BUILDING owners and developers using the early streamer emission (ESE) lightning rods should note the latest ruling by the European Committee for Electro-technical Standardisation (Cenelec).

In February, Cenelec ruled that all member countries should withdraw any lightning protection standard that did not conform to the international standard (IEC-62305). Hence, the French ESE lightning protection standard (NFC 17-102) and all ESE lightning rods are now banned in Europe. This information was recently revealed by the International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), an international scientific organisation that focuses on lightning research and safety.

In fact, the ESE lightning rods have already been declared a danger to public safety in a warning issued in 2005 by the ICLP.

Locally, there has been awareness of the ESE problem since 2004 when a public forum was conducted by the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (Acem) on the use of ESE and other non-conventional lightning rods.

When the ICLP issued the warning a year later, Acem was the only organisation to respond positively to it and issued an advisory to all its members not to use the ESE lightning rods. Unfortunately, the authorities and other engineering bodies ignored the problem and this led to the continued proliferation of the ESE lightning rods to this day.

Insurance companies that provide cover for buildings installed with ESE lightning rods should look carefully at the Cenelec ruling. This is because ESE lightning rods do not comply with the Sirim lightning protection standard (MS-IEC62305) either. Hence, they have been providing insurance cover to buildings that have been under-protected from lightning strikes and will suffer losses in the long run.

Many government buildings also use ESE lightning rods. Since these rods do not comply with Sirim standards, it is only proper that all government agencies set the right example by replacing them with lightning rods that fully comply with the Sirim standard.

It makes no sense to allow ESE lightning rods to be used on existing buildings or to install them on new building projects since they are already a known danger. This is an issue that should concern the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.

Z.A. HARTONO, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – June 17, 2009