The Advantages Of Earthing Systems

In the United Kingdom, an earthing system identifies the electrical potential of the conductors relative to the conductive surface of the Earth. The world is a conductor rated at reference (zero) potential, referred to as earth in the UK. People are in direct contact with earth, so when something within a person’s reach becomes charged to a different voltage from earth a shock hazard occurs. The earthing process connects all parts which could become charged to the mass of earth to provide a path for fault currents which are a shock hazard. Earthing prevents a potential difference between earth and earthed parts, while allowing the flow of a fault current which will cause the operation of the protective system in place designed specifically to simply reduce the incidence of a shock hazard and provide protection in the case of lightning strike.

In the past, earthing was considered a black art, a practice with no scientific value, but regarded as necessary due to lore or tradition. Currently proper earthing processes are established through scientific methods to best predict electrical current dissipation under fault conditions and the consequent voltages possible. To design adequate earthing system specific information is gathered and evaluated: 1) expected fault current and its characteristics, 2) fault current duration, and 3) soil resistivity. The analysis of this information, best practice engineering, and utilization of industry standards create a dependable solution to reduce the hazard of electrical shock.

In the UK, the following technical standards are utilized to create earthing systems:
1. BS 7430: 1999 – British Standard Code of Practice for “Earthing”
2. IEEE 80 – Guide for Safety in AC Substation Grounding
3. Electricity Association Technical Specification (EA TS) 41-24
4. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
5. Electricity Supply Regulations 1988

The services of a reputable lightning protection and earthing systems contractor should provide services including design, supply, installation, commissioning, test and inspection, plus maintenance of the systems after installation. Such specialists devoted to providing a comprehensive service for lightning protection and earthing systems in the UK can be found at Churchill Specialist Contracting Ltd. These specialists include engineers and installation teams with vast knowledge and experience and the sectors most comprehensively qualified and certificated operatives both on site and managerial level. All projects undertaken by CSC Ltd are completed in accordance with UK Codes of Practice and the new European standard BS EN 62305: 2006 “Protection Against Lightning and BS 7430 “Earthing.”

How to be a Rope Access Technician?

Rope access is typically used on projects that are difficult or costly to access with traditional scaffolding, cranes, or other types of mobile platforms. The modern twin rope access techniques used today see each rope having a separate anchoring point and fail safe descent mechanism. There are usually two rope access technicians working together so they can assist each other in the event of an emergency or alternatively self rescue, workers are generally very well experienced in the use of ropes and would have passed rigorous testing that they must regularly update proving their ability and understanding of safe systems of work. The equipment used is inspected regularly and kept in top condition.

When inspection or repair work is required on a tall structure that cannot be accessed by another method, modern rope access technicians are used for this type of work, today many off shore oil platforms maintain full time rope access workers for inspection, maintenance repair and construction requirements.
The techniques and applications for the use of rope access lends itself very well to the steeplejack and lightning protection industry, the recent surge in the use of modern twin rope access has seen a requirement for more steeplejacks and lightning protection engineers to familiarise themselves with what is considered a more user friendly system when comparing twin rope access to the more traditional heavy duty bosun seat method of rope access historically employed by steeplejacks

Lightning Protection Systems

Many children have a natural fear of thunder; let’s face it, it can be quite scary. As we get older we learn about the cause of thunder and how destructive lightning really can be. Lessons that the people at the lightning protection system team at Churchill Specialist Contracting Ltd know all about. The harm that lightning can cause to people is very well known, we have all heard the horror stories; organ failure, blindness, deafness, neural damage, it even causes death in one third of cases. Builds and other structures are not immune to similar damage, and as in the case of human beings it can be prevented.

As health and safety issues become increasingly common in the work place, it is only right that companies follow OHSAS guidelines to ensure not only the well being of their employees, but also take a vested interest in the well being of their property and assets. Lightning can not only cause massive damage to the exterior of a build, it can wreak havoc with internal electrical systems. Computers and data storage devices can be destroyed, losing weeks, months or even years of important records and information which in itself can cost millions to replace.

