by Kirk Risch, DEHN AFRICA
Effective lightning protection should be installed for playing fields, sports grounds and spectator galleries.
Published in:
Electricity+Control, October 2016 (pages 23, 24)
Enquiries: Email kirk.risch@dehn-africa.com
Effective lightning protection should be installed for playing fields and sports grounds, as well as for the nearby spectator galleries. The damage that can be caused by increased thunderstorm frequency has resulted in greater emphasis being placed on protection measures against lightning strikes on floodlights, spectator galleries, fences or even playing fields, which can endanger sports persons and spectators.
People who are directly hit by lightning, or stand next to lightning current carrying objects or who, as a result of a flashover, may even be carrying partial lightning current themselves, could sustain serious injuries, often fatal. Moreover, those who are not directly hit by the lightning, but are standing next to the point of strike (potential gradient area) bridge a life-threatening voltage difference with their legs (step voltage) or by touching other people. This may result in injuries such as ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrhythmia and injuries caused by fright. Hence the lightning protection installation requires that protection measures must be considered:
Take note
• The highest frequency of lightning strike activity occurs in open areas, such as sports fields.
• This often causes serious injury to people and damage to equipment and property.
• Effective lightning protection must be installed for playing fields, sports grounds and spectator galleries.
Read the full article on Sports ground lightning protection from touch and step potentials in low res PDF format.
