Client/Project

Gold Coast Residential Apartment Building

Tall residential buildings on the Gold Coast are particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes due to their height and exposure to atmospheric conditions. Lightning can cause significant damage to structures, electrical systems, and pose a direct threat to the safety of residents.

Task/Scope/Problem Statement

The building did have an existing Lightning Protection System (LPS) in place, however critical components had been severely impacted by corrosion over time, thereby impacting the structural integrity and representing risk of bypass. Given the potential for damage or harm to people and structures below, and given the condition of the system, QPP were unable to certify the existing LPS.

Solution

QPP removed the corroded and damaged LPS and installed a new system consisting of an aluminium mast, reinforced fiberglass pole (FRP), and Stormaster Early Stream Emission (ESE) System designed to provide coverage to the entire building.

Installation of an Early Stream Emission (ESE) System was the most effective method to protect the building against direct lightning strikes , positioned at least 2 meters above any other structure - designed to attract lightning and direct the energy safely into the ground.

Result

The new system was installed to meet the requirements of the system manufacturer, and continuity testing from the air termination system (ATS) to the earth termination network (ETN), and three pin fall of potential (TPFP) testing at its base, confirmed the system test results are now compliant with AS1768.