The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lightning Rod Conference, by C. Brooke and Prof. Lewis and Latimer Clark and W. G. Adams This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: Lightning Rod Conference Report of the delegates from the following societies, viz: Meteorlogical Society, and others. Author: C. Brooke Prof. Lewis Latimer Clark W. G. Adams Editor: G. J. Symons Release Date: November 28, 2018 [EBook #58367] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIGHTNING ROD CONFERENCE *** Produced by Richard Tonsing, Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) LIGHTNING ROD CONFERENCE. REPORT OF THE DELEGATES FROM THE FOLLOWING SOCIETIES, VIZ.: METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY. C. BROOKE, F.R.S., Past President [THE LATE]. E. E. DYMOND, F.M.S., Vice-President. G. J. SYMONS, F.R.S., President. ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS. PROF. LEWIS, F.S.A., Vice-President. J. WHICHCORD, F.S.A., Past President. SOCIETY OF TELEGRAPH ENGINEERS AND OF ELECTRICIANS. LATIMER CLARK, M. INST. C.E., Past President. W. H. PREECE, F.R.S., M. INST. C.E., Past President. PHYSICAL SOCIETY. PROF. W. G. ADAMS, F.R.S., Past President. PROF. G. CAREY FOSTER, F.R.S., Past President. CO-OPTED MEMBERS. PROF. W. E. AYRTON, F.R.S. PROF. D. E. HUGHES, F.R.S. With a Code of Rules for the Erection of Lightning Conductors; and various Appendices. EDITED BY THE SECRETARY, G. J. SYMONS, F.R.S. LONDON: E. & F. N. SPON, 16, CHARING CROSS. NEW YORK: 446, BROOME STREET. 1882. KENNY & CO., PRINTERS, 25, CAMDEN ROAD, N.W. CONTENTS. PAGE Preface v Report 1 Section 1.—The purpose which a lightning conductor is intended to serve 1 Section 2.—A statement of those features in the Construction and Erection of Lightning Conductors, respecting which there has been, or is, a difference of opinion, and the final decision of the Conference thereupon 3 Points 3 Material for Conductor 5 Size of Rod 6 Shape of Rod (Rod, Tube, Tape, Rope, Plait) 7 Joints 10 Protection of Rod 10 Painting 11 Attachment to Buildings 11 Earth Plates 11 Space Protected 12 Height of Upper Terminal 14 Testing Conductors 14 Internal Masses of Metal 15 External Masses of Metal 16 Section 3.—Code of Rules for the Erection of Lightning Conductors 16 Appendices A.—Circular and Questions issued to Manufacturers, and their Replies (1) B.—Analysis of, and remarks upon, the views of the Manufacturers (17) C.—Reply from Manufacturers received after the completion of Appendix B. (23) D.—Report of the Representatives of the Royal Institute of British Architects (27) E.—Particulars of Accidents by Lightning, collected 1857–59, by Mr. Symons, and Report upon the same (43) F.—Abstracts of Printed Documents (51) G.—Catalogue of Works upon Lightning Conductors (143) H.—Application to, and Replies from, the Local Hon. Secretaries of the Society of Telegraph Engineers and other distinguished Foreign Authorities (175) I.—General Correspondence (183) J.—Data respecting the Sectional Area of Metal requisite for Lightning Conductors (223) K.—Notes respecting Lightning Conductors, collected in Paris in May, 1881, by Messrs. Preece and Symons (225) L.—On the Lightning Conductors at the Paris International Electrical Exhibition, by Messrs. Dymond and Symons (229) M.—Miscellaneous (233) Index to Appendices (245) ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Sketch illustrative of terms employed face x Sketch illustrative of area of protection 13 Plans and Elevation of Nottingham Castle (25) (26) Tower of Church of Week St. Mary, Cornwall (32) Plan and Elevation of Twyford Moors, Winchester (34) Plan and Elevation of St. James’ Church, West-End, Hants. (35) Plan and Elevation of houses at Lewisham, Wandsworth, and Forest Hill (38) View of Tower of Holborn Union Infirmary, Holloway (40) Plan and Elevation of Laundry at Gravesend (41) Regnier’s System of Lightning Conductors (54) Joints and Earth Terminals recommended in France in 1807 (55) Powder Magazine, with oblique as well as vertical rods (57) Mode of attaching Conductor to Upper Terminal (59) View and Plan of Bruntcliffe Gunpowder Store (75) View of Board House, at Purfleet (78) View and Plan of Heckingham Poorhouse (87) (88) Diagrams illustrative of space protected (135) (136) Plan and Elevation of Church of Ste. Croix, at Ixelles (141) Sketch of arrangements for Public Buildings in Denmark (177) Plan and Elevations of Systems for Powder Magazines in Denmark (178) Attachment and Earth Terminal used in Italy (180) Sections of Rods used by the Trinity Board (183) Eddystone and Spurn Point Lighthouses (184) South Foreland High Light (185) Eddystone Lighthouse (191) Plan and Elevation of house at Trolley Bottom, St. Albans (197) Plan and Elevation of