A ESE lightning protection quote becomes truly comparable when its scope describes the entire installation, not just the head mounted on the roof. For an industrial building, a school, or a logistics site, the requirements also include supports, conductors, grounding, and inspections. Therefore, two seemingly similar quotes can cover very different services.
In France as well as internationally, it is also necessary to specify the applicable standard and the constraints of the site: height, environment, networks and access influence the preparation of the file.
This method helps you convey essential information, differentiate between tasks, and choose an appropriate verification method. Most importantly, it allows you to prepare for post-installation from the initial consultation: who will have access to the equipment, how will the checks be performed, and where will the results be stored? A good quote clearly outlines both the services planned and the interfaces between the various rodholders.
What information should I gather before requesting a ESE quote?
Before contacting a supplier, gather the plans, heights, building use, its surroundings, and any existing technical documents. Also specify roof access and operational constraints. This will allow your contact to identify any missing information and prepare a proposal tailored to the site, rather than an approximate area.
Describe the project before choosing a reference
An early streamer emission (ESE) lightning rod is a lightning capture device whose operation uses an early streamer emission (ESE) mechanism to facilitate the interception of lightning. The relevant standard for ESEs is NF C 17-102:2011, taking into account its applicability to the project and the country concerned.
Furthermore, the IEC 62305 series (2024 edition) organizes the approach by risk analysis and levels of protection. The choice of measures depends on the risk analysis according to IEC 62305-2; the quote must therefore be based on the appropriate technical elements, not replace their determination.
- Provide a general plan and the dimensions of the buildings concerned.
- Indicate the heights and equipment present on the roof.
- Describe the use of the premises and sensitive activities.
- Gather existing studies, land plans and reports.
- Specify access, authorizations and intervention constraints.
For example, a roof extension can alter the outline to be examined and access to the existing device. Therefore, it is preferable to submit a dated plan rather than an old photograph of the lightning rod alone.
Which positions should be distinguished in the technical proposal?
The proposal must clearly distinguish between the ESE head, the mast, the fixings, the down conductors, the grounding, and the verifications. It must also specify who supplies, installs, and inspects each component. This separation makes the bids comparable and helps identify any services that need to be completed before the work begins.
From the ground capture point
A down conductor is a conductor element that connects the lightning arrester to the earthing system in alightning protection installation. The earthing system is the set of conductor elements in contact with the ground that provides the electrical connection to earth.
Furthermore, the mechanical support deserves a precise description: material, configuration, fixings, and roof constraints. The mast height here refers to the height above the roof, not the total height from the ground.
- Capture: reference and characteristics of the ESE head.
- Support: mast, fixings and interfaces with the building.
- Route: drivers, attachments and access for controls.
- Downfall accessories: control seal, protective sleeve at the base, nameplate and, depending on the configuration, lightning strike counter.
- Earth: existing elements, possible additions and connections.
- Reception: checks, documents handed over and responsibilities.
Finally, the conditions of implementation must be explicit. Access via a platform, the availability of a work area, or intervention during a work stoppage can modify the organization without changing the head office reference.
A good consultation also indicates who provides the updated plans. This way, the future maintenance manager has a description of the installation as it was actually carried out.
How to choose between wire verification, soil testing and monitoring?
The choice depends on the equipment selected, its compatibility, and site access conditions. Wired verification requires a connection to the equipment; ground-based testing and connected monitoring use different configurations. Therefore, the expected operations, their methods, and the results to be retained must be described separately.
Three uses not to be confused
A test is an operation performed at a specific time to obtain information about a piece of equipment using a defined method. Remote monitoring is the remote tracking of information transmitted by compatible equipment and a suitable communication network.
For ELLIPS, wired testing with Test@ir requires connecting the test device and accessing the equipment. This constraint must therefore be integrated into the access conditions and the verification program.
In contrast, Paraton@ir 60, equipped with Contact@ir, the Dongl@ir USB receiver, and the LPS France app on a compatible Android device, allows for testing from the ground, without access to the lightning rod or an internet connection. USB here refers to the interface connecting the receiver to the compatible device.
For remote monitoring, Contact@ir transmits via radio to Rout@ir, which must be connected to the internet for remote monitoring in LPS Manager ; Contact@ir MD transmits directly via mobile network, without Rout@ir. Therefore, the choice must correspond to the site's communication conditions.
- Describe the desired operation: one-off test or connected monitoring.
- Confirm the compatibility of the equipment.
- Identify access, food and communication needs.
- Specify who performs the operation and uses the result.
- Plan for physical inspection of the entire installation.
Furthermore, available communication alone does not describe the condition of all fasteners or conductors. The quote should therefore present digital monitoring as a complement to appropriate checks, not as a replacement.
How to prepare for maintenance from the equipment selection stage?
Preparing for maintenance involves making equipment identifiable, accessible, and documented upon delivery. This requires linking references, plans, inspection results, and the names of responsible personnel. This way, the owner has a usable file for subsequent checks and can retrieve the necessary information when a fault or modification occurs on-site.
A file that can be used over time
The Paraton@ir 10 illustrates the importance of considering communication from the initial equipment selection stage. However, the choice of a specific model must remain linked to the project's dimensions and conditions, without applying a single protection radius to all buildings. All ESE lightning rods from LPS France are featured in our catalog.
For connected configurations, the kit Contact@ir with Rout@ir is one of the solutions to discuss with the technical contact. The discussion should specify the complete chain and not be limited to the name of a single accessory.
Next, LPS Manager allows you to organize the installation's file, its checks, and its history. Managers can then link their observations to the equipment and prepare interventions using the available documents.
- Keep the references and instructions for the equipment delivered.
- Identify access points and authorized personnel.
- Gather the post-construction plans and acceptance results.
- Define the organization of reports and the processing of observations.
- Update the file when the building or installation changes.
For example, a maintenance team taking over a site needs to be able to distinguish between the existing equipment and the options only considered in the quote. This clarification avoids having to search for monitoring information that the installed configuration doesn't provide.
In summary, a useful ESE quote describes a system and its features, not just a capture head. It clearly outlines the dimensions, mechanical and electrical components, and then the testing and monitoring procedures. Maintenance begins with realistic access and a clear acceptance documentation. To prepare your consultation with LPS France, please submit your plans, access constraints, and the verification method you wish to have considered.
What questions should you ask before accepting an offer?
Before accepting a bid, ask what is included, what remains the site's responsibility, and how the inspections will be carried out. Also, clarify the technical assumptions and the documents to be provided. These answers will allow you to compare relevant scopes and prepare for the handover with the relevant rodholders.
Is the surface area sufficient for choosing a ESE head?
No. The geometry, heights, level of protection and project conditions must be examined as part of the sizing process.
Is ground-based testing the same as remote monitoring?
No. The first is a one-off operation; the second relies on feedback and a suitable communication configuration.
Is the height of the mast measured from the ground?
In the description of the lifting mast, the height above the roof must be indicated and distinguished from the total height of the building.
Sources and references
- Official LPS France fact sheets: Paraton@ir and Contact@ir kit with Rout@ir, linked above.
- Official presentation of LPS Manager, linked above.
- IEC 62305-2:2024: Risk analysis, official IEC presentation.
- ESE reference to be examined for the project: NF C 17-102:2011.
