Expert solutions for lightning safety and lightning protection challenges
Numerous lightning-related events internationally, including many associated deaths and injuries, highlight the safety and protection risks associated with lightning. Many applications, including those in mining, oil & gas (petrochemical), airports/aviation and other transportation systems (such as railways), renewable energy (such as PV and wind plants), as well as large conventional power and industrial plants and outdoor sporting and recreational facilities, all present particular lightning-related challenges as “complex applications”.
These challenges were noted by Ian McKechnie, CEO of project and engineering advisors and solutions provider Engenamic, who commented that “the complexity of these applications, insofar as lightning safety and lightning protection is concerned, arises from a combination of particular factors. These include, for example, that such sites typically have relatively exposed persons, infrastructure, equipment and systems, often over an extended area. These sites also typically include a diverse and complex range of people, systems, technologies and interfaces within a dynamic and constantly changing environment, as well as application and site specific factors such as possible presence of hazardous locations and particular site conditions”.
He added that “these are some examples of factors that impact directly on the risks associated with lightning safety and lightning protection, and which require careful consideration in developing solutions”. He also noted that their team members’ professional expert consultation in various matters, including in investigative, forensic, remedial and mediation roles, had highlighted many shortcomings in both engineering approach and in the addressing of application specifics.
Ian Jandrell, CTO of Engenamic, added that a well-structured and engineered solution can nevertheless manage the lightning safety and lightning protection risks for these applications. He cautioned however that it was important that appropriate expertise and experience be applied in addressing challenges and developing solutions.
“At Engenamic, our team is led by reputable registered engineering professionals who are not only recognised as experts in lightning protection and lightning safety, but who also have broad-based expertise and experience in engineering, engineering management and project management, as well as in ‘troubleshooting & fixing’, including forensic and remedial engineering and claims and dispute support. This provides insights, experience and expertise required to appreciate the broader implications and to address the complexities associated with both ‘greenfield’ and ‘brownfield’ applications”.
McKechnie concluded that the Engenamic team members have extensive and international experience in lightning safety and lightning protection and that these services are offered internationally on a world-wide basis.
Engenamic professional team members are also available for appointment as mediators, expert determiners and adjudicators.