Fla. - Balmy weather is not the only thing that arrives in Florida during the summer months. Lightning storms reek havoc across the state, damaging communications towers and equipment of all kinds. This particular storm burned out our entire network, including phones and fax machines. Boeing assigned two of its senior design engineers, Jimmy Nelson and Marc Parsons, to handle the challenge.
Ground rods provide the essential function of connecting the electrical system to the Earth.
The two ground rods were located at two different areas of the building and were not bonded to each other as is required by code. Based on the analysis, Nelson and Parsons immediately recommended bonding the two ground rods with wire. Durr was given a basic testing method and a basic list of instruments used to measure the level of ground resistance of these two rods. In addition, the engineers recommended some standard industry practice ground-wiring procedures for their equipment and the use of surge suppressors, which minimize lightning damage by draining high, incoming voltage to ground. Durr has already begun implementing the recommendations.