It is important to understand the magnitude of the energy unleashed by lightning, often exceeding 100 million volts and 40’000 amperes. This power can create huge amounts of heat in water saturated, porous materials used in the construction of buildings, causing them to explode as the water content is flash boiled. The solution: to provide a low-resistance path for the lightning circuit. Churchill Specialist Contracting Ltd is staffed by time served and experienced engineers who are highly skilled in lightning protection and earthing systems, from design and testing to installation. They also offer an alternative to the conventional Faraday cage type installation, the Helita “Pulsar” ESE system of lightning protection that conforms to the requirements of a European code, the French code of practice NFC17-102. 1995.

Whether you have a contractual requirement to gain certification to OHSAS 18001, or one of the growing numbers of organisations looking to reduce the overall risks to the organisation and demonstrate good governance, there are a number of key benefits with implementing a certified OHS management system. These include:

• a structured approach to hazard identification and risk management which can contribute to the provision of a healthier and safer working environment and the avoidance of a high proportion of accidents and occupational health problems – this should help reduce lost time through employee illness and injury
• the management of health and safety becoming more transparent and effective by translating the outputs of risk assessment, audits, inspections, legal reviews and incident investigations into action plans to minimise the risk of accidents
• improved staff morale, potential reductions in liability claims and lower insurance premiums
• increased credibility from having an OHS management system independently assessed

In the world of contracting employing an organisation accredited to OHSAS 18001 provide unrivalled confidence that a business not only has safe systems of work in place it also takes very seriously it’s role and responsibilities in protecting the well being of it’s own employees together with those who have a potential to be affected by it’s undertakings.

In a world demanding a requirement for accreditations and compliance it is very easy for the value of OHSAS 18001 to be lost amongst a plethora of more easily available and less stringent and demanding alternatives, OHSAS 18001 has always been and will remain the pinnacle for all organisations serious about their health & safety & occupational health obligations.

As more organisations wake up to the value of OHSAS 18001 more emphasis will be placed on a requirement by blue chips to seek to employ accredited companies, as this spreads only then can the construction world benefit from reducing injury and fatalities which blights the sector.

Why compromise, employ an OHSAS 18001 accredited contractor and discover the future of contracting......

Summer Lightning Protection

The summer can bring with it a plethora of thunder and lightning storms, which can cause costly damages to businesses. If a business is hit by lightning it can cause a lot of damage and expense that some business owners simply cannot afford.

Businesses protect themselves from the risks of lightning damages by installing a Lightning Protection and Specialist Earthing system. This involves employing a team of highly trained engineers and certified (Passport of Safety) professionals who provide a range of services including design, supply, installation and commissioning. The engineers at Churchill Steeplejack will assess the site requirements and conditions, as well as test and maintain the lightning protection systems to ensure they operate safely and reliably throughout their lifetime.

The different systems that can be installed include a Faraday Cage or the ESE Pulsar 'Early Streamer Emission'. The systems work by delivering a gain in efficiency. The ESE Pulsar is able to capture the lightning stroke and push it downwards into the ground, which will prevent damage. Compared to other systems, the ESE Pulsar requires very few conductors leaving less of an impact on the structure of the building and a much shorter installation time period. It is also one of the most cost effective protection systems against lightning. Churchill Steeplejack recommends this system for structures that have a single air terminal. The radius of protection will extend to at least 100 meters. Large sites can often benefit from this type of lightning structure. Buildings that are set in urban areas with a small amount of space should use the Helita Pulsar system.

Another option for a lightning protection system is the BS 7430 "Earthing". This system is very safe and is installed by experienced engineers. The engineer will carefully look over the site and examine the conditions before the installation process. This is to make sure that the systems are reliable and safe. One of the factors examined is the soil resistivity. This is usually determined by using a tool called a "Wenner".

It is important for business owners to protect their structures against lightning as the damages could be very severe. Lightning protection systems not only prevent costly damages but more importantly they protect the safety of employees and people in the surrounding area of the structure.

The Impact of Lightning Strikes on Businesses

Lightning is said to strike the ground around 8 million times a day and the impact that this can have on businesses can be very severe.

According to a survey carried out by a German insurance company, lightning accounts for 27.4% of damages to electronic equipment. Studies carried out by French insurance company AXA have also concluded that after a fire, one out of every two businesses ends up having to cease trading within five years. This is due to the damages it causes to real estate and IT Equipment etc., which prevent the company from continuing with their business.

