26 41 00 - FACILITY LIGHTNING PROTECTION 20260421.pdf

Upgrade Electrical Infrastructure Hershel Williams VA Medical Center

Huntington, WV 2570

11-01-22

Contract No. 36C24522C0141 VA Project No. 581-22-102 04/21/2026

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SECTION 26 41 00

FACILITY LIGHTNING PROTECTION

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 DESCRIPTION

A. This section specifies the furnishing and installation of a complete UL master labeled lightning protection system.

1.2 RELATED WORK

A. Section 07 60 00, FLASHING AND SHEET METAL: Penetrations through the roof.

B. Section 26 05 11, REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS:

Requirements that apply to all sections of Division 26.

C. Section 26 05 26, GROUNDING AND BONDING FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS:

Requirements for personnel safety and to provide a low impedance path to ground for possible ground faults.

D. Section 26 43 13, SURGE PROTECTIVE DEVICES: Surge protective device installed at the electrical service entrance.

1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Quality Assurance shall be in accordance with Paragraph, QUALIFICATIONS

(PRODUCTS AND SERVICES) in Section 26 05 11, REQUIREMENTS FOR

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS.

1.4 SUBMITTALS

A. Submit in accordance with Paragraph, SUBMITTALS in Section 26 05 11, REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS, and the following requirements:

1. Shop Drawings:

a. Submit sufficient information to demonstrate compliance with drawings and specifications.

b. Show locations of air terminals, connections to required metal surfaces, down conductors, and grounding means.

c. Show the mounting hardware and materials used to attach air terminals and conductors to the structure.

2. Certifications: Two weeks prior to final inspection, submit the following.

a. Certification by the manufacturer that the lightning protection system conforms to the requirements of the drawings and specifications.

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b. Certification by the Contractor that the lightning protection system has been properly installed and inspected.

c. Certification that the lightning protection system has been inspected by a UL representative and has been approved by UL without variation.

1.5 APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS

A. Publications listed below (including amendments, addenda, revisions, supplements, and errata) form a part of this specification to the extent referenced. Publications are referenced in the text by designation only.

B. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

70-23...................National Electrical Code (NEC)

780-23..................Standard for the Installation of Lightning

Protection Systems

C. Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL):

96-16...................Lightning Protection Components

96A-16..................Installation Requirements for Lightning

Protection Systems

467-22..................Standard for Grounding and Bonding Equipment

PART 2 – PRODUCTS

2.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

A. Lightning protection components shall conform to NFPA 780 and UL 96, for use on Class I and Class II structures. Copper materials are required.

1. Class I and Class II conductors: Copper.

2. Class I air terminals: Solid copper, 460 mm (18 inches) long, not less than 9.5 mm (3/8 inch) diameter, with sharp bare copper points.

3. Class II air terminals: Solid copper, 460 mm (18 inches) long, not less than 12.7 mm (1/2 inch) diameter, with sharp bare copper points.

4. Ground rods: Copper-clad steel, 0.75 in (19 mm) diameter by 3 m (10 feet) long.

5. Ground plates: Solid copper, not less than 20 gauge.

6. Bonding plates: Bronze, 50 square cm (8 square inches).

7. Through roof connectors: Solid copper riser bar, length and type as required to accommodate roof structure and flashing requirements.

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8. Down conductor guards: Stiff copper or brass.

9. Anchors and fasteners: Bronze bolt and clamp type shall be used for all applications except for membrane roof. Adhesive type are allowed only for attachment to membrane roof materials, using adhesive that is compatible with the membrane material.

10. Connectors: Bronze clamp-type connectors shall be used for roof conductor splices, and the connection of the roof conductor to air terminals and bonding plates. Crimp-type connectors are not allowed.

11. Exothermic welds: Exothermic welds shall be used for splicing the roof conductor to the down conductors, splices of the down conductors, and for connection of the down conductors to ground rods, ground plates, and the ground ring.

12. Dissimilar metals: Where dissimilar metals cannot be avoided, connections shall be made using UL-approved bi-metallic fittings specifically listed for lightning protection applications.

