Creation of equipotential surfaces

Industrial and functional buildings have a steel skeleton or frame construction. In practice, alongside reinforced concrete ceilings, metal roofs are also used as roof covering.

Can reinforced concrete ceilings or metal roofing be used as a reference plane for creating an equipotential surface?
Yes, this is possible in combination with steel girders or reinforced concrete supports.

The following points should be considered:

For reinforced concrete ceilings

Here an additional mesh, size 5.0 x 5.0 m, must be installed. In case of multi-storey buildings, the equipotential surfaces must be connected to each support.

For metal roofs

In practice, metal roofing is often used. These metal roofs can also be used to create equipotential surfaces. The prerequisite is that the interconnections between the metal roofing parts must be capable of carrying lightning current. Here, too: in the case of multi-storey buildings, the equipotential surfaces must be connected to each support.

Your benefits

Rational use of resources – building substance as lightning protection system
Minimising the separation distances
Protection concept realisable for high objects, too

Avoid potential differences and uncontrolled sparking. With a high-quality lightning protection system which combines the HVI air-termination system and the equipotential surface.