Design Services
Complete engineering design services for lightning protection systems, surge protection coordination, earthing installations, and electromagnetic compatibility solutions, delivering construction-ready documentation for critical infrastructure projects.
Service Overview
Aetheric provides comprehensive engineering design services encompassing all aspects of lightning protection, surge protection, and earthing system implementation. Our designs translate conceptual requirements and risk assessment findings into detailed, constructible systems complying with applicable codes, standards, and client specifications. We deliver complete design packages supporting construction bidding, procurement, installation, and commissioning activities.
Design services can be provided as standalone deliverables or integrated with our risk assessment, testing, and consulting offerings to provide complete project support from concept through commissioning. Our multidisciplinary approach addresses interactions between lightning protection, earthing, surge protection, and facility electrical systems, ensuring seamless integration.
Lightning Protection System Design
Lightning protection designs integrate external and internal protection measures into cohesive systems appropriate for facility risk levels and operational requirements. External protection system design addresses air termination (rods, mesh conductors, catenary wires), down conductors (routing, sizing, separation distances), and earth termination (integration with facility earthing). Our designs account for architectural constraints, structural loading, aesthetic considerations, and access for maintenance.
Internal protection design encompasses equipotential bonding, surge protective device (SPD) specifications, and cable shielding. We specify SPD ratings per IEC 61643 and AS/NZS 61643 standards, installation locations, and coordination across multiple protection stages (Type 1, Type 2, Type 3). Bonding designs address metallic services, structural steel, piping systems, and cable shields to minimize lightning-induced voltage differences within facilities per AS/NZS 3000 requirements.
Advanced electromagnetic modeling using XGSLab's Lightning module, grounding analysis capabilities, and electromagnetic interference analysis validates design performance, quantifying ground potential rise, step and touch voltages, and electromagnetic field levels. Modeling results inform design refinements optimizing protection effectiveness and safety margins.
Surge Protection Coordination
Proper surge protection requires coordinated SPD installation across multiple protection stages. Aetheric designs complete SPD coordination schemes following IEC 61643 series and AS/NZS 61643 standards. Type 1 SPDs at service entrance protect against direct lightning current and high-energy surges from external sources. Type 2 SPDs at distribution panels provide protection for branch circuits and connected equipment. Type 3 SPDs offer point-of-use protection for sensitive electronic devices.
SPD coordination analysis ensures proper energy sharing between protection stages, prevents cascading failures, and maintains continuous protection throughout the electrical distribution system. Our designs specify appropriate SPD characteristics including maximum discharge current (Imax), voltage protection level (Up), response time, and failure mode (short-circuit or open-circuit). Installation requirements including maximum lead lengths, connection methods, and disconnection provisions are detailed to ensure SPD effectiveness.
Earthing System Design
Earthing system design establishes the foundation for lightning protection effectiveness, electrical safety, and SPD operation. Our designs specify electrode configurations (ground grids, foundation earthing, vertical electrodes, horizontal conductors) based on soil resistivity measurements, site constraints, and performance requirements. Conductor sizing accounts for fault current magnitude, duration, and maximum permissible temperature rise per IEEE 80, IEC 60364, and AS/NZS 3000.
For facilities in high soil resistivity environments, we design resistivity-reducing enhancements including chemical ground rods, bentonite clay treatment, or expanded electrode grids. Seasonal variations in soil moisture and temperature are considered for locations experiencing significant environmental changes affecting system performance.
Earthing designs integrate with cathodic protection systems where present, addressing potential conflicts and implementing mitigation measures. Connections to metallic infrastructure including pipelines, structural steel, and buried utilities are specified per AS/NZS 4852.1 to prevent unintended current paths while maintaining protection system effectiveness.
