Lightning - containing the threat
December 2003
Electrical Power & Protection
Lightning events are one of the major threats to our commercial/industrial as well as domestic environment. Every year, many millions of rands worth of direct and indirect damage is experienced through lightning events, the damage may be structural, or plant and equipment - resulting in plant downtime, not to mention the potential danger of personal injuries that may be sustained.
It is important to realise that lightning protection is essentially a risk management procedure. Whilst no guarantees of absolute protection against this natural phenomenon can be offered by any protection system, well designed and appropriate lightning protection systems can and will significantly reduce the risks of damage or injury associated with lightning events.
This is according to Ian McKechnie, managing director of Centurion-based specialist consulting engineers and solution providers Innopro. McKechnie adds that companies such as Innopro, with specialised expertise in the field of earthing and lightning protection, can provide their clients with a valuable impartial and independent expert service in this area. The company can provide clients with investigation services on existing installations, coupled with the design of appropriate and cost effective remedial measures. They can also provide designs in respect of new installations, industrial plants, buildings and other structures. These designs and remedial actions can then be used and implemented directly by appropriate in-house client personnel, or can be competitively quoted or tendered for as defined and measurable requirements, again ensuring the client a cost-effective, appropriate and measurable solution.
Many companies and organisations have experienced lightning related problems in the past lightning season. With the new lightning season upon us, it is essential for infrastructure owners and operators to assess the existing problem areas and take appropriate remedial action.
Innopro is a specialist consulting engineering company and solution provider, specialising in the areas of industrial EMC, earthing and lightning protection. Operating from Centurion, clients are serviced locally, nationally and internationally, in a variety of industry sectors including aviation, petrochemical, telecommunications, IT and general industrial infrastructure.
For more information contact Ian McKechnie, managing director, Innopro, 012 667 5151, [email protected]
Further reading:
Overcoming the bottling industry’s fragmented visibility
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing Electrical Power & Protection
Beverage bottling facilities are among manufacturing’s most energy-intensive environments, yet many still operate without granular insight into where that energy goes. Rezolia Muller-Potluri of Schneider Electric explains how tiered metering architecture and advanced
Read more...
Schneider Electric introduces next-generation BlokSeT switchboard
Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric has launched its next-generation BlokSeT low-voltage switchboard in West Africa, offering high reliability, predictive maintenance capability and digital integration for critical infrastructure and industrial applications.
Read more...
Powering South Africa’s renewable energy expansion
Electrical Power & Protection
ACTOM Distribution Transformers, the sole NECRT contract holder for Eskom, is powering South Africa’s renewable energy expansion through robust neutral earthing transformer solutions deployed across solar and wind projects in southern Africa.
Read more...
You can’t digitise a blackout
Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Across East Africa, smart meters and AI promise cleaner, more reliable power, but digital tools cannot optimise a grid too weak to carry the load. Schneider Electric’s Symphrose Ochieng sets out why operators should strengthen physical infrastructure first, then add digital capability in phases.
Read more...
Battery energy storage is key to powering South Africa’s manufacturing sector
Electrical Power & Protection
South Africa’s shift to renewables is creating a significant opportunity in battery energy storage, but local manufacturers face an uphill battle against cheap imports and stop-start demand. Richard van Moltke of ACTOM Static Power examines what it will take to build a sustainable local battery storage industry.
Read more...
Decarbonisation is reshaping mining strategy in Africa
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing Electrical Power & Protection
Mining companies across Africa are embedding decarbonisation into operational strategy, driven by investor, regulatory and customer pressure to reduce emissions while improving resilience.
Read more...
How to tell whether your mini-substation is new or refurbished
Electrical Power & Protection
Cosmetically refurbished mini-substations are being misrepresented as new equipment and sold back into the market, posing serious reliability and safety risks for mining, industrial and commercial operations. Trafo Power Solutions explains what to look for and what questions to ask before purchasing.
Read more...
Optimising energy reliability for African manufacturing
Electrical Power & Protection IT in Manufacturing
Unreliable power can cost African manufacturers as much as 31% in sales. Behind-the-meter power offers manufacturers in sub-Saharan Africa control, visibility and resilience in their energy provisioning.
Read more...
Electrical solutions for FMCG manufacturing giant
Electrical Power & Protection
An electrical upgrade at a leading fast-moving consumer goods facility demonstrates how ACTOM Kenya turned a fragile, reactive power infrastructure into a resilient, data-driven backbone for production. The project is also a case study in bridging legacy equipment with modern automation without disrupting operations.
Read more...
Yokogawa digital plant to accelerate green hydrogen revolution
Yokogawa South Africa
Editor's Choice Electrical Power & Protection IT in Manufacturing
Yokogawa explains how a digital plant approach and autonomous operations can integrate the full green hydrogen value chain, from renewable power generation to end-use applications, and why digitalisation and system integration are central to making green hydrogen viable in South Africa.
Read more...
printer friendly version