TTG Profile

INDEPENDENT LIGHTNING PROTECTION INSPECTION, TESTING & CERTIFICATION

INDEPENDENT TESTING & INSPECTIONS Certainty Through Compliance The Testing Gurus` (TTG) is an independent earthing and lightning protection testing, inspection and verification company offering accurate and unbiased assessments of earthing and lightning protection systems. All of the testing and verification procedures and methodologies are conducted in strict accordance with the relevant SANS, IEC, IEEE and UL standards and codes of practice. The Testing Gurus are highly experienced earthing and lightning protection engineers who have extensive experience in the testing and verification of earth termination and lightning protection systems. TTG`s testing and verification procedures are performed in such away that they are repeatable, well documented and follow the highest levels of quality control. This is a job for highly specialised engineers who have in-depth knowledge of earthing and lightning protection systems and their test procedures. TTG offers the following test procedures and certifications: - Soil-resistivity surveys - Earth-resistance measurements - Site Assessments - Installation Inspections - Lightning protection system certification - SANS10313 / ELPA - Power Quality Analysis - Forensic Testing (of Earthing & Lightning Protection Systems) - RCA (Route Cause Analysis) of Failures - Compliance Testing TTG also provides the testing and verification of earthing and lightning protection systems in classified, explosive and hazardous areas where the use of intrinsically safe test procedures and test equipment is essential. As part of the verification procedures TTG reviews the earthing and LPS installation photographs, as-built drawings and existing certificates and test reports. Page 1

SPECIALIST TESTING No Protection System Is Maintenance Free The regular inspection, testing and maintenance of earthing and lightning protection systems is essential to maintain the functionality and compliance of the protection systems. TTG offers all of the inspections, testing and certifications that are necessary to provide certainty of compliance and performance of earthing and lightning protection systems across all industry sectors and in any site conditions. TTG`s testing, inspection and verification procedures have been formulated through decades of on-site testing and surveying. Many of our test procedures are highly specialised and can only be carried out by technicians with extensive skills and experience. TTG offers a wide range of tests that are designed to verify earthing and lightning protection installations. TTG also provides test procedures designed to find faults or causes of system failures. The following inspections are essential for the certification and maintenance of earthing and lightning protection systems: - During construction - visual inspections - On completion of the earthing and LPS installation - After any additions or alterations to the structure - After any suspected direct lightning strike - Annually or every two years depending on the level of protection TTG`s inspection and test procedures are designed to verify the following: - Visual inspections: Verify that the installation meets the requirements of the design and relevant standards - Earth Resistance Tests (Fall in Potential): Determines the impedance of earth termination systems and verifies compliance to the design and codes of practice. - Electrical Continuity Test: Determines whether the correct lightning equipotential bonding systems have been installed. - Specialist Tests: Signal injection tests are use to determine continuity across concrete steel reinforcing and buried or cast-in conductor continuity. Page 2

POWER QUALITY TESTING Diagnostic Testing For Power Saving The adverse effects of poor power quality are often underestimated, which has the impact of unplanned downtime, lost production, lost data and premature equipment failure which can be quite significant. Initially power quality problems are often detected by thermal imaging of overheated electrical equipment and conductors. The combination of thermography and power quality measurements are used to determine the actual cause of the problems being experienced. Thermographic scanning and power quality measurements should be conducted on a regular basis, or at least annually. Power quality measurements include: 1.5 Normal 1 - Power frequency - Supply voltage magnitude 0.5 Sag - Flicker Interuption - Harmonics and inter-harmonics Amplitude(V) 0 - Dips and swells -0.5 - Interruptions -1 - Supply voltage unbalance Harmonics - Mains signalling Swell 1.5 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 - Rapid voltage changes Time(s) TTG are able to conduct and analyse the results of both the thermal imaging and power quality measurements. For more in-depth measurements over an extended period, remote data logging of power quality measurement data can be implemented. Page 3

MEET THE GURUS The Team Gary Thoresson Gary Thoresson started his career in electrical engineering as an electrical apprentice in 1974. After obtaining a T1 diploma and qualifying as an artisan, he went on to becoming a mine commissioning engineer. He is also registered with the Department of Labour as an Installation Electrician and can therefore conduct CoC testing and certification. Having obtained various diplomas and accreditations over the years he has worked in numerous positions, within the electrical engineering industry. Gary is a founding member of ELPA and the founding chairman of the Lightning 30 Foundation. With over 45 years of experience, Gary has the skills and experience to conduct the required verification process for earthing, LPS, medium voltage and high voltage systems. Operating as TTG`s Operations Director, Gary`s main functions are to conduct on-site testing and verifications as well to provide other Testing Gurus with the training they require to conduct the test procedures properly. Etienne Gerber Etienne Gerber started his career in the earthing and lightning protection industry in 2013, working for DEHN Africa as a technical advisor to the three largest earthing and lightning protection companies in South Africa. During this time Etienne attended numerous workshops and seminars in Germany to hone h his skills as a lightning protection specialist. His main role was to provide technical advice and assist in solving problems on-site. Etienne is an active member of the SANS 10313 working group committee. In 2017 Etienne founded The Testing Gurus which focusses on testing, inspection and verification of new earthing and lightning protection systems as well as existing protection systems for maintenance and fault identification purposes. Etienne is an accredited ELPA member and instrumental in updating an old standard to make it fit better to South African conditions. COMPLETE TESTS, INSPECTIONS & CERTIFICATIONS COMPLETE TESTS, INSPECTIONS & CERTIFICATIONS CERTIFICATIONS FAULT FINDING SURVEYS POWER INSPECTIONS QUALITY Page 4

