BS EN IEC 62305
2024 Changes to the International standards
BS EN IEC 62305 has been prepared by BSI technical committee GEL/81, Protection Against Lightning. It is the 3rd edition of the British standard for lightning protection.
SUBSEA CABLE & PIPE PROTECTION SYSTEM
DESIGN FOR THE OFFSHORE ENVIRONMENT
Panduit is a global manufacturer of physical infrastructure solutions, including electrical and network cabling systems, for a wide range of industries, including the offshore industry. In order to be the world’s foremost leader in the offshore industry, Panduit aims to provide innovative, reliable and cost-effective infrastructure solutions that can increase operational efficiency and withstand the harsh conditions of offshore environments.
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In addition, we have also created a protective sheath for subsea cables and have successfully manufactured and supplied products that meet the unique requirements of offshore projects, including those related to offshore oil and offshore wind farm development.
Panduit is recognized as a front-runner in core technology research and development, as well as the manufacturer of essential products needed for various offshore industries. At Panduit, we are committed to continuously push the boundaries of what is possible in the offshore industry, all while maintaining our position as the foremost leader in creating customer value.
Quality solutions for safeguarding people, structures and services
Furse® Earthing & Lightning Protection provides a complete solution for safeguarding against lightning risk. From our own designed and manufactured products, through to risk assessment and systems design advice, Furse offers a renowned total solution for earthing and lightning protection.
Our reach & expertise
Furse® Earthing & Lightning Protection is part of ABB’s Installation
Products division.
With a heritage of over 130 years, the Furse® brand is synonymous with earthing and lightning protection, and is recognised worldwide for its Total Solution.
The Furse Total Solution incorporates all customer needs for earthing & lightning protection, including:
The Total Solution delivers the most complete and effective protection against lightning and earth fault current risk, both safeguarding life and ensuring continuous, normal operation of electrical and electronic systems.
Acquired by the ABB Group in 2012, and benefittingfrom ABB’s wider network, Furse® Earthing & Lightning Protection has now become an established quality provider of earthing and lightning protection, with products specified and installed in many prestigious projects globally.
Why choose Furse products and services?
Being an integral part of ABB reinforces our commitment to quality, service and to providing solutions which deliver safety and protection of people, structures and electrical services within the built environment.
Furse products and services aim to deliver customer value in key areas:
Lightning is one of nature’s most powerful and destructive phenomena. Lightning strikes present a real and significant threat to life, to the structures in which we live and work, and to the electronic systems which support us in our daily lives.
Lightning can have devastating consequences:
The effects of a direct strike are obvious and immediately apparent – buildings damaged, trees blown apart, personal injuries and even loss of life.
However, the secondary effects of lightning – the short duration, high voltage spikes called transient overvoltages – can, and do, cause equally catastrophic, if less visually obvious, damage to electronic systems within structures.
The need for a Total Solution
National and International lightning protection standards now stress the need for a comprehensive solution encompassing both structural lightning and electronic systems protection using Surge Protection Devices (SPDs).
Simply put, a structural lightning protection system cannot and will not protect electronic systems from lightning currents and transient overvoltages.
Earthing standards demand critical safety of the electrical installation and the personnel at site. Both quality of design and product material are paramount.
This is why we advocate our Total Solution to earthing and lightning protection – an approach which delivers effective life safety, together with long lasting, reliable protection of a structure and the electronic systems within.
For all our customers, the Furse Total Solution approach to earthing & lightning protection is the leading solution for all project types worldwide.
Oil & Gas/petrochemical
Renewable energies
High tech & industrial
Utilities
Commercial construction
Government & public sector
Rail & infrastructure
Sports & recreation
Residential
Cultural & heritage
Earthing of the lightning protection system, as well as the electrical installation, is paramount for safety, to protect life, electrical equipment and critical electronics from electrical system faults and lightning currents.
In the vast majority of countries, this need for earthing is clearly stipulated through health and safety regulations, with implementation driven by approved standards.
These standards cover a wide range of situations,
including earthing and equipotential bonding of:
Earthing is essentially the connection of the electrical system and connected electrical equipment, as well as the structural lightning protection system (where installed), to the general mass of earth using suitably sized conductor.
Equipotential bonding is the interconnection of all metalwork in a structure to ensure, in the event of a current passing to earth, there is no risk of arcing or electric shock hazard.
A good quality earthing system is designed to:
It is essential for safety and business continuity. Poor quality earthing not only risks damage and downtime to equipment, but also the risk of electrocution and loss of life.
Earthing design
Power earthing design, especially for high voltage installations such as substations, is a complex process requiring assessment and understanding of local soil conditions, existing overhead/underground conductors and metalwork, and prospective earth fault current duration and magnitude at the installation.
Our technical team provides consultancy on such projects and undertakes high voltage earthing design using CDEGS software.
Designed earthing systems utilise our high quality copper earthing tapes, our earth rods, backfills, mechanical clamps and FurseWELD® exothermic welding system, to ensure a safe and long term earthing installation.
Our technical team has over 100 years’ accumulated knowledge & experience of developing lightning protection and power earthing solutions, and designs systems to British and other recognised standards.
Lightning protection services
The Furse technical team actively participates in the development of National and International standards for lightning protection, and offers the ideal starting point for customers confronted by the challenges found in complex lightning protection projects.
Our experienced engineers can provide support on all aspects of structural lightning protection and transient overvoltage protection, including:
In order for us to design a structural and/or transient overvoltage lightning protection system, we need the following information:
Power earthing services
Power earthing design of installations over 1 kVac is a specialist area of business, requiring in-depth understanding of the principles of electrical safety and key knowledge of a range of earthing standards.
