FURSE® AIR TERMINATION FOR LIGHTNING PROTECTION
ABB's Furse air termination range provides everything needed to design and build a correctly specified air termination network that captures lightning discharge current and channels it safely into the conductor system, from compact 500 mm air rods for low-level protection to 10 m free-standing interception poles for rooftop equipment on large structures. Manufactured from high conductivity copper and aluminium alloys and certified to IEC/BS EN 62561 and UL 96, every product in the range is engineered to deliver dependable, long-service performance on exposed roof lines across buildings, infrastructure and industrial facilities.
STRIKE FIRST, STAY PROTECTED, LAST A LIFETIME
The air termination network is the first point of contact in any external lightning protection system, responsible for intercepting the lightning discharge and ensuring that current is safely directed into the down conductor network rather than passing through the protected structure. Getting the air termination design right, and installing it with components that will maintain their mechanical and electrical integrity for the full service life of the system, is fundamental to the effectiveness of the entire lightning protection installation.
ABB's Furse air termination range gives designers and installers the components to achieve this across every roof type and application scenario. Air rods manufactured from high conductivity hard drawn copper or aluminium with rolled threads and locknuts are available in 15 mm and 10 mm diameters and lengths from 500 mm to 3,000 mm, covering all lightning protection levels from LPL IV to LPL I when deployed at the spacings specified in IEC/BS EN 62305-3. Air rod bases for flat tape in copper (SD105-H, SD120) and aluminium (SD003-H), horizontal and vertical bases for 8 mm solid circular conductor (SD305, SD307, SD005, SD007), flat saddles for stranded conductors up to 95 mm² (SD155, SD160, SD165), ridge saddles for pitched roof ridge installations and rod brackets (BR105, BR005) for vertical surfaces such as chimney stacks provide a complete selection of fixing options for every structural element and conductor type. Rod to conductor couplings in copper (CG600, CG705, CG710) and aluminium (CG500) connect air rods to flat tape and stranded conductors through rod bracket assemblies, while multiple points (RA600, RA500) and strike pads (PL010, PL005) extend protection coverage on conductor systems embedded within the building fabric.
For modern metal roofing applications, holdfast assemblies designed specifically for trapezoidal cladding systems (TZ405, TZ407) and circular standing seam cladding systems (SC2405, SC2407) provide a weatherproof, non-penetrating solution for securing air rod bases and conductor fasteners to metal roofs without compromising roof integrity. For rooftop equipment protection, free-standing interception poles in stainless steel 304 with aluminium tip are available from 3 m to 10 m in height in two and three piece modular configurations, combined with square, tripod and H-shaped stainless steel base frames and a range of square and circular concrete bases to suit each wind zone, providing a complete free-standing lightning protection solution for air conditioning units, photovoltaic arrays and other rooftop installations.
KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS
<p>ABB's Furse air termination products are designed and manufactured at the Furse facility in Nottingham, United Kingdom, where Furse has been developing structural lightning protection solutions for over 130 years. ABB offers comprehensive technical guidance on air termination design to IEC/BS EN 62305 including rolling sphere, protective angle and mesh method calculations, supported by the Furse StrikeRisk risk assessment software tool and a specialist team of lightning protection engineers available to advise on the correct specification for any project.</p>
Durable
<p>Air rods are manufactured from high conductivity hard drawn copper or aluminium with rolled threads rather than cut threads, providing superior thread strength, and are supplied complete with locknuts to secure the rod to the base and prevent loosening under wind loading, vibration and the mechanical forces produced during a lightning discharge.</p>Corrosion resistant
<p>Air rod bases, saddles, brackets and couplings are manufactured from high quality copper or aluminium alloys rather than commercial brass, providing superior corrosion resistance and conductivity at exposed roof-level connection points throughout the service life of the installation, and holdfast bases for trapezoidal and circular standing seam cladding systems are manufactured from stainless steel 304 to provide excellent corrosion resistance where the holdfast is in direct contact with the metal cladding.</p>Comprehensive range
<p>The range covers air rods in copper and aluminium from 500 mm to 3,000 mm in length, air rod bases for flat tape, solid circular and stranded conductors, ridge saddles for pitched roofs, rod brackets for vertical surfaces, rod to conductor couplings, multiple points, strike pads, holdfast assemblies for trapezoidal and circular standing seam metal roofs and free-standing interception poles from 3 m to 10 m for rooftop equipment protection.</p>Easy installation
<p>Air rod bases fix to structural surfaces using countersunk wood screws and wall plugs, with no specialist tooling required, and holdfast assemblies for trapezoidal cladding systems are supplied complete with stitching screws for rapid attachment to the cladding profile without penetrating the weatherproof membrane, while free-standing interception pole components are modular and stackable, enabling single-person assembly of poles up to 10 m in height from a small number of standard components.</p>Safe
<p>Air termination plays a critical role in capturing the full energy of a lightning strike at the designated interception point and channeling it safely into the conductor network, and the Furse range is specifically designed to ensure that high conductivity is maintained at every connection point throughout the air termination network, minimising the risk of flashover, side flash or thermal damage at joints during a lightning discharge event.</p>Flexible
<p>Free-standing interception poles are available from 3 m to 10 m in height with a choice of square, tripod and H-shaped stainless steel base frames and multiple concrete base weight options to address different wind zones, enabling the correct selection for any site wind exposure class, and the modular stackable pole construction allows configuration to the required height from a standard component set without bespoke manufacturing.</p>Reliable
<p>The Furse free-standing interception air rod system is designed to protect rooftop mounted equipment including air conditioning units and photovoltaic panels from direct lightning strikes, providing a large protection zone in accordance with the rolling sphere method of IEC/BS EN 62305, with the pole height and concrete base configuration selected to provide the required zone of protection for the specific equipment layout and wind zone at each site.</p>Compliant
<p>Certifications include UL 96 (selected air rods, air rod bases and saddles), IEC/BS EN 62561-1 Class H (air rod bases, saddles, rod to conductor couplings and conductor clamps), IEC/BS EN 62561-4 (conductor clips for holdfast assemblies), IEC/BS EN 62305 (free-standing interception poles and all air termination system design), BS EN 50164-1 Class H (air rod bases and saddles) and BS EN 62305-3 (air termination positioning requirements for rolling sphere, protective angle and mesh methods).</p>INDUSTRIES WE SUPPORT
From residential construction to commercial and industrial projects, our products support professionals across diverse industries.
Construction, Data centres, Power generation, Oil and gas, Solar power, Wind power, Railway, Water
CHALLENGES WE SOLVE
Our products are designed to help professionals solve installation, safety and performance challenges in demanding applications.
Hazardous locations, Continuous operation, Sustainability, Cost reduction