For more information, please contact:
Prof. Dr. Arun P. Kulshreshtha,
Director,
Centre for Science & Technology of Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre),
Core 6A, 2nd Floor,
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi - 110003, INDIA
Ph.:(+91)(11) 24645134/24644974 (O)
Fax: (+91)(11) 24644973
Cell: (+91) 9810442742
E-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]
http://www.namstct.org
Lightning is a natural hazard causing serious economical losses and personal injuries and deaths in many parts of the world. Especially in South and East Asia, Africa and South America, the problem is quite acute due to the high occurrence density of lighting, the large population and the rapid and unplanned industrialization. The lack of information in the NAM and other developing countries regarding the lightning related characteristics is one barrier that hinders the development of protection systems. The other barrier is the poor knowledge among the engineering community on lightning and lightning protection and the lack of awareness among the general public in lightning safety.
In order to address some of the pertinent issues related to lighting, such as its detection and warning systems, safety and education, protection of structures, power systems, communication and data lines, and the latest status of development in surge protective devices and resolve these concerns through North-South and South-South collaborations, the Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) organised an International Roundtable on Lightning Physics during 22-25 May 2007 at Hotel Global Towers, Colombo, Sri Lanka jointly with the National Science and Technology Commission (NASTEC) of Sri Lanka.
The participants later adopted the Colombo Declaration on Lightning Protection and Safety which called for Promotion of Safety Awareness among the Public, Enhancing Technical Knowledge and Skills among Professionals dealing with Lightning Protection, Protection of Buildings and Structures, Minimising the damage to equipment and systems, Protection of Power Systems and Communication Networks, Protection of High Risk Installations as inflammable chemicals storage, Development of National Standards on Lighting Protection and Safety, Testing and Research Facilities and Data Collection, Local Manufacture of Protective Devices, Protection of National Heritage Sites
They also recommended the establishment of an International Institute for Lightning Protection and Safety in Sri Lanka to address issues with respect to lightning safety and protection, especially to create awareness among the public about the lightning hazards and mitigation measures, and to promote collaboration between the lightning institutions in the world.
Please read on for the full text of the Colombo Declaration on Lightning Protection and Safety and a report of the workshop.
COLOMBO DECLARATION ON LIGHTNING PROTECTION AND SAFETY
We, the participants of the International Roundtable on Lightning Protection held from 22nd to 25th May 2007 at Colombo, Sri Lanka, jointly organized by the National Science & Technology Commission of Sri Lanka (NASTEC) and the Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre),
Realizing the gravity of the hazards of lightning that lead to deaths, injuries and economic losses and the need for scientific and technological advancement, proper engineering and technical practices, dissemination of knowledge and public awareness with respect to lightning protection,
Recommend the following to be adopted by the authorities in all concerned countries and practiced with immediate effect.
Recommendations
A. Promotion of Safety Awareness among the Public
• Deaths and injuries due to lightning shall be minimized and public safety shall be
improved by:
I. Organizing educational and awareness programs for different target groups by the
government and non-government organizations.
II. Including basic concepts of lightning and lightning protection/safety in the school
curriculum.
III. Publishing information on lightning, its hazards and precautions.
IV. Displaying proper lightning safety instructions at vulnerable locations such as
playgrounds, beaches, etc.
B. Enhancing Technical Knowledge and Skills among Professionals dealing with
Lightning Protection
• Theoretical, technical and practical knowledge as well as skills necessary for
implementing lightning protection measures of professionals shall be improved by:
I. Organizing technical workshops, seminars, training programs.
II. Arranging national/international training events with the support of the government
and non-governmental organizations.
III. Facilitating professionals to get access to the up-to-date scientific and technical
information through electronic media and other means.
C. Protection of Buildings and Structures for the Safety of Occupants and Property
Buildings shall be protected against lightning through:
I. Education and encouragement to the public by adopting scientifically validated
lightning protection measures.
II. Development of national standards or adoption of international standards for lightning protection.
III. Constitution of an authorized body to make recommendations on protection systems and taking necessary steps for minimizing lightning damages.
