Section 26 41 13 (Formerly 16670) – L IGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM SPECIFICATION

GENERAL
1.01 Summary:

a. Provide a complete lightning protection system for the building(s) or structures included on the contract drawings. The system shall provide safety for the building, the buildings contents and occupants by preventing damage caused by lightning. The design of this system is to be in strict accordance with this section of the specifications and all contract drawings that apply.

b. The lightning protection system shall be installed by a firm actively engaged in the installation of Master Labeled Lightning Protection Systems and shall be so listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. The completed system shall comply with the latest editions of the Installation Requirements for Lightning Protection Systems, UL96A and of the National Fire Protection Association’s Lightning Protection Standard, NFPA 780.

c. The work covered under this section of the specification consists of furnishing labor, materials and services required for the completion of a functional and unobtrusive lightning protection system approved by the architect, engineer and Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

1.02 References:

The completed lightning protection system shall comply with the latest issue of the following standards and form a part of this specification.
a. NFPA 780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems.

b. UL 96A, Installation Requirements for Lightning Protection Systems

1.03 Submittals:

a. Shop drawings shall be submitted to the architect and engineer for approval prior to commencement of the installation. Shop drawing are to show the extent of the system layout designed specifically for the building(s) or structures included in the contract drawings along with details of the products to be used in the installation.

1.04 Quality Assurance:

a. The installing contractor shall furnish a UL Master Label upon completion of the installation.

PRODUCTS
2.01 Standard:

a. All materials used in the installation shall be new and shall comply in weight, size and composition as required by UL 96A and NFPA 780 and shall be labeled or listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. for use in lightning protection systems. The system furnished under this specification shall be the standard product of a manufacturer regularly engaged in the production of lightning protection equipment. The manufacturer shall be listed by UL as a recognized manufacturer of lightning protection components.

2.02 Acceptable Manufacturers:

a. Harger Lightning & Grounding
301 Ziegler Drive, Grayslake, IL 60030
(847) 548-8700 800-842-7437 Fax (847) 548-8755
E-mail: hargersales@harger.com Web-site: www.harger.com

b. Dillon Lightning Protection Systems, Inc
4702 Fishers Hollow Road
Myersville, Maryland 21773
301-696-9027
301-696-9029 fax
E-mail: dillonlp@aol.com Contact: Matthew P. Dillon (LPI Master Installer/Designer # 1038)

2.03 Materials:

a. Class I materials shall be used on structures that do not exceed 75 feet in height and Class II materials shall be used on structures that are 75 feet or higher above average grade.

b. Copper materials shall not be mounted on aluminum surfaces including Galvalume, galvanized steel and zinc; this includes these materials that have been painted.

c. Aluminum materials shall not come into contact with earth or where rapid deterioration is possible. Aluminum materials shall not come into contact with copper surfaces.

2.04 Air Terminals:

a. Air terminals shall project a minimum of ten inches above the object or area it is to protect and shall be located at intervals not exceeding 20’-0” along ridges and along the perimeter of flat or gently sloping roofs (flat or gently sloping roofs include roofs that have a pitch less than 3:12). Flat or gently sloping roofs exceeding 50’-0” in width shall be protected with additional air terminals located at intervals not exceeding 50’. Air terminals shall be located within two feet of roof edges and outside corners of protected areas.

b. Air terminals shall be installed on stacks, flues, mechanical units and other metallic objects not located within a zone of protection and which have an exposed metal thickness less than 3/16 of an inch. Objects having an exposed metal thickness 3/16 of an inch or greater shall be connected to the lightning protection system as required by the specified standards using main size conductor and bonding plates having a minimum of 3 square inches of surface contact area.

c. Air terminal bases shall be securely fastened to the structure in accordance the specified standards including the use of adhesive that is compatible with the surface it is to be used on or stainless steel fasteners.

d. Main conductors shall be sized in accordance with the specified standards for Class I or Class II structures and shall provide a two way horizontal or downward path from each air terminal to connections with the ground system. Conductors shall be free of excessive splices and no bend of a conductor shall form a final included angle of less than neither 90 degrees nor have a radius of bend less than 8 inches.