washhouse of Middlesboro’ Fever Hospital (203) Plan and Elevation of Indian Pagoda (207) Plan and Elevation of Upwood Gorse, Caterham (211) Sections of Rod at Upwood Gorse, Caterham (214) (215) Sections of Munson’s Rods (216) View and Section of Cutting’s Conductor Coupling (217) Plan and Elevation of Christ Church, Carmarthen (218) Plan and View of house, and of Bootham Bar, York (220) (221) PREFACE. Although France and other nations have taken active steps to give official sanction to the best known means of protection from the ill effects of atmospheric electricity, nothing in this way has ever been done in England for the public generally. The enquiries by householders and public bodies for advice and instruction were so numerous, the absence of authorized or well-matured directions was so marked, the practice in vogue so varied and anomalous, that it occurred to the Meteorological Society to take some action in the matter. Accordingly, at a Meeting of the Council of the Meteorological Society, held on 15th of May, 1878, it was resolved— ‘That the House Committee be instructed to address the following Societies:— The Royal Institute of British Architects, The Physical Society, The Society of Telegraph Engineers, asking them to name delegates to co-operate in considering the desirability or otherwise of issuing a code of rules for the erection of lightning conductors, and to proceed in preparing a code if it is thought desirable.’ In accordance with this resolution the following letter was addressed to the Secretaries of the above Societies:— The Meteorological Society, 30, Great George Street, Westminster, June 14, 1878. Sir, The Council of the Meteorological Society have had under their consideration for some time the possibility of formulating the existing knowledge on the subject of the protection of property from damage by electricity, and the advisability of preparing and issuing a general code of rules for the erection of lightning conductors. They are of opinion that this would best be done by a joint committee of representative members of those Societies before which such subjects most naturally come; and they have, therefore, decided upon inviting the co-operation of your Society by the nomination of one or more delegates to join a Committee by whom the whole question should be considered, and to whom also any written communications would be submitted. The Council trust that your Society may be represented by delegates; but if that course be impossible, they invite any written suggestions which you may have to offer. A meeting of the delegates will be called for an early date after the receipt from the Societies consulted, of the names of the gentlemen nominated by each. We are, Sir, Your obedient servants, G. J. Symons, } John W. Tripe,} Hon. Secretaries. In reply to this circular all the societies invited nominated delegates, and the Conference was constituted as follows:— Meteorological Society. C. Brooke, F.R.S., Past President. E. E. Dymond, F.M.S. G. J. Symons, F.R.S., Secretary. Royal Institute of British Architects. Prof. Lewis, F.S.A. J. Whichcord, F.S.A., Vice President. Society of Telegraph Engineers and of Electricians. Latimer Clark, M. Inst. C.E., Past President. W. H. Preece, F.R.S., M. Inst. C.E., Vice President. Physical Society. Prof. W. G. Adams, F.R.S., President. Prof. G. Carey Foster, F.R.S., Past President. The steps taken by the delegates will be best explained by a short narrative chiefly formed of extracts from the minute book of the Conference. The first meeting was held at the rooms of the Meteorological Society, on November 14th, 1878, when all the delegates were present. Mr. C. Brooke, F.R.S., was appointed President of the Conference, and Mr. G. J. Symons, F.R.S., Secretary. Professor W. E. Ayrton was elected a member. v vi vii A circular, which will be found in Appendix A, was drafted for issue to manufacturers of lightning conductors. This was sent to sixty-five firms, but only eight replied, and their answers are printed verbatim in the same Appendix. An analysis of the replies forms Appendix B. Appendix C is a reply received too late for insertion in Appendix A, and after Mr. Preece had compiled Appendix B. Another reply from an American firm will be found in Appendix I, p. (192), making ten in all. At a subsequent meeting, the delegates from the Royal Institute of British Architects were requested to ask the Council of that body to issue a circular to their members inviting them to furnish information respecting buildings injured by lightning. This circular, together with abstracts of the replies, and a brief Introductory Summary, by Messrs. Lewis and Whichcord, will be found in Appendix D. Mr. Symons submitted to the meeting a mass of