Client/Project

 Mental Health Unit (MHU) Cairns is a newly constructed mental health facility designed to provide continuous care for its occupants, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The facility is deemed a high-risk building according to QPPN’s risk assessment matrix due to its constant occupancy and the potential consequences of any electrical disruption. In this context, ensuring the safety and protection of the building against lightning strikes is critical.

Task/Scope/Problem Statement

The primary goal of this project was to protect the facility from potential lightning strikes. Lightning strikes can cause significant damage to both the building’s structure and its electrical systems, potentially leading to power outages, equipment damage, and safety hazards. The LPS design was chosen to mitigate these risks by safely directing any lightning strikes to the ground.

Solution

QPP recommended a Conventional Lightning Protection System (LPS) with finials and strap as the air termination. bonding air termination to structural steel uses the building itself as the designed down conductor. The earth termination  being the footings in the slab. This case study explores the installation of the LPS, and the challenges encountered during the process.

Result

The installation of the conventional Lightning Protection System at MHU Cairns represents a critical safety measure for this high-risk facility. Through careful design, testing, and certification, QPP ensured that the building is shielded from the potential damages of lightning strikes. The successful implementation of the LPS underscores the importance of robust protection systems in high-risk environments such as mental health facilities, where the safety and well-being of the occupants are of utmost priority.