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.1 INSTALLATION

A. Installation shall be in accordance with the NEC, as shown on the drawings, and manufacturer’s instructions.

B. Coordinate installation with the roofing manufacturer and roofing installer.

C. Install the conductors as inconspicuously as practical.

D. Install the down conductors within the concealed cavity of exterior walls where practical. Run the down conductors to the exterior at elevations below the finished grade.

E. Where down conductors are subject to damage or are accessible near grade, protect with down conductor guards to 2.4 m (8 feet) above grade. Bond down conductors guards to down conductor at both ends.

F. Make connections of dissimilar metal with bimetallic type fittings to prevent electrolytic action.

G. Install ground rods and ground plates not less than 600 mm (2 feet) deep and a distance not less than 900 mm (3 feet) nor more than 2.5 m

(8 feet) from the nearest point of the structure. Exothermically weld the down conductors to ground rods and ground plates in the presence of the COR.

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H. Bond down conductors to metal main water piping where applicable.

I. Bond down conductors to building structural steel.

J. Connect roof conductors to all metallic projections and equipment above the roof as indicated on the drawings. Where contacts between copper materials and aluminum roofing/siding/other surfaces cannot be avoided, contractor shall inform VA of the situation. Contractor shall provide a solution such as providing BI-METALLIC CONTACTS.

K. Connect exterior metal surfaces, located within 900 mm (3 feet) of the conductors, to the conductors to prevent flashovers.

L. Maintain horizontal or downward coursing of main conductor and insure that all bends have at least an 200 mm (8 inches) radius and do not exceed 90 degrees.

M. Conductors shall be rigidly fastened every 900 mm (3 feet) along the roof and down to the building to ground.

N. Air terminals shall be secured against overturning either by attachment to the object to be protected or by means of a substantial tripod or other braces permanently and rigidly attached to the building or structure.

O. Install air terminal bases, cable holders and other roof-system supporting means without piercing membrane or metal roofs.

P. Use through-roof connectors for penetration of the roof system.

Flashing shall be provided by roofing contractor in accordance with

Section 07 60 00, FLASHING AND SHEET METAL.

Q. Down conductors coursed on or in reinforced concrete columns or on structural steel columns shall be connected to the reinforcing steel or the structural steel member at its upper and lower extremities. In the case of long vertical members an additional connection shall be made at intervals not exceeding 30 M (100 feet).

R. A counterpoise or ground ring, where shown, shall be of No. 1/0 copper cable having suitable resistance to corrosion and shall be laid around the perimeter of the structure in a trench not less than 600 mm (2 feet) deep at a distance not less than 900 mm (3 feet) nor more than

2.5 M (8 feet) from the nearest point of the structure.

S. On construction utilizing post tensioning systems to secure precast concrete sections, the post tension rods shall not be used as a path for lightning to ground.

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T. Where shown, use the structural steel framework or reinforcing steel as the down conductor.

1. Weld or bond the non-electrically-continuous sections together and make them electrically continuous.

2. Verify the electrical continuity by measuring the ground resistances to earth at the ground level, at the top of the building or stack, and at intermediate points with a sensitive ohmmeter. Compare the resistance readings.

3. Connect the air terminals together with an exterior conductor connected to the structural steel framework at not more than 18 M

(60 feet) intervals.

4. Install ground connections to earth at not more than 18 M (60 feet) intervals around the perimeter of the building.

5. Weld or braze bonding plates to cleaned sections of the steel and connect the conductors to the plates.

6. Do not pierce the structural steel in any manner. Connections to the structural steel shall conform to UL 96A.

U. For obstruction lights, the following additional requirements shall apply:

1. Extend air terminals 300 mm (1 foot) above the top of the light fixtures and securely clamp to the light fixture supports.

2. Install 600 volt class lightning arresters. Connect the arresters to the lightning circuit conductors at suitable locations, and ground and bond them to the lightning protection system.

V. Where the drawings show the new lightning protection system connected to an existing lightning protection system with or without a UL master label, the new portion of the lightning protection system requires UL inspection and a Letter of Findings.

3.2 ACCEPTANCE CHECKS AND TESTS

A. Test the ground resistance to earth by standard methods, and conform to the ground resistance requirements specified in Section 26 05 26, GROUNDING AND BONDING FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

B. A UL representative shall inspect the lightning protection system.

Obtain and install a UL numbered master label for each of the lightning protection systems at the location directed by the UL representative and the COR.

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