Lightning Protection
BE PREPARED! LIGHTNING DOESN’T STRIKE TWICE
When a building review identified that the existing equipment no longer met the requirements of BS EN 62305 a major commercial landlord in Manchester city centre commissioned North West Lightning Protection (NWLP) to install a fully compliant lightning protection system to the multi-storey office block. The project presented several challenges typical of a dense urban environment, including restricted access around the façade, high pedestrian footfall, heavy traffic flow, and the need to carry out earthing works within the public highway. To complete the installation safely and efficiently, the project team combined the expertise of
specialist rope access technicians with highway-certified
operatives who could undertake excavation and reinstatement at pavement level while maintaining public safety and managing congestion around the site.
Before work began, NWLP engineers carried out a detailed site survey to assess the condition of the roof, the positioning of existing fixings, and the suitability of structural points for rope access anchoring. The building’s shape and elevation required careful planning to ensure that all areas could be reached without the need for scaffolding or large mobile elevated work platforms, which would have been impractical due to the narrow street layout and constant city-centre activity. This planning stage also included a thorough evaluation of weather patterns, as Manchester’s exposure to wind and rain meant that rope access work had to be scheduled around safe operating conditions. A comprehensive traffic and pedestrian management plan was produced and presented to Manchester City Council, securing the necessary permits for pavement works and establishing a
safe working perimeter that still allowed public movement around the site.
Once the planning phase was complete, the lightning protection engineers began the installation of the air termination network across the roof. Working at height in a live city environment required strict adherence to safety procedures, including the use of twin-rope systems, regular communication checks, and continuous monitoring of weather conditions. The technicians installed new air termination rods, conductor tapes, and bonding connections, all designed to optimise the building’s protection against direct lightning strikes. They then descended the façade to install down- conductors, using specialised, non-invasive fixings that preserved the building’s exterior while ensuring long-term durability and
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The successful delivery of this project demonstrated the effectiveness of combining rope access techniques with controlled highway operations. Despite the constraints of a busy city-centre environment, the work was completed on time, on budget, and without any safety incidents. Tenants experienced no disruption, the public realm remained accessible throughout the programme, and the building now benefits from a robust, modern lightning protection system designed to safeguard both the structure and its electrical infrastructure for many years to come. This project highlights how careful planning, specialist access methods, and strong collaboration with local authorities can allow complex safety-critical installations to be carried out efficiently in even the most challenging urban settings.
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electrical continuity. Their ability to move efficiently around the façade minimised disruption to tenants and allowed work to progress steadily without the visual impact or obstruction that scaffolding would have caused.
At street level, the earthing phase presented its own complexities. The building’s location on a busy pavement required meticulous coordination compliant
with highway excavation authorities zone. to Operatives
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New Roads and Street Works Act set up temporary barriers, signage, and protective fencing following requirements, ensuring that pedestrians were safely guided around the work area. The excavation team installed deep-driven earth rods and inspection pits at strategic locations, achieving the required earth resistance values for a modern lightning protection system. Once the conductors were routed from the façade to the newly installed earth points, the pavement was reinstated using materials and finishing methods approved by the local authority, leaving the area clean, level, and visually consistent with the surrounding streetscape.
Final commissioning involved a detailed series of tests carried out by the engineering team, including earth resistance measurements, continuity tests, and verification of bonding integrity. The system performed well within the limits defined by BS EN 62305, confirming that the building now possessed a safe and efficient path to dissipate lightning energy into the ground. A full certification report, complete with test results, installation schematics, and maintenance recommendations, was issued to the client.
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