore the ultimate test for lightning protection systems. All the statistics available confirm the Early Streamer Emission air terminals capability to successfully pass this test.  ...

16 Jul

Posted at 17:17h in News
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The 2018 International Lightning Protection Symposium in Shenzhen, China has encountered a massive success. Thanks to the perfect organization of ILPA partners in China, it offers a unique opportunity to the scientific community to meet and exchange: high quality papers have been presented and during two days, experts met, exchanged ideas and practices, discovered other research teams experimental set up and findings ...

15 Jul

Posted at 15:52h in Business, News
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Lightning Protection experts are opposing for more than three decades the traditional Benjamin Franklin lightning rod to the recent Early Streamer Emission lightning protection systems. Every lightning-dedicated conference, every incident, every new standard release is a new opportunity for a new dispute. One or another "expert" will use this new event either to blame the "adverse" technology of not performing; or to declare his full endorsement of t atechnology that it is supposed to be definitely more performant. Such debates are useless. Those are biased, no one will ever admit the other technology of having advantages, no "expert" will ever change his mind, whatever evidences are produced. We are not taking science here, we are taking politics. Malaysia Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga) made a very healthy decision in 2016: appointing an independant company (Mega Jati Sdn Bhd) to conduct a survey. Not an assessment of the technologies or products, but a survey on the existing LPS in Malaysia. 416 buildings have been surveyed, asking owners/operators questions about the lightning protection system installed, the occurence of accidents etc...

22 Mar

Posted at 09:00h in News
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After various editions in Chamonix or Porto, ILPA is glad to announce that  the next symposium ILPS 2018 will take place in the nice city of SHENZHEN in CHINA  on 25 and 26 October 2018. The ILPS2018 will be organized by ILPA in conjunction with the Shenzhen lightning protection association and the Shanghai lightning protection Center. The conference will take place in the Wanyue Grand Skylight Hotel Shenzhen. The program of the conference will soon be introduced. Do not forget to book in your agenda 25 and 26 October 2018 ! In the meantime, you can check out the official ILPS 2018....

08 Mar

Posted at 11:43h in Archives
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You can have an idea about the papers to be present at our symposium in April, consulting the document: SOME ABSTRACTS O THE PAPERS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE SYMPOSIUM Fo more infomations please consult: www.ilps2016.org Your presence it is important....

26 Jun

Posted at 11:59h in Archives
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As previously announced, the next symposium ILPS will take place in the beautiful city of Porto-Portugal on 21 and 22 April 2016. The ILPS2016 will be organized by ILPA in conjunction with the Faculty of Engineering of Porto and will take place in the college facilities. Soon we will present his program, but so you can make a small tour of the city's famous Port wine, and perhaps whet your desire to participate, let us here a link for short promotional video of the city. Do not forget book in your agenda 21 And April 22, 2016 because your presence, your customers and friends is important for the success of the symposium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCOS97q_Yb4...