Our engineers can provide important guidance on power earthing, including:
To design a power earth electrode system, we need the following information:
Soil resistivity surveys
A comprehensive soil resistivity survey is key to creating an effective earthing system, as inadequate or erroneous soil resistivity readings are likely to result in a flawed design.
Earth modelling analysis
Earth modelling analysis uses state-of-the-art technology to determine the step and touch voltages, earth potential rise and hot/cold site classification of the site generated by the initial design.
Earthing and lightning protection is a progressive industry underpinned by an adherence to British, European and International standards, which determine both the design and implementation of systems, and the control of product quality.
These National and International standards are regularly updated making it important to keep abreast of latest developments.
Furthermore, given the complexity of these standards, confusion and misinterpretation can easily lead to project delays, budget overruns and costly extra time on site.
We aim to help customers to avoid these risks, fully supporting Furse product sales with high quality technical support.
We’re here to help
We offer regular training seminars to improve understanding of earthing, lightning protection and transient overvoltage protection standards and practices.
Seminars are held at the ABB Furse Nottingham, UK office, and at other convenient locations/ customer premises – please contact your local ABB representative for further information.
Furse technical guidance
Primary in our supporting literature for lightning protection is the Furse Guide to IEC/BS EN 62305 – considered indispensable reading for anybody working in the lightning protection industry today.
Complete with easy to understand illustrations and design examples, this Guide helps to explain in clear and concise terms the requirements of IEC/BS EN 62305 and provides the reader with the necessary information to enable identification of all risks involved and to assess the required level of protection in accordance with this standard.
Selling Guide
For power distribution cables laid on cable tray or strut, damage occurring from a short circuit fault is a serious but often overlooked and misunderstood issue. A short circuit fault can occur due to breakdown of equipment or conductors from deterioration, insulation failure due to lightning surges or overloading equipment, or something as simple as a vehicle accidentally backing into the cables.
The result is “cable whipping,” an instantaneous and often very violent electromechanical repulsion of cables away from one another, resembling an explosion. This event damages the cable, cable tray, and potentially other equipment nearby.
Worst case scenario, people nearby get injured or killed. Cable cleats are tested and specified to restrain power cables during a short circuit fault, providing protection before a circuit breaker can react.
Electromagnetic force peak occurs at:
Circuit breakers and other protection devices trip at:
Cable Cleats perform their function immediately before peak kA is reached and before the fault protection devices can react and trip.
1. Cable Outer Diameter (in) or (mm)
2. Peak Short Circuit Current (kA)
3. Cable arrangement:
• Trefoil
• Flat
• Multicore
4. Type of Cable Tray being used:
• Manufacturer
• Part number
• Material
• Drawing
• Rung dimensions
Remote ignition system
The FurseWELD remote ignition system provides a safe and efficient method to ignite exothermic welding powder when creating high quality electrical connections.
The FurseWELD Remote Ignition Process
The FurseWELD remote ignition system provides a safe, user friendly and remote method to ignite a high temperature reaction of powdered copper oxide and aluminium, within a mould, to form permanent electrical connections.
The hassle free FurseWELD remote ignition system can be assembled in a matter of minutes using our extensive installation guide. Once the kit has been assembled, a single use ignition strip is loaded into the ignition block and then inserted into the desired FurseWELD mould. The mould should already have the conductors in position.
Next the operator will place the steel retaining disc into the crucible, pour in the weld powder, place the steel hood unit over the mould and retreat to a safe distance. Using either the remote ignition unit or the wireless ignition fob the operator will activate the ignition strip, in turn igniting the welding powder within the mould.
Features and benefits:
• Removes the need to use ignition starter powder with a traditional flint gun, allowing ignition from a safe distance reducing exposure to smoke and fumes.
• Creates guaranteed ignition spark unlike traditional methods.
• Is completely portable and rechargeable.
• Can be used safely with minimum training.
The FurseWELD Remote Ignition System includes:
• Remote Ignition Unit
• Cable with Ignition Block
• Wireless Ignition Fob
• Charger
• Ignition strips (sold separately)
Accessories available:
• Stainless Steel Protective Hood – used to contain sparks from exothermic reaction and reduce smoke and fumes
Ignition Strips
The FurseWELD ignition strips have been designed to safely ignite the exothermic welding powder in the mould. The ignition strip is made
FurseWELD quality notes
FurseWELD Remote Ignition system should only be used with our exothermic welding moulds (those with part number suffix IU) and powders.
Operation steps
1. Plug the ignition cable into the device. Insert the ignition strip (supplied separately) into the ignition block.
2. Insert the ignition strip into the small slot that is in the front side of the mould.
3. Place the steel retaining disc in the mould and pour the weld powder into the mould. Ensure the ignition strip is covered and centred in the mould.
4. Cover the mould with the steel hood and turn the power switch to option – to use the remote fob. Alternatively, turn the power switch to option = to use the button on the main ignition unit. Pressing the ignition button in preferred mode will then ignite the powder.
5. Press the power switch button to the middle position. Remove the cable and ignition strip from the mould. Remove the used ignition strip. Repeat the process again from step 1. Repeat the process again from step 1 for the next weld.
1. Read the instruction sheet carefully and where possible attend training before using this device – either online, at Furse premises, your own premises or on the project site with a FurseWELD specialist.
2. Do not perform under wet or rainy conditions.
3. Don’t use other charger which the main parameters do not adapt to this device.
4. Follow site safety requirements and other ABB safe practices for the exothermic welding procedure throughout the whole operation process.
1. Battery must be charged to 20% or greater to avoid strip ignition failure due to low power.
2. When battery is fully charged, unplug from charge point.
3. Store device fully charged in a cool dry condition when not in use.
4. This device is designed and intended for use only with ABB Furse exothermic welding materials.
