Technical Bulletin
Specifying Lightning Protection System Certifications
This technical bulletin offers a discussion of the certification process for lightning
protection systems. Lightning protection system requirements and certifications
are typically specified as a part of the electrical specifications in section 264113.
Although they are part of the electric specifications, lightning protection systems
are not typically inspected by the local building department electrical inspectors.
Inspection and certification of lightning protection systems is available from
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) and other sources. This bulletin will show the
advantages of using UL to provide truly disinterested, third party inspections and
certifications to provide the owner with the confidence that his lightning protection
system meets the current requirements of nationally recognized installation
standards.
Standards
Lightning protection system specifications are typically performance based
specifications that require compliance to specified lightning protection system
installation standards. There are several standards that the spec writer may
choose from.
The best choice is the National Fire Protection Association’s “NFPA 780, Standard
for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems” as this is the most up to date
standard and is approved as an American National Standard by the American
National Standard Institute (ANSI). NFPA 780 is maintained by a technical
committee of approximately 40 members. Committee membership includes a
balanced group of individuals representing manufacturers, installer/maintainers,
enforcing authorities, applied research/testing laboratories, special experts, and
users. The committee updates and revises the standard every three years.
A second choice is Underwriters Laboratories Inc.’s “Standard for the Installation
of Lightning Protection Systems, UL 96A”. Although nationally recognized, this
standard is not an ANSI standard and is not as well maintained and up to date as
NFPA 780. It is maintained by a standards panel group of 42 members. The
standard is updated from time to time on a sporadic basis.
Other standards often seen in specifications have been developed by the Lightning
Protection Institute (LPI). These include the “LPI 175 – Standard of Practice for
the DESIGN – INSTALLATION – INSPECTION Of Lightning Protection Systems”
and the “LPI 177 - 2011 Inspection Guide for Certified Systems.” These standards
were developed in-house by LPI staff and directors. They have not been
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developed using a consensus based process by a balanced, unbiased, standards
making committee. They are not ANSI standards.
The LPI has been able to have its standard and certification process included in
many lightning protection system specifications. Specifiers need to understand
what the LPI is and what their certification offers.
The LPI is an industry trade association made up of primarily lightning protection
system installers and manufacturers. Although its stated purpose is to promote
lightning protection, it is a means to promote member installers to the exclusion of
others.
Day to day operations of the LPI are performed by the executive director and his
staff who answer to the LPI Board of Directors that consists of nine representatives
of lightning protection component manufacturers, six representatives of lightning
protection system installing companies, and one representative of the professional
division that includes individuals involved in promoting lightning safety.
The Board of Directors controls the operation of the LPI. The board votes on all
membership applications, thereby controlling who can be a member or who cannot
be a member. The Board typically defers voting on electrical contractors’ entry
into membership as a delay tactic to benefit the LPI installer contractor. If the
lightning protection system specifications require that the system installer is an LPI
certified installer, this will hurt the electrical contractor.
There are also several military and government standards that can apply to specific
types of projects. The selection of the right standard and certification requirements
will determine the quality of the lightning protection provided to the owner.
Training
Installer training is of great importance in providing quality lightning protection
systems. Consistent training provides for consistent application of the
requirements and consistent installations. There are sources available for training
lightning protection installers. These include Harger University and UL Knowledge
Solutions. Harger University provides for factory training of installers through a
two day, intensive training session understanding the requirements of NFPA 780
and UL 96A. UL Knowledge Solutions provides a similar course on UL installation
requirements. These training courses can provide continuing education units
(CEUs). The IBEW JATC also has a formal training program for its apprentices.
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UL currently lists 265 certified lightning protection system installation companies,
more than twice that of LPI.
Many specifications will require that the lightning protection system be installed by
a certified LPI Master Installer. LPI offers no formal training for installers, they do
provide testing and certification of individual installers. Installers are able to take
tests for five levels of certification. The Journeyman Installer 1 and 2 levels require
passing a 2 hour exam for each level. The Master Installer 1 and 2 levels require
a 2-1/2 hour exam for each level. The Master Installer/Designer level requires a 21/2 hour exam. LPI also has 2 tests for Designer/Inspector levels that are available
to professional division members only. The quality of these tests is very bad.
