The actual conductor is by far the largest and most important component of any structural lightning protection or earthing system.
Selection of the correct conductor type for the installation is essential and will likely be the initial consideration of a lightning protection or earthing system designer.
The following sizes are suitable for the majority of above-ground lightning protection systems:
- TC030 flat tape conductor 25 x 3 mm bare tape, or 25 x 3 mm PVC covered tape
- Solid circular conductor 8 mm diameter bare or PVC covered solid circular conductor
- Stranded conductor 95/70 mm2 bare or PVC-covered stranded conductor
A comprehensive range of Furse copper and aluminium conductors is available in each of the main globally recognised standard formats: flat tape, solid circular, and stranded (note: copper stranded only). Additionally, each format is available in a variety of conductor sizes to meet differing lightning protection and earthing requirements.
The specification will depend on whether the application is for an above-ground structural lightning protection system or a below-ground earthing installation.
Conductors for structural lightning protection systems
Furse lightning protection conductors are available in copper and aluminium. Copper can be supplied bare, tinned, PVC, LSOH, or lead-covered. It is used for most installations due to its high conductivity, anti-corrosive properties, and flexibility for use in air, earth, and concrete. Aluminium can be supplied bare or with a PVC coating.
Conductors for earthing systems
For below-ground earthing applications, we offer a wide range of bare copper tape and solid circular and stranded conductors, thus offering the system designer the correctly rated conductor without oversizing.
These conductors connect to a final earth electrode (earth rod or plate) or the earth electrode itself (earth grid or ring earth arrangement).
An earth conductor must be capable of carrying the maximum expected earth fault current and leakage current likely to occur at a structure. Therefore, the size or minimum cross-sectional area of the conductor must be gauged in accordance with these criteria.
A good earth conductor must also:
- Be able to withstand mechanical damage
- Be compatible with the material of the earth electrode
- Resist the corrosive effect of local soil conditions
Furse conductors effectively meet these requirements and are available in various sizes to meet differing current ratings.
Copper conductors are recommended as follows: BS 7430, aluminium should not be installed in contact with soil or in damp areas and should not be used to make the final connection to an earth electrode.
| Part no. | ABB order code | Conductor size X x Y (mm) | Standard coil size (m) | Weight per metre (kg) |
| TC015 | 7TCA083010R0054 | 20 x 1.5 | 100 | 0.27 |
| TC020 | 7TCA083010R0060 | 20 x 3 | 50 | 0.53 |
| TC020/100 | 7TCA083010R0061 | 20 x 3 | 100 | 0.53 |
| TC026-FU | 7TCA083010R0072 | 25 x 2 | 50 | 0.45 |
| TC030 | 7TCA083010R0081 | 25 x 3 | 25 | 0.67 |
| TC030/50 | 7TCA083010R0097 | 25 x 3 | 50 | 0.67 |
| TC030-UL | 7TCA083010R0082 | 1” x 1 ⁄8” | 25 | 0.67 |
| TC035 | 7TCA083010R0127 | 25 x 4 | 50 | 0.89 |
| TC040 | 7TCA083010R0144 | 25 x 6 | 40 | 1.33 |
| TC042 | 7TCA083010R0155 | 30 x 3 | 50 | 0.80 |
| TC044 | 7TCA083010R0167 | 30 x 4 | 40 | 1.07 |
| TC043-FU | 7TCA083010R0697 | 30 x 5 | 40 | 1.33 |
| TC045 | 7TCA083010R0174 | 31 x 3 | 50 | 0.83 |
| TC048 | 7TCA083010R0177 | 31.5 x 4 | 40 | 1.13 |
| TC050 | 7TCA083010R0185 | 31 x 6 | 30 | 1.65 |
| TC055 | 7TCA083010R0191 | 38 x 3 | 50 | 1.01 |
| TC060-FU | 7TCA083010R0198 | 38 x 5 | 30 | 1.69 |
| TC065 | 7TCA083010R0209 | 38 x 6 | 25 | 2.02 |
| TC067 | 7TCA083010R0241 | 40 x 3 | 40 | 1.06 |
| TC066 | 7TCA083010R0217 | 40 x 4 | 30 | 1.42 |
| TC071 | 7TCA083010R0272 | 40 x 5 | 25 | 1.78 |
| TC068 | 7TCA083010R0250 | 40 x 6 | 25 | 2.16 |
| TC070 | 7TCA083010R0265 | 50 x 3 | 40 | 1.33 |
| TC075 | 7TCA083010R0279 | 50 x 4 | 30 | 1.78 |
| TC078 | 7TCA083010R0292 | 50 x 5 | 20 | 2.22 |
| TC080 | 7TCA083010R0294 | 50 x 6 | 20 | 2.68 |
| TC090 | 7TCA083010R0324 | 50 x 7 | 10 | 3.08 |
| TC092 | 7TCA083010R0642 | 50 x 8 | 10 | 3.56 |
| TC093 | 7TCA083010R0679 | 75 x 6 | 10 | 4.00 |
| TC094 | 7TCA083010R0658 | 50 x 10 | 10 | 4.44 |
| TC096 | 7TCA083010R0659 | 60 x 10 | 10 | 5.32 |
| TC098 | 7TCA083010R0660 | 80 x 6 | 10 | 4.32 |
| TC099 | 7TCA083010R0661 | 100 x 6 | 10 | 5.36 |