D. Mitigation of Adverse Effects on Equipment and Systems
Damage to electrical, electronic & communication equipment, computer networks and other related systems shall be minimized by:
I. Establishing awareness programs for administrative and technical personnel in all sectors of the economy about appropriate lightning surge protection solutions.
II. Sensitizing manufacturers, importers, designers and installers of protection
systems on the need to use the most appropriate lightning surge protection
equipment.
III. Developing country standards or adopting international standards for lightning surge protection solutions for different sectors (viz. power, communication, computer and data networks, PABX systems, electronic process control systems etc.).
IV. Monitoring and certifying the quality of protection devices manufactured in the country and/or imported, as well as certifying the installation of these devices by the authorized body.
E. Protection of Towers and Safety Concerns in Adjacent Areas
Protection of tower related equipment and safety of the adjacent areas shall be ensured by:
I. Training the professionals to identify protective measures for towers and related equipment to ensure appropriate protection measures.
II. Investigating and taking safety measures for possible increase of lightning hazards in areas adjacent to the tall structures.
III. Making it mandatory to have effective earthing systems for towers.
IV. Making it mandatory for the tower owners to take appropriate measures to protect the adjacent areas.
F. Protection of Power Systems and Communication Networks
Damage to power systems shall be minimized by:
I. Investigating the conditions of the existing lightning protection scheme in the power systems.
II. Including appropriate earthing practices and accepted standards in the curricula of engineering institutions.
III. Mandating engineers to maintain regular inspection records.
Damage to communication networks shall be minimized by:
I. Ensuring compliance with ITU Standards.
II. Encouraging research in the quality of high frequency earthing systems and communication equipment protection technologies in order to make recommendations to the concerned institutions/service providers to rectify shortcomings.
G. Protection of High Risk Installations
Damage to storage of hazardous materials such as inflammable chemicals, explosives, petroleum and ammunition dumps and other high risk installations shall be minimized by:
I. Organizing awareness programs about lightning threats to storage facilities and institutions that transport or use hazardous materials.
II. Making highest level of structural protection mandatory in such cases.
III. Inspecting the lightning protection systems in such cases on regular basis.
IV. Incorporating lightning protection of high-risk installations in national standards.
H. Development of National Standards on Lighting Protection and Safety
Adherence to proper lightning safety and protection practices in the country shall be promoted by:
I. Developing, improving and upgrading national standards/codes for lightning
protection systems for buildings/equipment and their installations.
II. Conducting awareness programs to popularize the standards/codes among the professionals and public.
III. Making standards mandatory to concerned parties.
I. Testing and Research Facilities and Data Collection
Services provided to manufacturers and importers of lightning protection equipment to test their products against national standards shall be enhanced by:
I. Establishing new laboratories and supporting research institutes to upgrade the existing ones.
II. Providing training in modern techniques and methodologies to test facility providers.
III. Providing required facilities to researchers on lightning and lightning protection to commence / continue research on lightning.
IV. Networking the country with a lightning detection system so as to enable lightning forecast and data collection.
V. Establishing research groups and institutions to develop databases on lightning accidents and other lightning related occurrences.
J. Local Manufacture of Protective Devices
Local entrepreneurs, inventors and researchers shall be encouraged to produce lightning protection equipment and technologies suitable to local conditions and national standards through:
I. Financial grants, working facilities, market information, foreign training, etc.
II. Collaborative programs and forums for exchange of information and sharing their views and work experience.
K. Protection of National Heritage Sites
Lightning damage free environment shall be ensured for national heritage sites by:
I. Investigating the present status of archeologically important sites.
II. Designing and implementing effective and durable protection systems.
III. Regular inspection of the protection systems.
WE FURTHER RECOMMEND the establishment of an International Institute for Lightning Protection and Safety in Sri Lanka in a phased manner, subject to the availability of donor funds, to address various issues with respect to lightning safety and protection, especially to create awareness among the public about the lightning hazards and mitigation measures, and to promote collaboration between the lightning institutions in the world.
