REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ATMOSPHERIC AND SPACE ELECTRICITY OF THE AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION ON THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR TRADITIONAL LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEMS

1. INTRODUCTION

In 1998 the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) appointed an independent panel to evaluate Early Streamer Emission (ESE) lightning protection technology. The panel members were John L. Bryan, Richard G. Biermann, and Glenn A. Erickson, hereinafter referred to as the Bryan Panel. After a public solicitation for information related to their study, the Bryan Panel issued their report based on a review of 377 submitted documents, Report of the Third-Party Independent Evaluation Panel on the Early Streamer Emission Lightning Protection Technology. In addition to their conclusions regarding ESE technology, the Brian Panel presented a conclusion concerning NFPA 780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems:

It appears to the panel the NFPA 780 document does not meet the NFPA criteria for a standard since the recommended lightning protection system has never been scientifically or technically validated and the Franklin rod air terminals have not been validated in field tests under thunderstorm conditions.

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