1. Design phase: Part in charge

• Design Part : Lightning protection systems are mainly handled by building electrical equipment design .

• Generally, design is done in the electrical field of architectural design , and the necessity, size, and type of lightning protection system are determined by considering the characteristics, height, and location of the structure.

• During design, the main elements of the lightning protection system (air-termination units, down-conductors, grounding electrodes, equipotential bonding, etc.) are placed in conjunction with the structure of the building.

• Design is carried out in accordance with related standards (e.g. KS C IEC 62305 series) and building equipment standards (e.g. Article 20 of Building Equipment Standards), and in particular, buildings over 20m tall are legally required to install lightning protection equipment.

2. Construction and Installation

• Construction Part : The actual construction is carried out in the field of architectural electrical construction.

• We produce, place, and connect grounding equipment components based on design documents and related laws and standards (KS, IEC).

• During construction, the design suitability, layout, and grounding quality are checked by the designer and supervisor.

3. Operation and Maintenance

• Operating Management Entity :

• After the building is completed, the facility owner (owner) or the contracted management company is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the lightning protection system.

• Regular inspections and testing are performed by **electricians (electrical safety managers, etc.)**.

• Conductor, connection status, corrosion, etc. must be checked periodically and performance must be maintained.

• Inspection is conducted through visual inspection, functional testing, current path verification, and ground resistance measurement. Compliance with standards and past inspection results are compared, and repairs are made immediately if there is a problem.

• The inspection and maintenance history is kept together with the design documents and inspection reports, and the designer is consulted when the building use is changed or lightning protection equipment is added.

4. Role Summary

The most important structure of a lightning protection system is that the electrical design department is in charge of the design stage , while the facility operator and electrical engineers are in charge of operation and management .

Key points for maintenance after installation of lightning protection system are as follows:

• Regular inspection and testing

In order to prevent performance degradation and loss of function of lightning protection systems , regular inspections are conducted at set intervals . The inspection interval is determined by the intended use of the structure, local environment (e.g., corrosion potential, frequency of lightning exposure), etc.

• Check the condition of the components

All components, including conductors, down-conductors, grounding electrodes, connection points, and surge protection devices (SPDs), are visually inspected and tested for damage, corrosion, or breakage , as well as mechanical fixation .

In particular, you should carefully check for defects such as loose connections, metal corrosion, poor fixings, and damage to mechanical protection elements.

• Ground resistance measurement

Measure the grounding resistance of the grounding electrode system periodically to ensure that it meets the design criteria (typically less than 10Ω).

If the change in grounding resistance value is significant or exceeds the standard, cause analysis and immediate action are required.

• Check electrical continuity

Test the **electrical continuity (conductivity)** of the entire lightning path between the down-conductor and each member.

• Reflect system changes

When there are changes inside or outside the building, such as changes in building use, addition of structures, or addition of electrical equipment, the effectiveness of the lightning protection system is reviewed and reflected in the renovation or expansion design if necessary.

• Maintain records and management history

All inspection, test, and maintenance records and results are thoroughly managed and stored together with design documents and inspection reports . Comparison of results with previous inspections is also important. The introduction of IoT lightning protection systems requires accurate data-based maintenance.

• Updating technical documentation

• When a defect is identified, repairs are made promptly, and design drawings and technical documents are updated immediately to ensure the reliability of the maintenance system.

• Inspection by experts

In accordance with relevant laws and standards (KS, IEC, etc.), electrical engineers or inspection/inspection experts must perform maintenance work regularly.

Such maintenance procedures are essential to ensure that the lightning protection system continues to meet its design objectives and properly performs its core role of protecting buildings and people from lightning damage . Key points for maintenance after the installation of a lightning protection system are as follows:

• Regular inspection and testing

• Lightning protection systems should be inspected and checked regularly to check for any abnormalities such as performance degradation, mechanical failure, corrosion, damage, loose connections, etc. In particular, externally exposed parts (conductors, connections, grounding electrodes, etc.) are vulnerable to corrosion or physical damage due to environmental influences, so detailed inspection is important. Surge monitoring can be used to check the soundness of the lightning protection system.

• Measure ground resistance and check electrical continuity

Periodically measure ground resistance and electrical continuity for major components such as surge protection devices (SPDs) and grounding electrodes to ensure that they are within the standard. The general standard for ground resistance is to maintain 10Ω or less. If a sudden change is detected, the cause must be identified immediately and action taken.

The core of global grounding is the construction of an internal lightning protection system, namely equipotential protection, shielding, and surge protection.

• Re-examination when adding or changing equipment

When new installations (power lines, systems, metalwork, etc.) are added to the building or structural changes occur, the validity and continuity of the lightning protection system must be reconfirmed. This is because equipotential bonding targets may be missing or areas may be outside the lightning protection range.

• Accurate records and record keeping

All inspections, maintenance, replacements and inspection results should be recorded in detail and compared with previous records. Records should be kept for a long time together with design documents and inspection reports, and any defects that occur and the measures taken should also be systematically managed.

• Maintenance by experts

Maintenance must be performed by an electrician or manager with expertise in lightning protection systems. If any defects are found during inspection, they must be repaired immediately and, if necessary, structural or facility changes must be reflected in the design.

Strict adherence to these procedures and standards is a key point in ensuring the performance and reliability of the lightning protection system.