Surges – an underestimated risk

Surges are an often underestimated risk. These voltage pulses (transients) that only take a split second are caused by direct, nearby and remote lightning strikes or switching operations of a power utility.

As we become increasingly reliant on our electronic systems to assist us and safeguard us in our businesses, the need for adequate protection of these systems increases too.

Surges caused by direct lightning current can be catastrophic and can pose an immediate risk to human life by either equipment failure or even by fire. Those caused by the secondary effects of lightning (known as induced over-voltages), or by switching transients, are more common and can often go relatively unnoticed – until the connected equipment degrades and fails.

A co-ordinated set of surge protection devices can help safeguard both personnel and equipment.