Electricity + Control April 2018

ELPA geared to empower lightning protection industry specialists through holistic continuum of offerings

inspectors of LPSs. It entails the keeping of a register of designers and installers, as well as the inspectorate whose members check the work being done by the installers. To this end, another round of lightning pro- tection installation certification exams took place in January, marking the third such set of exams since August 2017. We will also hold our first course for testers/assessors within the first quarter of the year.” Moving matters online Noting that much of South Africa is subject to high lightning ground flash density, with a consequent wide-ranging need for the in- stallation of LPSs, ELPA is making use of online facilities for some of its courses. Manas says, “In a bid to nationalise our courses, we are introducing some online assessments, starting with the installa- tion accreditation, which currently takes the form of a 90-minute written exam, fol- lowed by a face to face interview with the examiners while still on-site. We are now offering candidates an online examination, and then carrying out Skype interviews with them post exam. In this way, we can accommodate the substantial number of candidates from around South Africa who want to take our ELPA installation exam.” Over and above the LPS certification ex- ams for designers, installers and inspec- tors, ELPA plans to spread its net wider still. “In order for participants to maintain their membership, we will be implement- ing a CPD programme,” says Manas. “We envisage an online element here too, and are exploring the use of webinars as a plat- form for the necessary learning to take place. ELPA is offering electrical engineers a 50% discount on a 2-point CPD accredit- ed lightning protection seminar when they join the association in January or February 2018. This would be extremely valuable to all electrical engineers, as lightning protection is not a subject included in an electrical engineering degree and is normally only offered as part of a post-graduate high volt- age study programme.” CPD programme to boost electrical en- gineers in the science of lightning

From designers through to installers and inspectors of Lightning Protection Systems (LPSs), as well as electricians and electri- cal engineers, the Earthing and Lightning Protection Association (ELPA) is ensuring that it implements all programmes neces- sary in its quest to become South Africa’s recognised National Professional Body for earthing and lightning protection. ELPA National Director Trevor Manas clarifies, “ELPA aims to assist with providing in- dustry accreditations, certification, bench- marks for quality of design and installation, as well as information and education on lightning safety.” Having been officially established in June 2017, after two years of hard work by lightning protection in- dustry experts from around the country, Manas says the umbrella body has already notched up a number of achievements. Certification exams for lightning protec- tion installers, surge protection installa- tions and lightning protection design “During 2017, we held two successful sets of certification exams for lightning protec- tion installers,” Manas outlines. “In Janu- ary 2018, we followed this up with the in- troduction of accreditations for electricians who carry out surge protection installa- tions. This new programme covers the proper selection, coordination and instal- lation of Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) to power supply systems, and we believe that electricians will gain extremely valua- ble guidance in this part of their scope of works. “At the same time, we launched our first designers’ accreditations, noting that the actual science of lightning protection really comes together in the lightning pro- tection design. The designers’ course will follow a modular process: there are five parts to each module, and each module will take a month to complete.” More to come through the COC pro- gramme Other certification exams will follow in the first quarter of 2018, and are linked to the launch of the ELPA Certificates of Compli- ance (COC) programme in late 2017. Manas explains, “The COC programme is aimed at ELPA-accredited designers, installers and

Moving at the speed of light(ning)! “It is tremendously satisfying to see ELPA, while technically still in its infancy as such a newly established organisation, already moving so quickly in our quest to achieve certainty through certification and compliance. I believe that, in the pur- suit of becoming the recognised National Professional Body for earthing and light- ning protection, it bodes well for the rest of 2018 that we are getting off to such a solid start,” Manas concludes. ELPA is supported by various institutions such as Wits University, the Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa (ECA) and the Department of Labour. Enquiries: Email info@ elpasa.org.za or visit www.elpasa.org.za

ELPA national director, Trevor Manas, with a successful candidate.

40 Electricity + Control

APRIL 2018