GALVANIZED STEEL as PART of

GROUNDING / LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM

By:
Januargo
National CME & Design HCPT Project
SIEMENS INDONESIA
 APPROVAL SHEET

National CME & Design HCPT Project Hutchinson CP Telecommunication

SIEMENS INDONESIA Approved By
Acknowledged by

Achmad Syarif …………………..

Manager

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1. INTRODUCTION

It should be noted that up to now there is no device or method that able to avoid the
formation of lightning or to prevent the lightning strikes to structure.
Economic factor, fact of knowledge having fallen behind and uncares profile as regards of
self safety and public safety in developing country which pervading on few of Indonesia
people, require an engineer to designing an effective system without loosing any function
and performance of the system it self. Considering to internationally standardization and
locally regulation, therefore Galvanized steel as component of grounding / lightning
protection system be proposed, mean Galvanized steel may be used as air-termination,
down-conductor, earth-electrodes or bonding bars.

2. CONSIDERATION

- Stealing grounding materials as a recurrent problem in remote telecommunication

system.
- Material selection which consider to economical aspect and efficiency in accordance
with standard application.

3. SCOPE

The present document shows some reference from international standards and SIEMENS
installation guide line regarding Galvanized steel that to be proposed as air-termination,
down-conductor and bonding-components. This document does not show any calculation
of material.
Detailed drawing or method regarding of using galvanized steel or how is it implemented,
will be proposed in other document after this proposal is approved.

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4. GENERAL ARRANGEMENT

According to IEC 62305-3, there are some materials useable for grounding / lightning
protection system. Those are:
1. Copper
2. Hot Galvanized Steel
3. Stainless Steel
4. Aluminum
5. Lead

Table 1. Lightning Protection Materials and condition of use.

According to IEC 62305-3; page: 25

In order to select material as grounding / lightning protection system should be considered

also about corrosion possibility, because corrosion in metal causing value of electrical
resistance increased and decrease volume of the material. Copper and stainless steel are
the best materials toward corrosion resistance, but more interesting for somebody to steal

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than another because easy to be sold. If the corrosion is happened on interconnection
between two different metals, therefore the connectivity can be loose. According to Table
1 and Table 2, there are some materials that can be connected each other directly and
some materials not connectable, because the materials can be destroyed by the
interconnection of different materials. Connection method in implementation will be
detailed in some drawing after this proposal is approved. And the drawing shall be
proposed for approval.

Table 2. Materials Combination for Earth Termination

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Table 3. Material, Configuration and minimum cross-sectional area of air-
termination conductors, air-termination rods and down-conductors

According to IEC 62305-3; Page: 27

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 Table 4. Material, Configuration and dimension of earth electrodes.

According to IEC 62305-3; Page: 28

According to the table, Galvanized Steel with appropriate dimension is useable as

component in grounding / lightning protection system, but should be limited only for
above ground application. Even though galvanized steel is also permitted for earth
electrodes in accordance with IEC 62305-3, but it is not proposed in this document by the
reason there are some special treatment for the material if it is used under ground
application. It is strongly recommended only copper for earth electrodes.
Material and dimension for bonding components shall comply IEC 62305-3. The
minimum cross-section of materials shall comply Table 5.

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 Table 5. Minimum cross-section for bonding component

According to IEC 62305-4; page: 29

5. CONCLUSION

- Considering anticipating copper will be stolen that happening repeatedly in the remote
telecommunication system, using Galvanized Steel with appropriate dimension may
be used as part of grounding / lightning protection system in accordance with IEC
standard, means Galvanized steel may be used as air-termination, down-conductor,
earth-electrodes and bonding-bars.

- Using Galvanized Steel as grounding / lightning protection system is recommended

only in air application, and it is strongly recommend only copper for under ground
application.

---- Thank You ----

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