ESE rods are illegal in India – Do you know that the National Electrical Safety Regulations put the final STOP on ESE/CSE/DAS lightning rods??

The regulations 2023 14(2) made compliance to NEC and NBC mandatory to “any electrical installation including electrical plant and electric line, and the person engaged in the generation or transmission or distribution or trading or supply or use of electricity”.

In comparison the earlier regulation 2010, NEC was a recommendation, but in 2023 its mandatory.

NBC 2016, in part 8 – Building Services, Section 2: Electrical and allied installations under clause no 11.5.2 – Air Termination System, has written “Any other kind of air-terminal like dissipation system / ESE air-terminal / CSE air-terminal shall not be allowed”.

Earlier on a court order, the Bangalore high court said about NBC 2016 and disposed the petition filed by Lightning Protection India Association ” the same being ‘a voluntary model code’ and a ‘guiding document’ …… …… ….. till after the same is incorporated in some statutory instrument to make it a binding rule of conduct.”

By making NBC 2016 a mandatory requirement to comply the National Electrical Safety regulations 2023, which is a “binding rule of conduct”, the subject is clear.

Using ESE / CSE / DAS lightning protection in “any electrical installation including electrical plant and electric line, and the person engaged in the generation or transmission or distribution or trading or supply or use of electricity” is ILLEGAL now.

These non-standard lightning rods claim enhanced protection areas and work with “one down conductor and one earth electrode”.

To answer the question on WHY, the following research papers (of several of my friends) which are published and available in the internet is posted for reference and easy reading. All the below technical documents belongs to the respective owners. If any one have a copyright issue, please inform me so that I can remove them from this website.

by

S. Gopa Kumar

gopa0904@gmail.com