Signed this day, 24th of May 2007 at Colombo, Sri Lanka
(Please download the attachment for the signatories)
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INTERNATIONAL ROUNDTABLE ON LIGHTNING PROTECTION
22-25 MAY 2007, COLOMBO, SRI LANKA,
A BRIEF REPORT
Lightning has always greatly fascinated, awed and frightened the humankind with its spectacular intense tree-like flashes. It was present on our planet Earth long before the evolution of life and probably played a significant role in the production of organic molecules necessary for the formation of the life form. Though lightning and thunderstorms are vital to our life as they make nitrogen and also oxygen and free radicals available to the plants and other terrestrial organisms, these are capable of causing wild land fires, human and animal death due to electrocution/fire and if in close proximity, temporary deafness and rupturing of the ear's tympanic membrane due to loud cracking sound produced by the strike. The action of lightning’s electrical and magnetic fields and the lightning current on industrial premises, power transmission lines, underground communications, aircraft and their electrical circuits and induction of dangerous over voltage are well known. Lightning is known to have caused extensive exterior and interior damage to structures. Early detection of lightning is important for commercial flights, but is vital for the success of space flights. Lightning is a natural hazard causing serious economical losses and personal injuries and deaths in many parts of the world. Especially in South and East Asia, Africa and South America, the problem is quite acute due to the high occurrence density of lighting, the large population and the rapid and unplanned industrialization. The lack of information in the NAM and other developing countries regarding the lightning related characteristics is one barrier that hinders the development of protection systems. The other barrier is the poor knowledge among the engineering community on lightning and lightning protection and the lack of awareness among the general public in lightning safety.
In order to address some of the pertinent issues related to lighting, such as its detection and warning systems, safety and education, protection of structures, power systems, communication and data lines, and the latest status of development in surge protective devices and resolve these concerns through North-South and South-South collaborations, the Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) organised an International Roundtable on Lightning Physics during 22-25 May 2007 at Hotel Global Towers, Colombo, Sri Lanka jointly with the National Science and Technology Commission (NASTEC) of Sri Lanka.
H.E. Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Minister of Science and Technology of Sri Lanka inaugurated the Roundtable after lighting of the oil lamp and National Anthem; welcome remarks by Prof. Nalini Ratnasiri, Chairperson, NASTEC; introduction to Roundtable by Dr. Chandima Gomes, Chairman, Expert Study Group of NASTEC on Lightning Protection; and address by Prof. Arun P. Kulshreshtha, Director, NAM S&T Centre. Dr. Muditha Liyanagendara, Scientific Program Manager of NASTEC presented the Vote of Thanks. Dr. A.N.R. Amarathunga, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology of Sri Lanka was also present at the podium.
The Roundtable was conducted in seven technical sessions to discuss, namely, Lightning and Atmosphere; Detection and Safety; Structural Protection; Protection Standards, Risk Analysis and Other Issues; Overall Protection Measures & Lightning Environment; Protection of LV & Communication Systems; and Protection of HV Systems and Other Concerns. A field trip and excursion to Kurunegala was arranged on the concluding day of the Roundtable to acquaint the participants with real life lightning situation.
The overall technical programme of the Roundtable was coordinated by Dr. Chandima Gomes, Chairman, Expert Study Group on Lightning Protection Measures of NASTEC and Professor in the Department of Physics, University of Colombo, and was attended by 52 scientists from 12 countries. The overseas participants were from Bangladesh [Dr. Munir Ahmed, Executive Director, Technological Assistance for Rural Advancement - TARA); Botswana [Mr. Oarabile Nnabu, Electronics Engineer, Botswana Technology Centre]; India [Dr. Ing. Ravindra Arora, Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur; Mr. Manish Ranalkar, Meteorologist, India Meteorological Department, Pune; and Dr. C. Lakshmi Narasimhan, Earthquake Engineer, Vellore Institute of Technology University]; Indonesia [Mr. Hary Soebagyo, Head of Div. of Roadmapping of S&T Program, State Ministry of Science and Technology (RISTEK)]; Malaysia [Mr. Wan Mohd Nazri Wan Daud, Principal Assistant Director, KLIA Meteorological Office, Selangur Darul Ehsan and Mr. Hartino Zainal Abidin, President / R&D Consultant, Lightning Research SDN BHD, Kuala Lumpur]; Mauritius [Mr. Prabhakar Sembhoo, Transmission and Distribution Manager, Central Electricity Board, Curepipe]; Myanmar [Dr. Salai Tluang Za Thang, Lecturer, Power Engineering Department, Mandalay Technological University]; Pakistan [Mr. Mozzam Ali Toor, Chief Executive Officer, Capital Consultants]; Saudi Arabia [Prof. Mohamed Hamid Shwehdi, Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering Sciences, Dhahran]; Serbia [Dr. Mladjen Curic, Professor, Institute of Meteorology, University of Belgrade]; and South Africa [Mr. Ngcobo Abednego Maliwa, Senior Technician, Telekom College], who made their presentation during the event.