statistics respecting accidents by lightning which he had collected in the years 1857–59; they were referred to Professor Ayrton, and his note upon them constitutes Appendix E. At the meeting on August 5th, 1879, the Secretary announced the death of the President of the Conference, Mr. C. Brooke, F.R.S., a vote of condolence was passed unanimously, and ordered to be forwarded to Mrs. Brooke. The Conference then proceeded to elect a new Chairman, and it was unanimously resolved that Professor W. G. Adams, F.R.S., be requested to accept the office. The following circular was approved and ordered to be forwarded to a large number of the most important newspapers and periodicals throughout the United Kingdom. LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS. To the Editor of —— Sir,— In the summer of 1878 delegates were nominated by the following Societies, viz., the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Society of Telegraph Engineers, the Physical Society, and the Meteorological Society, for the following purpose:— “To consider the possibility of formulating the existing knowledge on the subject of the protection of property from damage by electricity, and the advisability of preparing and issuing a general code of rules for the erection of Lightning Conductors.” The delegates have held several meetings, and have already collected, firstly, from the manufacturers of Lightning Conductors, and secondly, from the Members of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a large amount of thoroughly practical information. Several of their number are also engaged in forming abstracts of the salient features of the literature of the subject. The Members of the Conference are, however, most anxious that their Report should be as trustworthy and as exhaustive as possible, and they have, therefore, instructed me to ask you to assist them by publishing this epitome of their proceedings, and allowing them to invite correspondence upon the points mentioned below. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, G. J. SYMONS, F.R.S., Secretary to the Conference. Lightning Rod Conference, 30, Great George Street, S.W. viii CLASS OF FACTS MOST REQUIRED. Full details of accidents by lightning, stating especially whether the building struck had a conductor or not. If there was a conductor, state its dimensions—construction—mode of attachment to building—whether its top was pointed— distance of its upper terminal from the place struck—nature and extent of the connection between the conductor and the earth, and whether the earth was dry or moist—whether the conductor was itself injured—and whether the conductor or the point struck was the most salient object in the vicinity. Information is also desired, either verbally or by sketches, as to the position of metal spouting and lead roofing relatively to the point struck, and to the conductor. Details of the thickest piece of metal melted by a flash of lightning are much needed. Unimpeachable evidence of the failure of conductors is much desired, as such failures would be extremely instructive. The replies were by no means as numerous as was expected: the most important will be found in Appendix I. At the meeting, October 27th, 1879, it was resolved “That the members of the Conference will undertake to prepare abstracts of the principal English and Foreign books upon Lightning Conductors.” This work became extremely heavy, and occupied much time, as will be seen from Appendix F, which contains abstracts of sixty separate treatises, of which 26 are from English, 17 from French, 6 from Belgian, 5 from American, and 5 from German authors, and one is from the Norwegian. In order to guard against omitting important works, it was resolved “That application be made to the Society of Telegraph Engineers for advance sheets of the Ronalds Catalogue.” From it, supplemented by Mr. Latimer Clark’s and other lists, the Secretary compiled Appendix G., which contains the full titles of no fewer than 704 separate works upon lightning conductors, or on subjects intimately connected therewith. At the same meeting it was resolved that efforts be made to obtain a set of the official instructions issued in all foreign countries. The circular issued, and an abstract of the information collected, including replies from America, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Holland, India, Italy, and Norway, will be found in Appendix H. Full details respecting the practice in France will be found in Appendices F, K, and L, and a notice of Zenger’s Austrian system, on p. (104). At the meeting, Nov. 20th, 1879, the Secretary was unanimously requested to act as Editor of the Report. At the meeting, Jan. 22nd, 1880, a letter was received from