The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Overview

Lightning Protection Systems (LPS) are designed to protect assets, but more importantly to save lives. The Lightning Protection Institute estimates that lightning causes billions of dollars in property damage each year. Common misconceptions lead some to underestimate the challenge caused by lightning. It is said that lightning never strikes in the same place twice; this is not true, as can be demonstrated through photographs of such buildings as the Empire State building. Others say that an LPS will prevent lightning strikes; this too is not true as an LPS is used to intentionally attract the leader stroke to an air terminal and thus discharge the energy through conductors to the earth.

This course will refresh your general knowledge of LPS or provide you with general information so that you can ensure that the structure to be protected receives the proper number of Air Terminals, down conductors, and uses appropriate materials. Additionally you will be exposed to surge arrestors and suppressors.

The student is required to read and review the material contained in Section 1.3 (Lightning Protection for Structures) of MIL-HDBK-419A (29 Dec 1987) Grounding, Bonding, and Shielding for Electronic Equipments and Facilities.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of twenty-five (25) questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

  · Integral LPS
  · Stand alone LPS
  · Components of an LPS
  · Location of LPS on structures
  · Sizing and spacing of Air Terminals
  · Protection of Underground Cables
  · Surge Arrestors
  · Materials used in and Corrosion Control of LPS

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.