Lightning Protection and the New Australian Standard AS 1768

Lightning and overvoltage transients cause tens of billions of dollars of damage and related losses each year in different industries across the world. With the prevalence of sensitive electrical and electronic equipment in all modern structures and facilities, vulnerability to the damaging effects of lightning strikes is now higher than it has ever been in the past.

In this presentation, attendees will be taken through the key steps required to ensure their facility can withstand the deleterious effects of direct and indirect lightning flashes. Topics covered will include lightning risk assessment, a comprehensive four-step approach to protecting the site, the methods included in codes and standards and personnel safety issues.

However, the major emphasis of the presentation will be to outline the most significant changes that have been introduced into the new Australian lightning protection standard, AS 1768-2021. The changes that have been made in AS 1768 with regard to direct-strike protection, surge protection and earthing will be highlighted and discussed conceptually and practically.

Speakers

Dr  Franco D’Alessandro

Dr Franco D’Alessandro has spent more than 25 years working on all aspects of lightning protection and earthing, from research, products and applications, through to consultancy services, both within Australia and the USA. Franco has delivered many seminars and presentations on lightning protection and earthing within Australia and overseas and has published more than 110 technical papers. He is a senior member of IEEE and member of IEAust. He is also an active contributor to Standards and code-setting committees in Australia, Europe and the United States. Franco has been an active participating member of the AS 1768 committee for more than 24 years.