Mr. R. H. Scott, F.R.S., Secretary to the Meteorological Council, enclosing a report respecting the injury to the “Southern Queen,” it was resolved, “That some of the delegates visit the ship.” The report and a note of the results of the visit will be found in Appendix I page (205). At the meeting, April 15th, 1880, Prof. D. E. Hughes was unanimously elected member of the Conference. At the meeting, July 6th, 1880, the Secretary handed in a sketch of a house with various parts of the lightning conductor marked upon it, and obtained from the delegates definite names for each portion, in order that in framing the report there might be no uncertainty as to what was meant by any special term, great confusion in this respect having previously existed. The terms adopted have been: Conductor.—The whole arrangement for the protection of a building. Point.—The upper termination of the conductor, whether blunt or sharp, single or bifurcated. Upper terminal.—That portion of the conductor which is between the top of the edifice and the point. Joint.— Any connection between any two parts of the conductor. Rod.—The main portion of the conductor, whether it consist of rope, tape, tube or solid rod. Circuit des Faîtes.—A rod running round the eaves of a house, the battlements of a tower, &c. Earth plate.—The termination of the conductor in the ground, the pattern being indicated by special terms. The accompanying lithograph will, it is hoped, supply all additional necessary particulars. It is desirable to state that the illustrations in this Report have been prepared by Mr. E. White Wallis, F.M.S., so as to bring out the various features distinctly, and as nearly as possible in true proportion, but without any attempt at artistic finish. The meetings during the latter part of 1880, and the early part of 1881, were devoted chiefly to the discussion of various questions as bases for the report. Much time was also occupied in perfecting the various appendices, and in compiling an exhaustive index to them. In May, 1881, Messrs. Preece and Symons, being in Paris, made careful enquiries as to the existing practice in France respecting lightning conductors. Their notes form Appendix K. At the meeting held on May 27th, 1881, the Secretary was instructed to draw up a draft report, and this having been put in type was sent to all the delegates; carefully considered, revised, and amended at various subsequent meetings, and finally adopted. INDEX SKETCH OF LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR, ILLUSTRATING THE TERMS EMPLOYED IN THE REPORT. TERMS APPLIED TO THE VARIOUS PARTS OF A CONDUCTOR. ix x Crutch Strap Staple Wall Eye A Point B Upper Terminal c Joint D Rod E Ridge Rod F Circuit des faîtes G Earth Plates G1 Earth Plates Sanderson G2 Earth Plates Borrel G3 Earth Plates Spang REPORT. The Delegates are of opinion that it will conduce to clearness of statement if their Report be divided into three sections— (1) The purpose which a lightning conductor is intended to serve. (2) A statement of those features in the construction and erection of lightning conductors respecting which there has been, or is, a difference of opinion, and the final decision of the Conference thereupon. (3) Code of rules for the erection of lightning conductors. 1 SECTION I.—The purpose which a Lightning Conductor is intended to serve. A flash of lightning is the passage of an electric spark between two bodies oppositely or unequally electrified, and between which the difference of electric pressure or potential is sufficiently strong to break across the air space which separates them, and to produce what is known as a disruptive discharge. A flash may pass either between one cloud and another, or between a cloud and the earth. In the former case damage is not likely to be done, in the latter damage is or is not done, according to the point at or from which the lightning strikes. The more any object projects above the general level, the less is the distance between it and the cloud, and as the less the distance the less the resistance offered to the discharge, high objects are, cœteris paribus, most frequently struck. Some substances, such as copper or iron, can conduct a large quantity of electricity with facility, and are called good conductors. Other substances, such as living vegetable or animal matter, offer much obstruction, and form only partial conductors; while dry earth, stone, and wood almost entirely prevent the passage of electricity, and are very bad conductors—in fact, insulators. For instance, a man may with perfect impunity clasp a copper rod an inch in diameter, the bottom of which is well connected with moist earth, while the top of it receives a violent flash of lightning. But if the electricity does not find a path