| Scroll down... |
...to be inspired by our "Thought For The Day".
|
Clueing in to
Severe Storms |
Though the warning time for severe weather has grown steadily with better technology, tornadoes and damaging wind and hail still strike unannounced. Field research, such as STEPS, is striving to give forecasters more and better tools to identify and alert for dangerous weather quicker than ever. Here's how it's done now:
2-10 days before: Meteorologists study computer forecast models for patterns that could brew severe thunderstorms.
1 day ahead: Nation's Storm Prediction Center outlines areas where severe weather is possible.
Morning of the storm: Observations reveal amount of atmospheric instability and wind shear that may breed storms. Storm Prediction Center updates outlook.
Half-hour to three hours before: Forecasters watch forming thunderstorms with satellite and radar.
Minutes before: Doppler radar looks for severe storm and tornado signatures. Devices that detect lightning and impending tornadoes could be used now. Storm spotters report. Warnings issued.
The average warning for a tornado with winds of 158 mph or faster - the kind that account for most deaths - is 18 minutes, about triple a decade ago.
As reported by Chris Cappella
USA Today, Asst. Weather Editor |
|
| ISO 9001:2000
Certified Manufacturing
Facility |
|
|
|
|
more about our
unparalleled warranty! | |
|
| THE SITUATION... |
 In today's electrical and electronic world, the need for surge protective devices (SPDs) to protect these critical and often very expensive systems is no longer an option, it's a necessity.
With that in mind, the electrical engineering community has set out in search of the most effective protection they can find for their clients. At the same time, they are trying to ensure, via written specifications, that the 'correct-products' are installed at the 'correct-location' and installed in strict accordance with the installation instructions/requirements of the manufacturer, the written specification, and the NEC.
Unfortunately, often times we find that once this equipment makes it to the jobsite, it is either (a) not the correct product for the specific location, (b) not installed in the most effective location in relation to the breaker/protected load, or (c) not installed properly with regard to lead length, breaker size, etc.
While this most certainly poses an immediate concern to both the Consultant/Contractor, as well as the Owner of this property, it equally poses a concern for the manufacturer of the SPD. The manufacturer has a vested interest to ensure that the product works at protecting the system throughout the warranty period, with no damage to the Owner's equipment. After all, that is THE reason the system was designed and purchased in the first place!
Over the years, we have seen many scenarios where an SPD system is properly designed, bid, awarded, shipped and assumed to be installed properly. Then, somewhere down the road the Owner sustains damage to their equipment that they paid to protect. The end result is time wasted, money wasted, and overall frustration at all levels. In some cases safety-to-life concerns arise as well.
Many Mechanical, Engineering, Plumbing (MEP) firms throughout the U.S. offer some sort of commissioning of the systems they design, but yet there are still many more that cannot for a variety of reasons, from manpower/staff to economic reasons to simple geographic location issues.
This is where
Surge Suppression Incorporated®
can help!
To be continued...
Look for the solution in the upcoming issue entitled 'Part 2'.
|
| Testimonial |
|
Mr. David Pelgrim, P.E.
Dir. of Global Support Services
EK Fox, Fairfax, VA
June 7, 2007
We recently completed a project which entailed a root cause analysis and mitigation of multiple equipment failures suffered within a large compound of more than thirty (30) buildings. Based upon our investigation of the available evidence, we found the damage to be traceable to surges resulting from lightning strikes within the compound. These surges caused significant damage to the communications, data and security systems serving the facilities. A lack of transient voltage surge suppression equipment as well as adequate grounding was determined to be a significant contributor to the equipment damage being experienced by our client. In an effort to mitigate the threat of future transient volatge events, we improved the facility grounding systems and specified the installation of Transient Voltage Surge Suppression (TVSS) equipment as manufactured by Surge Suppression Incorporated® (SSI) at all power and communication entry points at each building within the compound.
Since the installation of the TVSS units, several lightning strikes have occurred within the compound without any damage to systems or equipment, to the significant satisfaction of our client.
We appreciate the assistance you provided as we worked to develop a solution for this situation. Your flexibility, client commitment and willingness to support the short schedule requirements of this installation were instrumental in the successful installation of the solution prior to the storm season and gained the satisfaction of our client.
Surge Suppression Incorporated®
"Our Name Says It All" |
|
