Despite being just three years in existence, Lightning Protection Ireland has developed a strong reputation for supplying and installing the best lightning protection systems available. Building Ireland caught up with Managing Director Kevin Ireland to find out more.
A bolt of lightning is one of nature’s most threatening events and the dangers lightning poses to any structure includes fire, power surge and shock wave damage.
The Kingswood Business Park-based Lightning Protection Ireland is a professional contracting firm which specialises in the design, supply, installation, testing and repair of Lightning Protection and Earthing Systems.
Launched in June, 2013 by Managing Director Kevin Ireland and his fellow directors, Paudie Reidy and John Kinsella, Lightning Protection Ireland operates throughout the country, providing clients with competitively priced, highly effective solutions.
“I run my own business, Direct Strike, in the UK,” explained Scottish national Kevin. “I was doing work here in Ireland about three years ago on behalf of Paudie and John’s company, Select Roofing when I discovered that there was a gap in the market.
“I noticed that the competition and standards were not as good as they should have been and came to the conclusion that there was a need for a new, professional lightning protection company. It’s something that is often overlooked by developers.
“We currently employ 14 people, who all play a vital role in the continued growth of the company and we’re still expanding. It’s early days but business has been going really well, we’ve completed a number of prestigious projects, and we will be looking to take on additional staff, if not this year then early next year.”
Lightning strikes the ground throughout the world 100 times every second. It is one of nature’s most destructive elements; a single lightning bolt can carry up to 1 billion volts of energy and can reach temperatures of 28,000°C.
Lightning Protection systems are designed to give this energy a safe and low impedance path to earth.
This lightning power surge can damage electrical devices that are plugged into a power outlet anywhere in the building.
Even though these power surges are so brief that they are measured in nanoseconds, they can cause considerable damage to electrical and electronic systems and equipment, leading to the disruption of operational and sometimes even critical services, and resulting in expensive down time and repair costs.
Measured against the potential losses to business operations or essential services, the business case for surge protection becomes very clear.
A surge protector works by channeling the extra voltage into the outlet’s grounding wire, preventing it from flowing through the electronic devices while at the same time allowing the normal voltage to continue along its path.
Electrical surges can damage computer equipment by burning its wires or gradually over time wearing down the device’s internal components and even wipe out any saved data. Surge protectors can also protect telephone and cable lines as these also carry electric current.
Earthing systems, meanwhile, play a vital role in a coordinated lightning and surge protection system.
It is responsible for safely dissipating the lightning currents to ground. At Lightning Protection Ireland they use a wide range of materials in numerous configurations to achieve the required resistance level as set out in ISEN 62305: 2011.
Lightning Protection Ireland’s mission statement is to provide their services in a cost effective and timely manner, while delivering all out solutions with an ongoing commitment to their comprehensive quality control program.
To date they have successfully completed projects in retail, commercial, educational, health-care and industrial establishments all over Ireland. Valued clients include the likes of Microsoft, Ericsson and Pfizer, to name but a few.
The variety of services they provide includes: Consultancy and Design Services, Supply and Installation to IS EN 62305, Test, inspection and maintenance, Earthing Systems, Surge and Transient protection Equipment, Continuity and Soil Resistivity tests and CAD Services.
At Lightning Protection Ireland, they are committed to making health and safety their number one priority.
All their operatives have undertaken training in Health and Safety Awareness, Roof Safety Awareness (including RF Awareness), Safe Use of Abrasive Wheels, Cable Avoidance Techniques, Self Propelled Booms and Scissor Lifts and Rope Access Techniques.
To ensure their staff are up to date with current health and safety issues, they hold tool box talks on a regular basis.
Their designers and installers have received and passed third party accreditation in ISEN 62305:2011 Parts 1-4 by ATLAS (The Association of Technical Lightning & Access Specialists).
Incidentally, Lightning Protection Ireland are members of ATLAS (The Association of Technical Lightning & Access Specialists). They are the trade body for the UK and Ireland and LPI are the only Lightning Protection company in Ireland who have been audited and are members of ATLAS.
“We are also working towards ISO 9001, and hope to have accreditation early in the new year,” Kevin noted.
Hailing from Gretna, Dummfrisshire, Kevin boasts 16 experience in the industry and set up Direct Strike in 2007.
“We’re very cost efficient compared to the competition,” he replied when asked: what separates Lightning Protection Ireland from the competition. “And, we offer a quality service which is underpinned by Heatlth & Safety being our number one priority. Since launching the company three years ago we’ve had zero reports of accidents. Our track record is very strong.”
Take measures to protect your premises against lightning-related damage by contacting Lightning Protection Ireland. Kevin and his team are reliable, professional and understand their customers requirements. They pride themselves on delivering an outstanding service exceeding expectations.
Lightning Protection Ireland
Head Office
Unit A18
Kingswood Business Park
Baldonnell
Citywest
Dublin 22
Phone 01 459 4895
Mobile 083 125 9 780
Carlow Office
Unit 18 Enterprise House
O’Brien Road Carlow
Phone 059 91 46769
Fax Number 059 91 39 623
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, February 2017, Vol 3 No 2
