DC
Lightning protection down-conductor
The conductor carrying lightning current from air terminations on a structure down to the earth termination system.
GA / Schematic
Symbols · AT
Lightning air termination
A rod or mesh conductor on top of a structure intended to intercept lightning strikes before they hit the structure.
In plain English
What does Lightning air termination mean?
The air termination is the capture device of a lightning protection system. It can be a vertical rod, a stretched wire or a roof mesh. Roof plans mark rods at their positions, and the protected zone around them is set by the design method used.
A simple example
The symbol does not show height, protective angle or the design method. Rooftop equipment such as solar arrays and air conditioning plant within the protected zone may still need bonding or separation, which should appear on the lightning protection layout.
What the drawings help you do
Check rooftop equipment against the protected zone. Read rod heights from the layout notes. An air termination captures the strike; a surge arrester limits overvoltage on electrical conductors.
This particular reference
A rod or mesh conductor on top of a structure intended to intercept lightning strikes before they hit the structure. An air termination captures the strike; a surge arrester limits overvoltage on electrical conductors.
- Terminal
- An identified point where a conductor connects.
- Schematic
- A drawing showing function and connections rather than physical appearance.
Read the source: Building protection system · IEC-60617 symbol preview directory
GA / Schematic · AT
What it represents
The air termination is the capture device of a lightning protection system. It can be a vertical rod, a stretched wire or a roof mesh. Roof plans mark rods at their positions, and the protected zone around them is set by the design method used.
The symbol does not show height, protective angle or the design method. Rooftop equipment such as solar arrays and air conditioning plant within the protected zone may still need bonding or separation, which should appear on the lightning protection layout.
How to read it
- Check rooftop equipment against the protected zone.
- Read rod heights from the layout notes.
Information to show or reference
- Show every air termination position.
- State rod height or mesh size.
- Link to the down-conductor routes.
A distinction that matters
An air termination captures the strike; a surge arrester limits overvoltage on electrical conductors.
Sources you can follow
These public references support the explanation and provide further detail. Their graphics and downloadable files remain with their publishers.
Building protection system
Public installation-guide description of lightning rods and capture devices.
IEC-60617 symbol preview directory
Public directory of IEC-oriented symbol families.
About this graphic
This illustration was authored independently by Elora Grid to explain the concept. It is not reproduced from a customer drawing, an official standard graphic or a manufacturer CAD file. Its correspondence to an exact IEC or IEEE symbol identifier has not been certified.
SVG and DXF downloads contain this original artwork. DXF uses unscaled drawing units; a GA envelope supplies no product dimensions, clearances or fabrication information. Original artwork is available under CC BY 4.0. Third-party references retain their own terms.
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