COMPLETE LIGHTNING PROTECTION SOLUTIONS How We Do It The Testing Gurus along with our partner companies provides full lightning protection solutions. Full protection solutions include all of the engineering / design works, the LPS installation as well as the testing and certification of earthing and lightning protection systems. Partner Companies Provide Full Protection Solutions Lightning Protection Concepts (LPC) LPC provides complete lightning protection design and engineering for all projects. All projects including the installation, testing and certification of the lightning protection system are managed and overseen by LPC. The Lightning Gurus (TLG) TLG is LPC`s installation partner company which consists of a network of ELPA accredited lightning protection installation companies. All Gurus have 15+ years experience as LPS installers and are trained in compliance with LPC`s extremely high quality and workmanship levels. LPG is a company dedicated to enabling black start-ups to have access to larger projects. The Testing Gurus (TTG) TTG is LPC`s testing and certification partner company which consists of highly qualified lightning protection inspectors, who are responsible for the entire handover process for installations completed by TLG. TTG provides independent verification and certification of lightning protection systems to ensure compliance and quality of the protection systems. Independent Responsibility / Assurance of Compliance World Class Lightning = Protection Solutions • Lightning Protection Concepts carries out the earthing and lightning protection detail design and engineering. LPC also manages and oversees all installations carried out by The Lightning Gurus to ensure that all installations are carried out as per the detailed designs. • The Lightning Gurus installs the earthing and LPS, all Gurus are ELPA accredited and have 15+ years of experience as LPS installers. • The entire lightning protection system is then independently verified by The Testing Gurus which is the final check to ensure compliance with the relevant standards and designs. • The partnership type of relationship between LPC, LPG and TTG provides exceptional designs combined with the highest quality of installations and independent certification at competitive rates. Page 5

CERTIFICATIONS All LPC projects are ELPA certified by means of submitting an ELPA Lightning Protection Installation Safety Report. This means that all LPC lightning protection projects also carry the ELPA guarantee of compliance. LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM INSTALLATION SAFETY REPORT (as per SANS 10313:2012 Edition 3.2) PROJECT DETAILS Physical address: Province, Country: ELPA No. Postal Code Unit / Building No.: Issue Date Customer / Owner details: Company name: Expity Date GENERAL Protected space (details): Type of Certification: Acceptance Re-certification Type of Inspection: Visual Testing Additional 2 Lightning ground flash density (N G ) (Flashes/km /year): Accepted annual lightning flashes to structure (N D ): RISK ASSESSMENT Has a risk assessment been done for system? Yes No Is the risk assessment report attached? Yes No Calculated Risk Are the calculated Calculated Risk with User-specified acceptable risks (R T ) R x risks acceptable? Protection R x R 1 Loss of human life 1.00E-05 Yes No User-calculated R 2 Loss of services 1.00E-03 risks R X Yes No Tolerance on risk R T R 3 Loss of cultural heritage 1.00E-04 Yes No R 4 Loss of economic value 1.00E-03 Yes No Lightning Protection System (LPS) level: LPL 1 LPL 2 LPL 3 LPL 4 Risk mitigation methods required Lightning Equipotential Bonding (LEB) level: LPL 1 LPL 2 LPL 3 LPL 4 Coordinated surge protection device (SPD) level: LPL 1 LPL 2 LPL 3 LPL 4 LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM (LPS) Has the LPS design been done in accordance with SANS 62305:2011 Yes No Is the LPS design drawing attached? Yes No Are all LPS components tested and certified in accordance with SANS Are the test certificates of these components 62561:2012 Yes No attached? Yes No AIR-TERMINATION SYSTEM (ATS) Thatched roof: Yes No Roof used as ATS: Yes No Hazardous location: Yes No External conductors installed: Yes No Type of roof/striucture: Type of ATS used: Metal roof: Yes No Free-standing masts: Yes No Other: Yes No Isolated ATS: Yes No Protective angle (ᶿ): Yes No Details: ATS size and or detail (mm ) 2 Rolling sphere radius (m): Yes No Details: Steel(St/tZn,StSt) ATS method used: Mesh method (grid): Yes No Details: ATS material used: Copper (Cu) Aluminium (Al) Hybrid (mix of methods) Yes No Details: Zinc (Zn) Other Overall Comments: DOWN CONDUCTOR SYSTEM (DCS) Natural conductive element used as DCS Yes No DCS size and or detail (mm ) 2 Reinforcement used as DCS: Yes No Spacing between down conductors (m): Type of DCS used: External DCS used: Yes No Number of down conductors in the system: Existing structure used as DCS: Yes No Accessible test joints/terminations: Yes No DCS material used: Steel (St/tZn, StSt) Copper (Cu) Aluminium (Al) Zinc (Zn) Other Overall Comments: NOTES: The following codes have been referenced in this report SANS 10142, SANS 10199, SANS 10313, SANS 60364, SANS 62305, SANS 62561 Page 1 of 2 Page 6

117 1st Avenue Edenvale 1609 South Africa Tel: +27 84 698 5219 Tel: +27 64 900 9868 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ttgurus.com Download PDF