Furthermore due to the impact of global warming and the change in climate, scientists have predicted that this is likely to increase the risk of extreme weather conditions, with as many as double or triple the amount of lightning strikes by 2050. Moreover the increased use of silicon-based, micro-controlled devices across our society are making businesses more and more at risk to the threats of lightning.

Insurance companies do not as yet encourage Lightning protection measures to be adopted as standard practice. To protect a business from the damage that could potentially be caused by lightning strikes, Lightning protection systems can be put in place. This system works by diverting the flow of electricity away from the structure and passing it through into the ground.

It is of vital importance that companies are properly protected against the risks of lightning destruction, as it has the potential to seriously affect a business. A disciplined and systematic approach to lightning protection should be adopted as this will reduce the risk, ultimately reducing the costs to a business.

Lightning and Earthing Protection in the UK

Everyone in the world has seen the tremendous power of lightning. It is beautiful but its power can be very destructive. Lightning strikes on average 2100 people a year and one third of those strikes have ended in death. Those individuals who have survived these strikes suffer from damage to the eardrums, vision, lungs, organs and the nervous system. Lightning protection for your building will help lower the risk to the people in your buildings. There are quite a few systems to help prevent damage to buildings and the people who are nearby.

Grounding structures against lightning is a good thing to start out with. This is generally an electrode that is buried in the ground. The electrode attracts currents and the electrical energy away from buildings. This helps reduce power surges to equipment inside and outside a building.
A Lightning Rod is the most common type of electrical storm prevention. It can usually be seen on top of tall buildings, where tall metallic poles attract the electrical currents. Though they are great at conducting the electrical currents away from the actual building it does not protect against power surges inside the building.


Downconductors are structures that are built at least 10 feet into the ground around the outside of a building. It draws the electrical energy away from the building and into the ground. It helps prevent a flashover, which is an unintended electrical discharge, which can damage buildings or personnel nearby. Bonding is a form of downconductor that protects metallic structures like AC, Gas, water pipes, and signal lines and prevents them from attracting lightning. Transients and Surges help protect against electrical surges. It stops currents and blocks energy from traveling through wires. To get the full efficiency of this protection it should be paired with lightning rods or external building protectors. These will help prevent damage to any kind of electronic device that can occur during a lightning strike.

The last defense is a Detection which is a warning system that protects buildings and power lines before an electrical storm occurs. It can be used to disconnect power lines or keep them on standby for need. This does help reduce damage from lightning strikes but it does not use all the necessary information about electrical storms.

As you can see there are many different forms of lightning protection. It is vital that buildings be equipped with these safety measures to ensure that the occupants and the building are secure from lightning strikes. Choose a company that uses high quality material and is equipped for dealing with any need of your business. Churchill Steeplejacks is the experienced company for you.

The Importance of Lightning Protection

The Importance of Lightning Protection


Lightning strikes approximately 2100 people a year worldwide and one third of those strikes, called strokes, result in death. The people that live are never quite the same. Physical and emotional difficulties tend to plague them the rest of their lives. Heart attacks, burst eardrums, optical impairment, damage to the lungs and other organs, as well as the nervous system are quite common.

Golfing, boating, swimming, standing under a tree, talking on the phone, using water and operating electrical appliances seem to be the activities which draw the greatest number of strikes. Air travel is relatively safe; planes usually have an aluminum outer shell, which is a good conductor of electricity. Lightning is potentially hazardous to all electrical devises. There is a variety of lightning and sudden surge protectors on the market today. Grounding any structure is important. Grounding permits dispersion of electricity and conduction into the ground, where it is less harzardous.


The importance of lightning protection cannot be stressed enough. It is difficult to make lightning protectors for individuals, because people represent constantly moving objects. The greatest available protection for human life is to remain indoors. If a person is out of doors, then it is vital either to be in a car touching no metal, or to be at the lowest elevation possible, such as a valley. Be aware. Listen for the timing between lightning and its resultant thunder. Fifteen to thirty seconds between the two offers a warning that the strike is extremely close. Therefore, finding appropriate shelter as quickly as possible is necessary. Water is a good conductor of electricity due to its positive molecular charge. If there is a “downed” power line lying in water, it can be fatal to walk through that water.

