Lightning Protection- Lightning strikes more than twice for high flying Stone
The damaging effects of climate change, and a growing dependence on technology, have resulted in an increasing number of businesses and organisations around the UK calling on Darlington-based Stone Technical Services.
Stone, a well-known high level maintenance company, specialises in lightning protection and has seen a 20 % rise in demand for its service since the start of 2009 because of severe weather conditions, such as the recent devastating floods in Cumbria.
Insurance companies are also experiencing an increase in the number of insurance claims for lightning damage as computer networks are especially vulnerable and any damage caused by extreme weather can cost a business a considerable amount of money.
As a result, Stone has found more business owners than ever are now installing new lightning protection systems to protect their premises from the effects of high voltage transients and short duration spikes that lightning causes.
In the North, Stone has secured contracts to carry out lightning protection work for Carillion at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, St John’s Church in Workington, the University of York and Ripon Cathedral.
Much of the growing demand has also been in the South and South East of England, where Stone has an office in Pinner, Middlesex. As well as being the appointed lightning conductor engineer on St Paul’s Cathedral, Stone has recently completed lightning protection work for DHP, property consultants based in Surrey, and for Bucks New University in High Wycombe.
As well as climate change, companies are now forced to comply with new laws governing the design and maintenance of lightning protection which were introduced last September. These demand businesses adhere to much stricter guidelines or face financial consequences, such as the invalidation of insurance policies.
The new standards also require businesses to include surge protection in their lightning protection systems. Stone is at the forefront of surge protection technology, which protects electricity systems from voltage spikes caused by electric storms and is now integrated into all of Stone’s lightning protection systems.
Stone specialises in lightning protection and is at the forefront of training and development programmes, offering safety training for lightning protection schemes in line with the new regulations. All of Stone’s staff have undergone the rigorous Furse BS EN 62305 training programme, certifying their designers, and the company also offers new risk assessment and designs in line with the new regulations.
As well as lightning protection, Stone specialises in all aspects of high level maintenance and steeplejack services as well as restoration and masonry refurbishment projects on churches, museums, clock towers, castles, spires and historic buildings all over the UK.
Managing director, Dave Stone said: “Climate change is not only damaging the environment but also the structures of many buildings which can result in thousands of pounds worth of damage. Lightning, high winds, heavy rain and severe changes in temperature all have a major impact on the structure of a building, especially older buildings or those close to the coast.
“We have seen a real leap in demand for the installation of sufficient lightning protection systems. Businesses dependent on technology and state-of-the-art computer networks are especially vulnerable and we work with building managers to ensure they have adequate protection. Thanks to our vast experience we are able to carry out such installations to protect buildings from future damage.”
