Be prepared for lightning

Atlas urges contractors, engineers and manufacturers to undertake its Lightning Protection Designers Accreditation Assessment.

Atlas, the Association of Technical Lightning and Access Specialists, says lightning accounts for 27% of storm deaths annually worldwide, which is only slightly less than the 31% of deaths caused by tornadoes and hurricanes combined. The association says there could be as many as 5,000 lightning-related injuries each year.

Sixty individual operatives have already taken and passed the assessment, which provides preparation for the next level of compliance in Europe (CENELEC), which will supersede British Standard BS 6651 lightning protection in the UK.

The assessment does not take up valuable work time and costs just £100 plus Vat per application. It is only open to existing Atlas members and demand for places appears to have been high.

Atlas is the national representative employers’ organisation for companies engaged in the steeplejack, lightning conduction, earthing design, installation, demolition, restoration and maintenance of high rise and historic buildings, industrial chimneys, churches, off-shore rigs, and other tall structures.

For more information, call 0115 955 8818.