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tenance programme for the lightning protection system should
be laid down by an authority, the designer or installer of the
lightning protection system and the owner of the structure. If
defects are found during the inspection of a lightning protec-
tion system, the operator / owner of the structure is responsible
for the immediate rectification of the defects. The inspection
of the lightning protection system must be carried out by a
lightning protection specialist. A lightning protection specialist
(according to Supplement 3 of the German DIN EN 62305-3
standard) is able to design, install and inspect lightning pro-
tection systems due to his technical training, knowledge, ex-
perience and familiarity with applicable standards. Evidence
can be provided by regular participation in national training
courses.
The criteria (technical training, knowledge and experience)
are usually fulfilled after several years of work experience
and current occupation in the field of lightning protection.
The design, installation and inspection of lightning protection
Figure 3.3.4.1 DEHN Air-Termination Tool, gable roof with PV system
systems require different skills from the lightning protection
specialist, which are listed in Supplement 3 of the German
DIN EN 62305-3 standard.
3.3.4 DEHN Air-Termination Tool; calculation A lightning protection specialist is a competent person who is
of the length of air-termination rods familiar with the relevant safety equipment regulations, direc-
according to IEC 62305-3 (EN 62305-3) tives and standards to the extent that he is in a position to
Air-termination rods allow to integrate large areas in the judge if technical work equipment is in a safe condition. In
protected volume of LPZ 0 B . In some cases, graphics, which Germany, a training course leading to recognition as a light-
must be created depending on the class of LPS, are required ning protection specialist (competent person for lightning and
to determine the height of the air-termination rod. To facilitate surge protection as well as for electrical installations conform-
work for qualified personnel, calculations for different kinds ing to EMC (EMC approved expert)) is offered by the Associa-
of graphics are integrated in the DEHN Air-Termination Tool of tion of Damage Prevention (VdS), which is part of the German
the DEHNsupport Toolbox software. The user must define the Insurance Association (GDV e.V.), in conjunction with the Com-
class of LPS, the length, width and height of the building and mittee for Lightning Protection and Lightning Research of the
the separation distance. Depending on whether the protective Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technolo-
angle or rolling sphere method is used, the length of the air- gies (ABB of the VDE).
termination rods to be installed can be calculated from these Attention: A competent person is not an expert!
values. In case of calculations with several air-termination
rods, the lateral sag of the rolling sphere must also be consid- An expert has special knowledge in the field of technical work
ered in the calculation (Figure 3.3.4.1). equipment which requires testing due to his technical training
The aim is to ensure a technically correct external lightning and experience. He is familiar with the relevant safety equip-
protection system. ment regulations, directives and standards to the extent that
he is in a position to judge if complex technical equipment
is in a safe condition. He should be able to inspect technical
3.4 Inspection and maintenance work equipment and provide an expert opinion. Experts are,
for example, engineers at the German Technical Inspectorates
3.4.1 Types of inspection and qualification of or other specialist engineers. Installations requiring inspection
inspectors generally have to be inspected by experts or competent per-
To ensure that the structure, the persons therein and the elec- sons.
trical and electronic systems are permanently protected, the Regardless of the qualifications required from the inspectors,
mechanical and electrical characteristics of a lightning protec- the inspections should ensure that the lightning protection
tion system must remain completely intact for the whole of its system protects living beings, contents, technical equipment
service life. To ensure this, a coordinated inspection and main- in the structure, safety systems and the structure from the ef-

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