What Is a Faraday Cage?

WHAT IS A FARADAY CAGE IN TERMS OF LIGHTNING PROTECTION?

The IEC 62305 International lightning protection standard is referred to as the TSE EN 62305 Standard in our country. Within this standard, external lightning protection systems are classified as the rolling sphere method, protection angle method, catenary wire method, and mesh method. There is no clear term as “Faraday cage” in the standard, but Faraday cage has become a settled technical term in lightning protection types in our country. In this respect, when answering the question what is a faraday cage, the answer can be given as the method where the mesh method and the protection angle creation method are used together. Within the scope of the standard, a system consisting of 4 different sections is used as lightning protection systems. Within this system, firstly external lightning protection systems, then internal lightning protection systems, and in the final stage, grounding and equipotential system integration are used. In the integration of the rolling sphere, protection angle, and mesh method, which is called the Faraday cage, external lightning protection down conductors must definitely be included in the equipotential bonding and the LV Surge Arrester system must be used systematically.

What is a Faraday Cage and How is it Used?

The Faraday Cage prevents the impulse from coming directly to the structure, and the impulse is discharged to the ground via protective conductors. We can define the answer to the question of what is a Faraday Cage as the most reliable lightning protection system accepted by the World. Lightning rod (ESE) systems are active systems and attract lightning as a result of ionization, whereas Faraday cage equipment are passive elements and do not attract lightning. To protect a facility from dangers such as lightning, after a risk analysis is performed in the building, a protection system is created by creating a design table according to this risk level. As a result of the risk analysis, the Faraday Cage design should be made according to IEC norms.

How to Install a Faraday Cage?

In the Faraday Cage application, many technical details such as s-separation distance, conductor clip distances, and conductor turning distances must be processed correctly. The installation of the Faraday system, designed by expert teams for the lightning impulse to reach the ground, is not as easy as the lightning rod system installation; it requires much more expertise. Lightning protection center application teams have received special training in this regard and have application references in hundreds of projects.

You can always get support from the Yilkomer expert team for Faraday cage design, project drawing, application, and reporting.