Can a fraction of one second change a person’s whole life? We all know the answer to that question is “yes!” It is a good idea to become learned on the subject of lightning. It is a great idea to do the research and understand the importance of lightning protection “before it strikes!”

Chimney Inspections

The inspection of single flue industrial chimneys is regulated by the HSE document GS53 and the ATLAS guidance booklet that builds upon the HSE document GS53.

The self supporting single flue steel chimney has commonly been used for a period in excess of 35 years during which time many have seen a change over from serving coal to oil through to the modern day gas fired boilers. This change over in fuels has left its own legacy creating very corrosive environments, this coupled with the effects of the UK climate has led to a large number of this type of structures ultimately failing, hence the HSE Guidance Note GS 53 was published in 2001.

For multi flue industrial steel chimneys the inspection guidance issued for single flue steel chimneys does not apply, the inspection of a steel multi flue chimney i.e where the waste gases do not come into direct contact with the main supporting structure, is covered in Appendix A of BS 4076 :1989.

At present there is currently no inspection guidance for concrete or brick chimneys, however due to the harsh environments and processes related to their use it is prudent to regularly inspect concrete and brick chimneys to ensure they remain in a serviceable condition.

A chimney inspector must be able to prove competency and experience with a minimum preference of being industry qualified via the NVQ route.

Work at Height Hierarchy of Risk

Via risk assessment the use of a mewp to facilitate access to structures should always be the access method of choice particuarly for the completion of surveys.

In the uk truck mounted MEWPS can provide access up to working heights upwards of 70 metres.

During a recent meeting between the hse and the steeplejack federation ATLAS the hse voiced their concerns into the mindset of the steeplejack industry in relation to risk assessments for working at height and our industries continued insistance to survey structures using traditional ladders as apose to MEWPS.

Wherever it is practicable to do so Churchills always look to employ MEWPS for completing surveys of structures up to 70 metres, unfortunetly industry as a whole needs educating in relation to the Work at Height Regs it is only then that the additional cost for the use of MEWPS will become broadly accepted.

Range Rover Vogue Fails to Start Through Winter

Somewhat embarrassingly the one year old range rover vogue owned by Churchills MD has broken down for the fourth time in three months leaving him stranded yet again.

Land Rover have been unable to locate a problem that completely drains power from the battery when temperatures fall below zero, having had two new batteries installed the car continues to not start in the mornings.

Land Rover continue to deny there is an issue with the car (try telling our MD that when the second time it wouldn’t start almost caused him to miss a flight for his family holiday) and reject any request to swap the vehicle.

It would appear land rover are prepared to simply bury their heads in the sand until the next cold snap comes along towards the rear of 2010 and if our MD still owns the car get ready for more head scratching sessions as they search in vain for the cause behind the vehicle not starting

Money vs Safety

Can it really be true that in difficult financial times money men are potentially placing their employers at risk?

During the recent financial climate as an organisation who supply to many blue chip organisations, councils and government establishments throughout the UK it has been very disconcerting and somewhat alarming to witness the swing in the ethos of many in relation to the awarding of their contracts on a heavily cost weighted basis.

The steeplejack & lightning protection industry has taken huge strides in recent years to improve both it’s professionalism and quality of service within the construction sector, in the main this has been achieved by a change in the mindset of business owners with particular emphasis being placed on training and development and also a reduction in the amount of sub contractor labour otherwise known as ‘price work’.

All the hard work and gains made by many in our sector is now seriously under threat as the money men within awarding organisations look to cut costs by awarding contracts seemingly compromising on the level of training achievement and accreditation that is otherwise available.

The steeplejack sector in particular has long been an industry where little encouragement is required for those businesses less willing to train and achieve to take full advantage of such an opportunity, a fact that many of the long established steeplejack business will echo.
The outcome? - Sadly whilst those companies’s in our sector who have failed to invest in the development of their business benefit from an increase in activity those who have invested heavily in their business are left fighting a battle for contracts and as part of that battle face an uphill challenge in convincing the money men of the folly of their ways.

A tender recently received by Churchill’s issued by a UK council stated that the tender evaluation process would consist of 60% cost & 40% ability, in the world we live and in particular in our potentially high risk sector should the aforementioned ratios stated in the councils tender not require exchanging?