ESE LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM
ABB's Early Streamer Emission lightning protection uses patented OPR and Helita Pulsar ESE air terminal technology to generate an early upward leader during storm events, delivering a large radius of protection for industrial sites, commercial and public buildings, monuments and open-air installations.
ONE TERMINAL. ONE WIDE RADIUS. COMPLETE DIRECT LIGHTNING PROTECTION.
A lightning protection system works only as well as its point of interception. When a downward leader propagates from a storm cloud toward a structure, the attachment process is determined by competition between upward leaders rising from potential strike points on or near the structure. A conventional single rod air terminal produces a natural upward leader. An Early Streamer Emission air terminal generates an earlier upward leader, propagating toward the downward leader before natural leaders form at competing points, increasing the probability of successful interception and extending the radius of protection provided by a single terminal.
ABB's ESE lightning protection technology is built around the OPR (Optimized Pulse Rod) and Pulsar air terminals, each engineered with an electronic device that generates high voltage pulses of controlled frequency and amplitude when the ambient electrical field during a storm reaches a level representing minimum lightning risk. These pulses initiate and continuously propagate an upward leader from the tip of the terminal toward the downward leader from the cloud. The terminal draws its energy entirely from the ambient electrical field during the storm, requiring no external power source, no batteries, no solar cells and no radioactive components. After capturing the lightning strike, the terminal directs the current through down conductors to the earth termination system where it is safely dissipated.
The body of each OPR and Pulsar air terminal is manufactured from 304L stainless steel, with current-conducting parts machined from solid stainless steel blocks. Electronics are protected against climatic variation by encapsulation in a two-component urethane resin, eliminating any possibility of oxidation and supporting service lives confirmed at over 40 years in the field. Each terminal is equipped with the RodCheck system, a mechanical UV-resistant EPDM indicator mounted directly on the external spark gap that provides a visible signal from distance if the terminal has been struck by lightning current at a level that may require a functionality check, without requiring any active electronic components such as batteries, solar panels or radio transmitters.
The protection radius of an OPR or Pulsar ESE air terminal is calculated according to NF C 17-102 (September 2011 edition), depending on the ESE efficiency value (Delta T in microseconds), the protection level (I, II, III or IV) determined by lightning risk assessment, and the height of the terminal above the area to be protected. The range offers Delta T values of 30, 45 and 60 microseconds, with protection radii reaching up to 107 m at installation height in lower protection level classifications, enabling single-terminal coverage of large industrial sites, warehouse rooftops, sports grounds, golf courses, swimming pools, camping sites and open-air areas.
KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS
<p>ABB's ESE lightning protection products are manufactured at their facility in Bagneres-de-Bigorre, France, where external lighning protection technology has been designed and manufactured since 1932 and where the first ESE air terminal was invented in 1984 through a series of patents developed jointly with the French National Scientific Research Centre (CNRS). Each ABB OPR and HELITA Pulsar air terminal undergoes three electronic insulation tests at 25 kV combined wave and three electronic functionality tests during manufacture before leaving the factory, with efficiency confirmed by more than 40,000 sparks generated since 1996 in high-voltage laboratories across multiple countries and validated by independent third-party certification. ABB offers a 10-year warranty extension on each terminal through online product registration.</p>
Safe
<p>ABB OPR and HELITA Pulsar ESE air terminals generate an early upward leader during storm conditions to intercept the downward leader from the cloud before it can attach to a less protected point on or near the structure, channeling the full lightning strike current safely through down conductors to the earth termination system and eliminating direct strike risks including fire, explosion and electric shock hazards to buildings, equipment and personnel within the protection radius.</p>Wide protection radius
<p>The protection radius of the ABB OPR and HELITA Pulsar ESE air terminal range reaches up to 107 m at installation height depending on the Delta T efficiency value, protection level and height above the area to be protected, calculated according to NF C 17-102 (September 2011 edition), enabling a single terminal to protect large industrial footprints, warehouse rooftops, open-air sites and outdoor equipment areas that would require multiple conventional single rod air terminals to achieve equivalent coverage.</p>Fully autonomous
<p>ABB OPR and HELITA Pulsar ESE air terminals harvest operating energy entirely from the ambient electrical field generated during storm conditions, requiring no external power source, no batteries, no solar panels and no radioactive components, eliminating the risk of power supply failure reducing protection effectiveness and removing the maintenance burden associated with battery replacement and photovoltaic panel fouling that affects competing remote-testable lightning rod technologies.</p>Reliable
<p>Each ABB OPR and HELITA Pulsar air terminal undergoes three electronic insulation tests at 25 kV combined wave (8/20 and 1.2/50) on each circuit before assembly, three electronic functionality tests with a test case during manufacture before final packaging, and current withstand testing in 10/350 waveform at 100 kA, with electronics encapsulated in two-component urethane resin to prevent oxidation and terminal bodies machined from solid 304L stainless steel blocks to withstand repeated lightning current events across a confirmed field service life of over 40 years.</p>Low maintenance
<p>The RodCheck visual strike indicator provides a mechanical signal visible from distance if the terminal has been struck by lightning current at a level that may require a functionality check, enabling maintenance teams to assess installation status from ground level and prioritize roof-level inspection visits without requiring active electronic components such as batteries, solar cells or radio control transmitters that would add maintenance needs and overvoltage vulnerability of their own.</p>Technical support
<p>OPR Designer and Pulsar Designer software enable designers and installers to produce complete lightning protection technical studies from site drawings, including protected area layouts, ESE air terminal positioning, complete and detailed bills of material per building, catalogue pages for each component and test certificates, all compiled in a single PDF document for the client, with system design supported by lightning risk assessment to NF C 17-102 Annex A and IEC 62305-2 to define the appropriate protection level before system dimensioning. </p>Durable
<p>ABB OPR and HELITA Pulsar air terminal bodies are manufactured entirely from 304L stainless steel with current-conducting parts machined from solid stainless steel blocks, and all components undergo environmental testing including salt mist and sulphurous atmosphere exposure as part of third-party certification testing, ensuring long-term resistance to mechanical damage and corrosion on exposed roof installations across coastal, industrial and chemical processing environments.</p>Compliant
<p>Certifications include NF C 17-102 (September 2011 edition, certified by APAVE and ITE Spain), UL certification to NF C 17-102 (Certificate E488308), NF IEC EN 62305-3, IEC EN 62561 series for lightning protection system components, Qualifoudre and INERIS certification, and ISO 9001 manufacturing quality management system, with efficiency testing conducted across multiple independent international high-voltage laboratories since 1996.</p>INDUSTRIES WE SUPPORT
From residential construction to commercial and industrial projects, our products support professionals across diverse industries.
Buildings, Data centers, Oil and gas, Power generation, Wind power, Water, Railways, Solar power
CHALLENGES WE SOLVE
Our products are designed to help professionals solve installation, safety and performance challenges in demanding applications.
Safety and hazard, Uptime and availability, Harsh environment, Cost reduction, Maintenance, Regulatory and standard compliance, Corrosive and marine conditions, Labor constraints and workforce gaps