Lightning Protection EPC (LPEPC) develops and supplies lightning protection solutions for mining operations throughout South East Asia, Oceania, Australia and New Zealand.
Our products and services aim to mitigate potentially dangerous levels of lightning in the mining sector, which depends on the efficient transportation, handling and processing of hazardous and highly flammable / combustible materials, chemicals and process by-products.
Lightning protection solutions for mines
The use of specialised lightning protection equipment is the most effective way to reduce the risk of damage to infrastructure or fires and explosions caused by lightning.
LPEPC’s services include:
- Design and engineering of turnkey lightning protection solutions
- On-site surveys and on-site audits specific to lightning
- Procurement, management and installation of best-in-class equipment
LPEPC has more than 25 years of hazardous area industry experience, assisting numerous government and industry-specific standards/codes of practice committees. Managing director Cem Novella is the current chairman for the Centre for Static Electricity & Lightning Protection (CSELP).
On-site surveys and audits for accurate lightning protection design
LPEPC performs on-site surveys and audits to help clients better understand lightning risk and how to implement appropriate controls and solutions.
Assessment of lightning risk helps create a baseline to establish precise request for quotations (RfQs) and collect important data that becomes the foundation for design and engineered solutions.
For instance, mining sites that store highly flammable / combustible products must adhere to codes of practice and local standards related to lightning protection, earthing (grounding) and bonding.
LPEPC provides a wide range of surveys, audits and subsequent reports specific to the type of mining application, site or process. These are performed to ensure compliance with local standards and applicable codes of practice.
Lightning protection testing and simulation services
During our surveys or audits, it is sometimes necessary to test existing lightning protection systems or ways lightning may impact process or production.
LPEPC can test on-site or at our facility to enable clients to better understand their lightning-related issue. Our tests include soil resistance, soil sampling and geology, electrode, earth network, CR10 Earth. We also provide lightning strike data specific to GPS co-ordinates to assist our clients in understanding risk.
One of the fundamental rules for lightning in any process is making sure that lightning has a path to earth so that any control measure is able to dissipate directly by earthing (grounding) or bonding. Tests on functional earths and associated earth networks on a mine site specific to lightning are essential in the ongoing maintenance of any effective control measures.
For example, while it is difficult to measure lightning in the field it is accepted that a direct lightning strike of three million volts can produce an electrical current exceeding 10,000 Amperes. The resultant energy released as heat is enough to melt steel. When you consider the amount of materials, chemicals and process by-products that can ignite or explode, you can begin to appreciate why lightning in the mining sector presents a significantly high level of risk.
Customised design and engineering services
LPEPC’s in-house team designs and customises a lightning protection system.
We also manufacture bespoke parts to ensure that equipment is installed correctly, compliant with regulations and or standards, as well as manufacturer requirements.
For instance, some applications or processes in the mining sector occur in some of the most remote parts of the world. In parts of Australia, some mining sites can experience surface temperatures of 80⁰C and cyclonic winds of 200km/h. Custom components and fixtures can ensure the installed system can withstand adverse conditions.
Our fit-for-purpose, fully turnkey services also include:
- Feasibility and conceptual studies
- Front-end engineering design (FEED)
- Hazardous area assessment
- Basis of design and technical definition outlining functional performance requirements, design criteria against codes, standards and specifications
- Multi-discipline process, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and control systems
- Drafting
- Project risk analysis
- Detailed design (2D or 3D modelling)
Procurement / management and installation capabilities
LPEPC can work with clients under varying operational models. If required, we can procure lightning protection equipment that the client can install. Alternatively, we can design, procure, construct, install and commission a lightning protection system to offer a full turnkey solution.
In some countries, it is only feasible to use local contractors to install equipment. However, we can provide embedded management to oversee the local contractor or workforce to ensure compliance or design requirements are met.
We complete a wide range of construction documentation. These include material certificates and traceability, fabrication records, weld maps, qualification documents, inspection and test paperwork, in addition to as-built documentation.
Our additional capabilities include:
- Sub-contract preparation and market pricing analysis
- Technical and commercial tender review and selection
- Organisation of vendor and material procurement
- Contract management, cost tracking and forecasting
- Project and site management
- Multi-discipline construction management and delivery: civil; structural, mechanical; electrical and instrumentation and controls
- Plans, procedures, work packs, JHAs / safe work method statements
- Spare part and inventory mapping
- Final commissioning records and commissioning dossier
- Documentation and maintenance mapping