Questions are ambiguous and may have several different answers. Many
questions do not pertain to lightning protection. Drawings used for the design
questions are hand drawn and have been photo-copied to the point that the
drawing scales are inaccurate making accurate designs not possible. The use of
AutoCad or other computer aided design program for design drawings and test
questions would make these design questions more useful and much more
accurate and much more in line with current industry practices.
As indicated above, the LPI has no formal training for installers. Training is
typically done “on the job” by individual companies. This leads to inconsistent
training that varies by company. This leads to incorrect installations.
Specifications
Specifying a lightning protection system that complies with the requirements of
NFPA 780 ( an ANSI standard) and is certified by UL (an ANSI certified testing
agency) provides the best value for the owner and gives him the assurance that
his system meets the latest most up to date lightning protection requirements.
The LPI has been very successful in getting their name in lightning protection
system specifications. Many specs require that lightning protection systems be
installed to comply with LPI 175. Many specs require that lightning protection
systems be installed by LPI Certified Master Installers. Many specs also require
inspection by the Lightning Protection Institute Inspection Program (LPI-IP)
certified inspectors. Many specs require LPI-IP “Master Installation Certificates”
These requirements will limit competition on projects.
The LPI offers their own set of lightning protection system specifications. These
specifcations allow the contractor much leeway in how he designs and installs the
system. The LPI specifications state:
“Quality Assurance –
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A) The contractor shall furnish an LPI Master Installation Certificate or a
Limited Scope report upon completion of the installation.
B) The system installation shall be made under the supervision of an LPI
Certified Master Installer or Master Installer – Designer.”
The word “or” allows the contractor to apply for a “limited scope” inspection that
may not be a complete system.
The LPI spec also states:
“Standard –
All materials shall comply in weight, size, and composition with the
requirements of a nationally recognized testing laboratory. All equipment
shall be properly listed and labeled.”
Laboratories do not have requirements for lightning protection materials. There is
no standard listed (UL 96 is the ANSI standard for lightning protection
components). This allows the contractor wide latitude on the components used in
the installation. He can make components at the site to suit his needs.
Inspections and Certifications
UL inspects to nationally recognized lightning protection installation standards.
Properly developed and maintained standards promote consistent, correct
installations. UL inspects lightning protection systems for compliance to ANSI
(NFPA 780) standards as well as their own standard UL 96. These standards have
been developed by balanced technical committees that include all types of stake
holders: end-users, government, insurance and other experts in addition to
manufacturers and installers. There is no bias in the requirements or shortcuts in
the application. UL has a core of inspectors that are specifically trained in the
inspection of lightning protection systems and receive ongoing training.
For many years the LPI had in place a self-certification program. In 2010, the LPI
stopped that program and created the Lightning Protection Institute Inspection
Program (LPI-IP) to compete against the UL inspection program. The LPI-IP
Board of Directors is made up of two manufacturers, five installers and the
executive director of the LPI. The manager of the LPI-IP is related to two of the
LPI-IP directors. The LPI-IP is not an ANSI certified inspection program.
The LPI says that they provide “third-party” Inspections. The LPI-IP uses third
party inspectors for site inspection. These inspectors have a two day training
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Technical Bulletin
session performed by LPI board members (installers). Not all parts of the country
have trained inspectors, so inspections may not always be performed.
The LPI-IP is touted as an “independent” inspection, yet the entire process is
controlled by lightning protection manufacturers and installers.
Summary
Specifying a lightning protection system that complies with NFPA 780 and is
certified by UL (an ANSI certified testing agency) gives the system owner the
assurance that his system meets the latest requirements of the nationally
recognized (ANSI) lightning protection installation standard. This is assured by a
global leader for independent, third-party inspection of lightning protection systems
since 1908. This is opposed to an inspection certificate issued by an organization
of system installers that write their own standards and have been inspecting
systems for three years.
Revised 5/27/2014
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