A surge, also known as a transient overvoltage, occurs when there is a spike in voltage on power or signal lines. They are large, sudden and can overload electronic components, leading to failure as well as the potential to cause injury or even death.
Lightning strikes cause the largest surges, with spikes of up to 6,000V within an electronic installation. Buildings often withstand the strike itself, but suffer huge damage to electrical equipment from the surge afterwards – which can cost tens of thousands of pounds.
A more common cause of surges, which is lower in amplitude, is the electrical switching of transformers, motors and drives, or other inductive loads. They will create a spike that may also affect other devices connected to the same electrical network.
A surge protection device is an essential part of every lightning protection risk assessment, as detailed within British Standard BSEN 62305. It’s a relatively small investment that can offer invaluable protection for companies of all sizes. For small to medium enterprises, for whom the cost of installing a full lightning protection system may be too high, surge protection can be an ideal alternative.
PTSG Electrical Services Ltd. is the UK’s market leader in the design, installation and testing of lightning and earthing protection systems. We have many years’ experience in installing, servicing and maintaining surge protection systems for a wide range of organisations. Our work protects people and safeguards valuable equipment. We have office locations around the UK and can mobilise our engineers at a moment’s notice for requirements of any kind or size.
Surge protection is governed by the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018). These are continuously updated to reflect changes in the industry – including an important change to Chapter 44 of the 18th edition, in 2019. Electrical designers and installers must now include protection against transient overvoltages where there may be serious consequences.
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