Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Issue No. 91

Page 45

Summertime…and the lightning is striking! [

WITH SUMMER in the offing there is actually a greater risk of thunderstorms and lightning strikes. That is because they occur in specific conditions, requiring two basic elements – moisture and rapidly-rising warm air. High humidity combines with warm temperatures to create a large amount of warm, moist air that can form a thunderstorm as it rises into the atmosphere. Adrian Brown of lightning protection experts Lightning Strike Ltd has researched the causes of the increase in storms and explains it in his blog. In summer, says Adrian, the number of hours of sunlight is higher than during the winter, meaning the sun is heating the earth for a longer period of time. The laws of physics state that warm air will rise: an important factor for thunderstorms, as the warm air can rise for miles, creating a towering cumulonimbus cloud. Cumulonimbus clouds are also known as thunderclouds, Adrian explains: “They are usually characterised by their anvil shaped, icy top and can exist throughout the entire height of the troposphere. “The troposphere is the lowest region of the earth’s atmosphere, extending to a height of around 6km to 10km from the earth’s surface, as far as the lower boundary of the stratosphere. Cumulonimbus clouds are the only clouds that can create hail, heavy rain and thunderstorms.

“Thunderstorms develop when the atmosphere is unstable. When warm air exists underneath colder air, it cools and condenses as it rises, forming small droplets of water. When the upward surge of warm air is rapid, the resulting water vapour quickly forms a cumulonimbus cloud. This type of cloud can form in less than one hour.” That explains the thunderstorm; but why does lightning form? Adrian goes on to explain: “When the warm air continues to rise, larger droplets are formed as the smaller ones combine. They will then freeze to form crystals of ice. When the droplets get heavier and can no longer be supported by the updraught of air, they will fall as hail. When the hail moves in the cloud, it rubs against smaller, positively-charged ice crystals, thus picking up a negative charge. This leads to a negative charge forming where the hail collects at the base of the cloud and a positive charge forming at the top of the cloud, where the lighter ice crystals gather. “The negatively-charged hail is attracted to the earth’s surface and when the attraction is too great, the negative and positive charges will come together, resulting in a flash of lightning – also known as a lightning bolt or a lightning strike.” q • To read the full blog visit www.lightningstrikeltd.co.uk/blog

LIGHTNING PROTECTION

Wiltshire Steeplejacks

• BS EN 62305 2012 • System Installation • Upgrading • Remedial Work • Testing • Earthing • Materials Supply

E: sales@earthingequip.com W: earthingequip.com

Trading for over 40 years, we specialise in: • Lightning protection systems • BS EN 62305 & BS 6651 • Earthing and resistivity testing • High maintenance work • Flagpoles • All rope access work • Full architectural surveys & cover meter surveys T: 01225 761330 M: 07973 397770 E: wiltssteeplejack@aol.com W: www.wiltshiresteeplejacks.co.uk

G & S Steeplejacks Ltd

Lightning Protection Services

Earthing Equipment Supplies Southern Ltd is a well-established, ATLAS accredited, company offering a wide range of lightning protection services. ATLAS is the UK governing body for lightning protection. 30 years trading. • Free Lightning Protection Quotes • Free Lightning Protection Risk Assessment • Risk Assessment Calculations • Soil Resistivity Testing • Surge Arrester Quotes • Site Visits

T: 0118 976 0239 / 07502 934466 Lavender House, Church Lane, Arborfield, Nr Reading RG2 9JA

Over 30 years experience in the Design & Installation of Lightning Protection Systems. • Annual Testing • Surge Protection • Inspection & Maintenance • Height Safety Systems

and Lightning Conductor Engineers

The Coach House, 5 Court Street, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8BR

North(Head office): 01461 800323 South: 01582 511036 N.E: 01914 661145 E: info@lightningconductor.co.uk W: www.lightningconductor.co.uk

Churches, Schools, Hospitals, Universities, Colleges

South West Lightning Protection T: 01761 437796 M: 07974 184449 E: graham@gnssteeplejacks.co.uk W: www.gnssteeplejacks.co.uk

T: 07807 334441 E: south@lightningconductor.org W: www.lightningconductor.org

Unit 3, Bath Business Park, Peasedown St John, Somerset BA2 8SF

Airport Business Centre, 10 Thornbury Road, Estover, Plymouth PL6 7PP

Cuttings Lightning Protection, Steeplejack and Flagpoles

The UK’s largest independent Lightning Protection & Earthing contractor

Providing lightning protection services since 1978 Installation, maintenance and testing of lightning protection systems, utilising rope access systems for safe access. • Cathedrals • High Rise Office Blocks • Towers • Schools • Churches • High Rise Residential Blocks • Sports Centres • Hospitals

Design, installation and maintenance

A C Wallbridge & Co Ltd T: 01722 322750 E: mail@wallbridge.co.uk W: www.wallbridge.co.uk

T: 020 8371 0001 E: info@cuttings.co.uk W: cuttings.co.uk

Unit 7, Centre One, Lysander Way, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6BU

• Lightning Protection • Earthing Services • Surge Protection

• Height Safety Services

Offices in London, Sussex, Essex and Bristol.

10-12 Arcadia Avenue, Finchley Central, London N3 2JU

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

45


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Shedding some light on the new Part L Building Regulations

4min
page 48

Steel windows – protecting our architectural heritage

3min
page 49

Leading brick maker reiterates its sustainability goals

4min
page 47

Summertime…and the lightning is striking!

4min
pages 45-46

Parishioners’ kindness alleviates COVID restrictions

3min
page 44

Mastic asphalt: it’s versatile and green, and can be applied to roofs or floors

1min
page 43

Reroofing project posed a slippery problem for NT’s bats

3min
page 42

Get the roofing training that’s specific to your needs

2min
page 38

Locally-made tiles allow a jewel of the Jewellery Quarter to shine again

3min
pages 40-41

Rise in thefts prompts insurer to reissue guidance

1min
page 39

Get the expert’s view on streaming

3min
page 35

How to modernise heritage sites and remain compliant

5min
pages 36-37

Spending a legacy on a sound system – what to upgrade?

4min
page 34

Heating specialist notches up a half century

2min
page 26

Exterior lighting scheme is latest in a long line of special projects

4min
page 23

Co-ordination allows numerous repairs to be carried out at once

3min
pages 27-28

Thinking of an AV installation? Here’s some advice...

3min
page 32

Church regains control after obsolete lighting is replaced

1min
page 24

AV’s institute meets again to mark anniversary

2min
page 31

Easter message is brought to life virtually by C of E

2min
page 33

With historic lighting, you can replace or you can repurpose

3min
pages 21-22

And there was light: but carefully controlled

2min
page 20

St George’s tames the dragon of poor sound

3min
page 13

Roofing specialists help keep Durham’s jewel in good order

3min
page 16

Kentec’s new K-Mesh wireless technology wins praise for Chester Cathedral project

3min
page 17

Cathedrals must offer a welcome to

2min
page 18

Audit sheds light on improving access to cultural heritage sites

2min
page 19

Integration of ancient and modern is the aspiration

1min
page 14

The care of cathedrals is something we should all care about

2min
page 12
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