Safety not up to par

SOME 80% of the buildings in the country are using the non-conventional lightning protection systems (LPS) which is against international standards.

The non-conventional system does not provide the optimum building protection.

Lightning expert Hartono Zainal Abidin told StarMetro that the international practice is to use the MS IEC 62305 series.

However most buildings in the country were still using the Enhanced or Early Streamer Lightning Protection (ESE).

Universiti Putra Malaysia, Faculty of Engineering, Deputy Dean (Research & Innovation) Professor Mohd Zainal Abidin Ab Kadir agreed that all international standards were against the usage of the ESE.

“Yes, not only the Scandinavian countries but worldwide authorities are against this system,” he said.

Prof Mohd Zainal said based on the recent studies that were conducted and published, almost 75-80% used non-conventional systems, which include the ESE.

However, since the release of the circular by the manufacturer of ESE on Sept 2011 and the release of the Guidebook on Lightning Protection System For Building by the Energy Commission in 2014, many consultants and users were aware of the serious problem with ESE and other non-conventional systems.

Prof Mohd Zainal said the MS IEC 62305 series offers a proper LPS installation.

Asked who would be able to carry out the enforcement on LPS, he said in terms of policy, the Energy Commission was in charge.

“There is no Act particularly linked to this requirement. However, they are working to come up with a law,” he said.

Prof Mohd Zainal added the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry or the local governments should be able to enforce this guideline but it would still be difficult since they fall under the respective state governments.

He said at the moment, only Selangor made it compulsory to use MS 62305 series for LPS.

He added most of the vendors were reluctant to change or adhere to the recognised simply because of the profit margin.

The older LPS were also easier in terms of maintenance and installation.