Advancements in building lightning protection zone estimation

Abstract

Lightning protection system is an effective way to properly protect structures against hazardous effects of lightning strike. Lightning protection zone is an essential parameter of lightning protection system, because it determines whether structure is protected against lightning strikes. The rolling sphere method is commonly used to estimate lightning protection zone, but it neglects some significant parameters such as differences in striking distance to ground and vertical masts, the lightning strike probability is the same irrespective of striking point, attachment process of downward and upward leaders and lightning discharge polarity. This paper review existing techniques that effectively eliminates these drawbacks.