Conducting Strip Of Lightning Arrestor

Dear All,
In one of the safety audit it was found that lightning arrestor is provided on top of the chimney where conducting strip is touching to structure (chimney). It is recommended that when providing earthing to lightning arrestor it should be ensured that there are insulators between copper earthing and structure and this strip is not touching to the structure. A reference be made to IS 2309: 1989 and IS 3043:1987.
When i was referring to these IS standards no where i found that there should be insulators between copper earthing strip and structure. Currently for our chimney earthing strip is directly welded to ladder of the chimney and if i want to put insulators then what is the bases by which i can convince to the management.
Regards,
Rohit

Dear Rohit,

Great to see this post.

Earthing strip welded to the staircase of the chimney is definitely not an advisable practise. The best practise is, earthing strip fixed along the walls of the chimney or even along with the stairs with clamping arrangements. So this clamping is such a way as to provide as a barrier between structure and the earthing strip. The idea is that in case of lightning, the charges taking the direct path to the earth without affecting the chimney or associated structures.

Now regarding the reference, why can’t you ask the auditor itself which clause in the mentioned IS standard? Being an auditor, if he makes a point, he needs to supplement it with proper clauses. I am sure it must be there, due to the lack of time, not referring IS and bringing it up.

Also try to convince management and change the practise instead of trying to find a clause to maintain the existing practise.

Your input to the thread with reply from auditor would be highly appreciable and I am ready to participate in this thread further, if so happened.