e. Down conductors shall be sized in accordance with the specified standards and in no case shall be smaller than the main roof conductor. Down conductors shall be spaced at intervals averaging not more than 100 feet around the perimeter of the structure. In no case shall a structure have fewer than two down conductors. Where down conductors are installed exposed on the exterior of a structure and are subject to physical damage or displacement, guards shall be used to protect the conductor a minimum of 6 feet above grade. Metallic guards shall be bonded at each end.

f. In case of structural steel frame construction, down conductors may be omitted and roof conductors shall be connected to the structural steel frame at intervals not exceeding 100 feet along the perimeter of the structure.

2.05 Roof Penetrations:

a. Roof penetrations required for down conductors or for connection to structural steel framework shall be made using thru-roof assemblies with solid riser bars and appropriate roof flashing. Conductors shall not pass directly through the roof. The roofing contractor shall furnish and install the materials required to properly seal all roof penetrations of the lightning protection components and any additional roofing materials or preparations required by the roofing manufacturer for lightning conductor runs to assure compatibility with the warranty for the roof including roof pads that may be required to protect the roof under each of the lightning protection components.

2.06 Ground Terminations:

a. Ground electrodes shall be copper clad steel and a minimum 5/8” diameter and 10 feet long. A ground electrode shall be provided for each down conductor. The down conductor shall be connected to the ground electrode using a bronze ground rod clamp having a minimum of 1 ½” contact between the ground electrode and the conductor measured parallel to the axis of the ground electrode, or by an Ultraweld exothermically welded connection. Ground electrodes shall be located a minimum of 2 feet below grade and shall be installed below the frost line where possible (excluding shallow topsoil conditions).

b. Where the structural steel framework is utilized as the down conductor for the system, ground terminals shall be connected to columns around the perimeter of the structure at intervals averaging not more than 60 feet apart. Columns shall be grounded using either bonding plates having 8 square inches of surface contact area or by Ultraweld exothermically welded connections.

c. All ground electrodes shall be interconnected with a ground loop conductor on structures that exceed 60 feet in height. The ground loop conductor shall be sized in accordance with the specified standards and in no case shall be smaller than the main roof conductor.

2.07 Equipotential Grounding:

a. Common interconnection of all grounded systems within the building shall be ensured by interconnecting to the lightning protection system using main size conductor and fittings.

b. This interconnection shall include but is not limited to the electrical service, telephone and antenna system grounds as well as all underground metallic piping systems including water, gas and sewer. Interconnection to a gas or water line shall be made on the customer’s side of the meter.

c. Grounded metal bodies located within the required bonding distance as determined by the bonding distance formula in the latest edition of NFPA-780 Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems shall be bonded to the lightning protection system using the required bonding conductors and connections.

2.08 Surge Protection:

a. Surge suppression shall be provided at all power service entrances and at entrances of conductive signal, data and communication services.

Part 3 – EXECUTION

3.01 Installation:

a. The installation shall be installed by an UL listed lightning protection installation company.

3.02 Coordination:

a. Coordinate the installation of the lightning protection system with other trades

b. Coordinate all roof penetrations, fasteners and adhesive with the roofing contractor prior to installing any materials on the roof.

3.03 Inspection and Certification:

a. New Structures:
i Upon completion of the installation of the lightning protection system the contractor shall furnish the UL Master Label issued by Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

b. Additions or renovations:
i If the protected structure is an addition to or is attached to an existing structure that does not have a functioning lightning protection system, the contractor shall certify that the new system installed complies with the specified standards and shall advise the owner on the lightning protection work required on the existing structure so that a Master Label may be obtained.
ii If the protected structure is an addition to or is attached to an existing structure that does have a lightning protection system the contractor shall advise the owner of any additional work that may be required in order to bring the existing lightning protection system into compliance with the specified standards and thus qualify for a Reconditioned Master Label from Underwriters Laboratories Inc.