The participants from Sri Lanka, who made scientific presentation during the workshop, were Dr. Chandima Gomes (on ‘Fundamental Concepts of Lightning’, ‘Concepts of Building Protection’ and ‘Lightning Surge Protection in Power Systems’), Dr. Chandana Jayaratne (on ‘Atmospheric Conditions Favouring Thunderstorms’), Dr. Mahendra Fernando (on ‘Methods of Lightning Detection & Warning Systems’), Mrs. J. Dewasurendra (on ‘Development Concerns of Sri Lanka Standards’), Mr. Kamal Illeperuma (on ’Effects of Lightning on Power Systems in Sri Lanka’) and Dr. Mahesh Edirisinghe (on ‘Special Concerns of Protecting LV and Communication Equipment’).
Among the overseas speakers Mr. Hartono Zainal Abidin delivered talks on ‘Effective Air-terminal Positioning’, ‘Non-conventional Air Terminals’, ‘Protection of Oil Refineries’ and ‘Improvised Lightning for Indigenous Homes and Makeshift Huts’; Prof. M. H. Shwehdi on ‘Establishment of Saudi Arabia Isokeraunic Levels’ and ‘Protection of HV Systems’; Prof. Mladjen Curic on ‘Lightning Suppression by the Anti-hail Rockets Fired into Thundercloud’; Prof. Ravindra Arora on ‘A New Approach to the Mechanism of Lightning Strike’; Mr. Manish Ranalkaron ‘Study of Lightning Activity over Indian Subcontinent’; Dr. C Lakshmi Narasimhan on ‘Culture of Safety against Lightning – Indian Perspective’; Dr. Munir Ahmed on ‘Lightning Safety Awareness Programme Especially in South Asia to Minimize Loss of Human Lives and Properties’; Mr. M. N. Wan Daud on ‘Lightning Detection System in Malaysia’; Mr. Oarabile Nnabu on ‘Lightning Situation in Botswana’; Mr. Ngeobo Abednego Maliwaon ‘An ICT Perspective on Lightning and Earthing in South Africa’; Mr. Hary Soebagyo on ‘Lightning Risk Handling Policy in Indonesia’; Mr. Mozzam Ali Toor on ‘Lightning Environment and Lightning Protection in Pakistan’; and Dr. S. T. Za Thang on ‘Lightning Protection Status in Myanmar’.
During the Concluding Session an invited lecture was delivered by Mr. Shailendra Kumar, Senior Regional Sales Manager, Thomas & Betts, Dubai, UAE on the subject ‘BSEN 62305:2006 Protection against Lightning: An Overview’.
The Panel Discussion in the Concluding Session was chaired by Dr. Dr. C. Gomes, Prof. R. Arora and Prof. M. Curic, which was followed by a discussion on the ‘Colombo Declaration on Lightning Protection and Safety’ that was presented by Prof. Arun P. Kulshreshtha and later adopted by the participants. A copy of the Colombo Declaration is appended to this Report. The Roundtable ended with the distribution of participation certificates to the participants.
The participants thanked the organizers of the Roundtable, particularly Prof. Nalini Ratnasiri, Chairperson and Dr. R. D. Guneratne, Director, NASTEC; Dr. Chandima Gomes; Dr. Miditha Liayanagendra and all other associated with the organisation of the Roundtable and unanimously hoped that more similar events will be held in future with a focus on South-South cooperation.
