Lightning strikes and protection

[Ditto]

It appears that whilst on holiday, our HQ was impacted by a lightning strike on the fttc network nearby. We lost one of our two modems, possibly a switch and we thought our Sonicwall TZ270. OpenReach have been in to confirm the line is OK. The modem has been replaced. Turns out the SW just had one port killed so we switched to using one of the 3 we don't use.

 

SW warranty seem to be a no-go for replacement. I have read mixed stories about just replacing the TZ270 hardware and keeping the software license - the device is just a few months old, but the port switch will probably see us through.

 

Our IT supplier is now saying, 'Oh, we should have installed protection' when the kit was installed! No pun intended, but that horse has bolted.

 

Managers are now saying what protection we should install - chances are that it won't happen again but hey-ho!

 

Why is the hardware so susceptible to damage and what protection should come via OpenReach etc.

 

Currently I'm not convinced with the IT suppliers idea of installing a cheap (sub £100 UPS), a £4 4 Gang Pro-elec 1m 4 gang mains extension lead and a pair of £3 each ADSL Surge protectors.

 

So, what experience have others had with this scenario, what protection do you have and what protection would you like.

 

As an aside, we hope to go FTTP next year, so presumably much of this issue risk disappears?

[Steve21]

My current work place got hit by lightning a few years before I started and basically it was a full network rebuild via insurance (that's direct hit not via internet), but basically I'm not convinced there is an answer to "full protection" as such at normal budgets unless you have a blank cheque book

 

Bearing in mind that the replacement would have been via insurance company etc I can't see anything "new" that's been added to stop it happening again, to reduce their payout chance, as I guess it's deemed such a small risk in the first place

 

Steve

[localzuk]

We had a lighning strike a few years back - killed a few CCTV cameras, half our Paxton Net 2 doors (they were all on a RS485 line), an FTTC modem (the black scorch mark on that was impressive) and a few other bits and pieces. Insurance covered it all.

 

Realistically, you're not going to protect everything. Just have to cover the critical bits I think. Like all our central servers are behind UPS etc...

[Ditto]

Interesting that you both had cover via insurance. I'm getting that checked because as far as I can tell none of the managers have done so. The info I have suggests the surge came through one of the two VDSL lines we have rather than a site hit.

[pete]

Insurance should pay out provided the company hasn't done anything silly / negligent*.

 

*erected a massive clock tower on the building, but didn't install a lightning conductor, for example.

[TechMonkey]

My concern in the current economic situation is how long would it take to replace devices, considering there are lead times of 18 months from some suppliers!!

[Ditto]

My concern in the current economic situation is how long would it take to replace devices, considering there are lead times of 18 months from some suppliers!!

 

On the modem/router, out supplier got a replacement to is in 48 hours. Make was Technicolor so perhaps we got lucky. SW is running as it just killed a port so we used a spare. It appears the switches escaped damage. So in this case, we were OK.

[MatthewL]

Not the first time I've seen devices connected to the PSTN been hit, most stuff is earthed but you will find things like modems and cheaper routers that don't have a earth will be the bits that often get fried. Not saying other things don't but just from experience.

 

You cannot cover everything, these things happen, although inconvenient, it is what is is, moving to fibre that risk will reduce alot.

[jmak]

Insurance should pay out provided the company hasn't done anything silly / negligent*.

 

*erected a massive clock tower on the building, but didn't install a lightning conductor, for example.

At my governor school we disconnected the lightning conductor as not having one didn't increase the insurance premium, but having one and not obtaining a certified maintenance certificate annually invalidated the insurance.

[TechMonkey]

At my governor school we disconnected the lightning conductor as not having one didn't increase the insurance premium, but having one and not obtaining a certified maintenance certificate annually invalidated the insurance.

 

This is interesting as my first thought would be that not having one, or worse having a disconnected one, would prevent pay out in the case of a strike. Otherwise why would places have them at all.

[pete]

^

Considering yearly certification is a nominal fee (£120/yr for our site that has one), I'd say that's an interesting choice when weighed against "School X burned down because they decided not to maintain the lightning rod" and the resultant PR fallout and press FOI requests for governor meeting notes.

 

If your school building has a lightning conductor, it's (usually) because at some point there was a fire risk assessment that said "you need to install a lightning conductor" due to (typically) having lots of people on-premises, being a public building and being the tallest thing around in that area.

Edited August 15, 2023 by pete

[jmak]

I'm no longer involved with the school and I don't disagree in principle with comments above but the decision was taken under advice. The school was only a single storey building - maybe that played into the assessment. I mentioned it as I find it surprising even several years later.

[Andrew_C]

I very much doubt that any 'general purpose' surge protector is going to do anything about a local lightning strike. No good protecting the mains wires if your phone line comes in on copper etc.

 

A rod might be useful - istr that you need to imagine a 50m diameter ball rolling around. Where it touches the ground or buildings, those are at risk.