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Industry Meets in Singer Island, FLA for 2007 LPI/ULPA Conference

The Hilton Singer Island Resort set the stage for the 2007 LPI/ULPA Conference which was attended by over 100 participants who traveled to sunny Florida for the 75th annual industry meeting. Event-planner extraordinaire, Kim Dillon and our hosts at Bonded Lightning Protection of Florida organized social events which included golfing excursions, an evening cruise on the Palm Beach Princess Casino Boat, and a Friday night celebration featuring a Polynesian buffet, hula dancers and live Caribbean entertainment. While enjoying all the festivities the Florida sun had to offer, we still managed to learn more about lightning protection. Highlights from the information-packed conference agenda included reports by the following:

“Risk Assessment Program Update” - Presented by Mitchell Guthrie & Bud VanSickle
This presentation summarized the current Risk Assessment material found in the NFPA 780 Annex which includes: assessing need, common types of consequences, strike probability, factors for consideration, lightning flash density, lightning strike frequency, equivalent collective area, determination of environmental coefficient, tolerable lightning frequency, and selection of the protection level. Items discussed which are under review for a more detailed optional assessment included: Measures for tall structures (above 60 meters), earth electrode length and review of data, structures with risk of explosion, additions under Annex E, protection of humans (step and touch voltage issues), loss factor values, life hazard risk components, Kc Evaluations relevant to bonding, and simplified risk management software and current limitations.

“Disaster Protection: Why Isn’t it a Public Value?” – Presented by Wendy Rose of the Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS)
Wendy’s presentation focused on the IBHS’s commitment to making communities safer from all hazards by educating consumers, builders, manufacturers and government officials. Every natural disaster, severe storm or lightning strike is considered an opportunity to promote property protection. The IBHS works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices. Wendy urged the LPI and ULPA to consider membership with the IBHS and encouraged our industry participation at IBHS-sponsored meetings and at the group’s annual conference in November. For more information on the IBHS and its member companies, visit www.ibhs.org

“Lightning Kills—Play it Safe” NOAA’s Efforts to Educate the Public on the Dangers of Lightning – Presented by John Jensenius, Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Gray, Maine.
John serves as a NOAA spokesperson on lightning safety and was awarded the National Weather Association’s 2005 Public Education Award. Most recently in 2006, he was awarded the Department of Commerce Silver Medal--the Department’s second highest honor.
John’s entertaining and educational presentation provided an overview of lightning statistics which prove that over a 30-year period (ending in 2004), lightning remains the second greatest storm-related killer in the U.S., second only to flooding. Since 2001, John has worked with NOAA’s “Lightning Safety Awareness Team” to provide lightning safety information to the media and the public to highlight the dangers of lightning. NOAA has declared the last full week in June as “Lightning Safety Awareness Week” and has worked with various organizations and agencies to help deliver safety messages. John’s presentation highlighted some of the specific resources that NOAA, the NWS and the NOAA Lightning Safety Awareness Team have made available to the public and media.

“IEEE Update” – Presented by William Bush, Director of Research, Power & Grounding at Panduit Labs, in New Lenox, IL
This presentation provided an overview of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. The IEEE is a non-profit organization which is considered the world’s leading professional association for the advancement of technology. There are several different IEEE standards that contain useful information on lightning protection, which is over and above that which is available in the recognized industry safety standards. Other issues discussed included: IEEE and surge protection, grounding and bonding, grounding myths, bonding classifications, and ground resistance vs. ground impedance. For more information on the IEEE and its resources, visit their website at www.ieee.org.

“IEC TC 81 Update” – Presented by Mitchell Guthrie, Senior Electrical Engineer and Independent Consulting Engineer
Mitch’s presentation provided an update on the status of the IEC TC 81 Lightning Protection Committee effort. Of particular interest was the IEC 62305, parts 1-4, which were published in January of 2006. Items highlighted included: the positioning of strike termination devices on tall structures, the dimensions of vertical and horizontal grounding electrodes, requirements for facilities with risk of explosion, personal safety issues and design and installation guidelines. These were noted to be of particular relevance to the U.S. standards. Also reviewed, were issues under consideration, including: the Task Forces which address the issues, reports on proposed actions and the schedule for resolution of such issues. Mitch also shared background information about the effort underway to take into account the sharing of lightning current among the structural components and LPS conductors, as this effort could have an effect on future bonding requirements and risk assessment calculations.

“Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Program Overview/Update” – Presented by Karl Keip, UL Lightning Protection Service Business Manager
Karl’s presentation provided an overview of changes we can expect to see in UL’ s lightning protection program, including: new web design and application form; new certificate design; elimination of the “Letter of Findings”; notification of expiring applications; cancellation of old projects; new pricing structure coming in July of 2007; and a new UL 1449-Surge Protection standard which is in the works. UL’s Phil Simonson, gave an run-through of the website design changes that are underway. Revisions to the website include: improved content and clarity, new search engine capabilities, separation of Public/Private news, new log-in requirements for pricing information, and a redesigned application summary page. UL ended its presentation with this question for our industry—“Should UL begin to require ground wells to facilitate inspections of grounding electrode systems and connections?” Karl and Phil ask that you forward your comments to UL Lightning Protection Email service at: Lightningprotection@us.ul.com.

“NFPA 780-2007 Edition Update” – Presented by John Tobias, Principal Staff Engineer for the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command Safety Directorate & Current Chair of the NFPA Technical Committee
John’s presentation reviewed updates that are under consideration for the next edition of the NFPA standard. Changes to this edition will be voted on by the NFPA General Membership this coming June. Revisions to NFPA 780 that we are likely to see include: revisions affecting installation requirements (i.e. bonding, grounding, air terminal placement for tall structures, etc.); new information to address emerging industries such as wind turbines (new annex section); addressing new findings in lightning-related research; changes in the surge protection category to coordinate with the upcoming UL 1449 edition, and more clarifications for certain applications (i.e. stacks, watercraft, public safety). John urged industry members to participate in the Standard’s
revision process by writing a proposal. Information on the NFPA ROP text
can be accessed at www.nfpa.org.

“A&E Presentations Panel” – Presented by Mark Morgan of East Coast Lightning Equipment, Jim Barnard of Northeast Lightning Protection and George Portfleet of Michigan Lightning Protection.
Mark moderated this panel discussion which provided an overview of the LSA registered “Lightning Protection 101” AIA Continuing Education Service (CES) course for architects and construction planners. Mark provided a program summary of the course and updated our group on where the LSA hopes to take the program in the future. Jim treated the audience to a “Top 10 List” of why LSA members should want to present the course to their local architects, and George stressed benefits such as, networking, name-recognition and competitive advantages that lightning protection firms can reap when they provide the course to professionals in their localities. The panel presentation prompted impressive discussion and input from our conference attendees.

News and Notes:

Newsletter Duty Calls – Don’t Dodge the Draft!
The following Board members who have volunteered to produce ULPA MoreStatic Newsletters for the 2007 Season:
• June Newsletter: Chad Reeves
• August Newsletter : Kim Dillon
• October Newsletter: Simon Larter
• December Newsletter: Kris Phillips
• January/pre-conference Newsletter: Guy Maxwell

Please remember to forward your newsletter materials to the ULPA office by the 15th of your assigned month. Contact Kim Loehr, at LLpco@aol.com if you have questions.
Thanks for your cooperation!

A special thank you goes out to the following companies who generously helped sponsor our delightful social events throughout the conference:
Thursday Night Sponsors of our Boat Trip:
Bonded Lightning Protection of Texas
Bonded Lightning Protection of Florida
Hicks Lightning Protection
Taylor Lightning Protection
Guardian Equipment Co.
Maxwell Lightning Protection of Florida
Union Lightning Protection Installers

Friday Night Sponsors of our Cocktail Reception:
East Coast Lightning Equipment
ERICO
Harger Lightning Protection
Heary Brothers Lightning Protection
Independent Protection Company
Preferred Lightning Protection
Robbins Lightning Protection
Thompson Lightning Protection