Standards-Based Design Approach
All Aetheric designs comply with internationally recognized standards including IEC 62305 (Protection Against Lightning), AS/NZS 1768 (Lightning Protection), AS/NZS 3000 (Electrical Installations), AS/NZS 4852.1 (Earthing), IEC 61643 and AS/NZS 61643 (Surge Protective Devices), IEEE 80 (Guide for Safety in AC Substation Grounding), IEEE 81 (Guide for Measuring Earth Resistivity), and IEEE 998 (Guide for Direct Lightning Stroke Shielding). Regional variations and local authority requirements are accommodated based on project location across New Zealand, Australia, ASEAN, and MENA regions.
Industry-specific standards are applied where applicable, including NFPA 780 for general buildings, API RP 2003 for protection of petroleum facilities, and telecommunications industry standards for communications infrastructure. Design calculations and analysis documentation demonstrate compliance with all applicable requirements.
Construction Documentation
Design deliverables include complete construction documentation suitable for competitive bidding and contractor implementation. Drawings are produced using industry-standard platforms including AutoCAD with compatibility for import/export with Revit, Navisworks, Civil 3D, MicroStation, and EPLAN. Plans show conductor routing, connection points, component locations, and integration with architectural and structural elements at appropriate scales.
Technical specifications define materials, installation methods, testing requirements, and quality standards. We specify manufacturers, product standards (including IEC 61643 and AS/NZS 61643 for SPDs), and acceptable alternatives to provide contractors clarity while maintaining competitive procurement. Specifications address installation workmanship, joint types (exothermic welding, compression connectors), SPD installation requirements, and verification testing per AS/NZS 3000.
Bill of quantities documents facilitate cost estimating and procurement, listing all materials including SPDs with item descriptions, quantities, and units. Design calculations supporting conductor sizing, electrode design, SPD coordination, and performance verification using XGSLab analysis are compiled for permitting and client records.
Integration with Facility Systems
Lightning protection, surge protection, and earthing designs must coordinate with multiple facility systems including electrical power, telecommunications, instrumentation and control, and mechanical services. Our designs address surge protection for power distribution, telecommunications entrance facilities, control systems, and sensitive electronic equipment through properly specified and coordinated SPDs per IEC 61643 and AS/NZS 61643. Bonding interfaces with electrical equipment, HVAC systems, piping, and structural steel are detailed per AS/NZS 3000 to ensure comprehensive protection.
For new construction projects, we coordinate with architectural and structural design teams to integrate protection systems efficiently during initial construction, exchanging files in AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, and other BIM formats. For retrofit projects, designs accommodate existing facility constraints while achieving required protection performance.
Industry Applications
Data Centers
Complete protection system design for mission-critical facilities including power systems, IT infrastructure, and telecommunications equipment with comprehensive SPD coordination.
Renewable Energy
Wind farm protection including individual turbine earthing, collection system bonding, and substation integration. Solar photovoltaic installation designs addressing inverter protection, DC system earthing, and SPD specifications for sensitive power electronics.
Industrial Facilities
Manufacturing plants, chemical facilities, and process industries requiring hazardous area compliance per AS/NZS 3000 and operational continuity protection.
Critical Infrastructure
Transportation facilities, telecommunications sites, water treatment plants, and government installations requiring comprehensive protection solutions complying with AS/NZS 1768 and AS/NZS 3000.
Deliverables
- Complete design drawing package including plans, elevations, details, and connection diagrams in AutoCAD format with compatibility for Revit, Navisworks, and other platforms.
- Technical specifications for materials, installation, and testing including SPD specifications per IEC 61643 and AS/NZS 61643.
- SPD coordination study documenting protection stages, ratings, and installation requirements.
- Bill of quantities for cost estimating and procurement.
- Design calculations and electromagnetic analysis documentation using XGSLab's Lightning module, grounding analysis, and electromagnetic interference analysis capabilities.
- Standards compliance certification demonstrating conformance with applicable codes (IEC 62305, AS/NZS 1768, AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 61643, AS/NZS 4852.1).
- Construction administration support including RFI responses, submittal reviews, and site inspections (optional).
