A lightning protection system usually consists of an outer and an inner lightning protection. The external lightning protection absorbs lightning currents and dissipates them into the ground, thus preventing damage to the building, primarily building fires. An external lightning protection system includes safety devices, drains and the earthing system. The safety devices are mounted at exposed points of the building, usually on the roof, and thus provide fixed lightning strike points. The lightning current is conducted into the earthing system via the conductors, which usually run downwards along the edges of the building as galvanized round steel.
As a rule, a lightning protection system must comply with the specifications of the current DIN EN 62305 series of standards in Parts 1 – 4 (with the associated VDE classifications VDE 0185-305 Parts 1 – 4), including the applicable corrections and supplements, and have a (corrosion-resistant) equipotential bonding in accordance with DIN VDE 0100-540 on the foundation earthing rods.
Source: bauwion