prepared for it, it will utilise such partial conductors as may be reasonably near, for example—the heated air from a kitchen chimney, the soot inside, and then the metal range at the bottom; here, however, stone or dry material is generally found, which will not conduct it, and then it dashes across the kitchen at some gas or water pipe, or some pump or drain leading to damp earth, doing serious damage on the way: or it may meet some tree in its course and rend it from top to bottom, and if the human body intervene life may be destroyed. Mechanical injury is inflicted only where the conduction for the discharge is imperfect. A lightning conductor fulfils two functions: it facilitates the discharge of the electricity to the earth, so as to carry it off harmlessly, and it tends to prevent disruptive discharge by silently neutralising the conditions which determine such discharge in the neighbourhood of the conductor. To effect the first object a lightning conductor should offer a line of discharge more nearly perfect, and more accessible, than any other offered by the materials or contents of the edifice we wish to protect. To effect the second object the conductor should be surmounted by a point or points. Fine points and flames have the property of slowly and silently dissipating the electrical charges; they, in fact, act as safety valves. If all these conditions be fulfilled; if the points be high enough to be the most salient features of the building no matter from what direction the storm cloud may come, be of ample dimensions and in thoroughly perfect electrical connection with the earth, the edifice with all that it contains will be safe, and the conductor might even be surrounded by gunpowder in the heaviest storm without risk or danger. All accidents may be said to be due to a neglect of these simple elementary principles. The most frequent sources of failure are conductors deficient either in number, height, or conductivity, bad joints, or bad earth connections. There is no authentic case on record where a properly-constructed conductor failed to do its duty. 2 3 SECTION II.—A Statement of those features in the construction and erection of Lightning Conductors, respecting which there has been, or is, a difference of opinion, and the final decision of the Conference thereupon. Points. Material for Conductor. Size of Rod. Shape of Rod. (Rods, Tubes, Tape, Rope, Plait.) Joints. Protection of Rod. Attachment to Building. Earth Plates. Space Protected. Height of Upper Terminal. Testing Conductors. Internal Masses of Metal. External Masses of Metal. POINTS.—Starting with the extreme top, we have first to deal with the question of points. The utility of points was hotly contested rather more than a century since, and an abstract of the discussion will be found in Appendix F, page (79), and difference of opinion still exists as to their precise functions and value. The decision as to the best form of points is complicated by two opposing requirements (1), the sharper the point the more rapid the silent discharge of electricity, and, therefore, the more effective the conductor; but (2) the sharper the point the more easily is it destroyed by oxidation, or fused, should a heavy disruptive discharge fall upon it. Attempts have been made by the use of gold, silver, and platinum, to obtain a sharp point which should not only be durable, but, owing to its high melting point, resist fusion by a disruptive discharge. But such metals are very expensive, and the statements in Appendix F, pages (67, 69, 73, 103, 123, 128, and 139) prove that even platinum points are often damaged. Copper points whose sectional area is less than ·05 of a square inch are very liable to be melted. Lightning has even fused a copper rod ·10 sq. in. in sectional area, i.e., 0·35 in. in diameter, and there are many rods still standing of which the extremity has been melted into a button or knob. For these reasons it seems best to separate the double functions of the point, prolonging the upper terminal to the very summit, and merely bevelling it off, so that, if a disruptive discharge does take place, the full conducting power of the rod may be ready to receive it, and, therefore, that there may be no risk of melted particles of metal setting fire to the building, as has occurred. [Appendix F, p. (93).] At the same time, having regard to the importance of silent discharge from sharp points, we suggest that at one foot below the extreme top of the upper terminal there be firmly attached, by screws and solder, a copper ring, bearing three or four copper needles, each 6 inches long and tapering from ¼ inch diameter to as fine a point as can be made; and with the object of rendering the sharpness as permanent as possible, we advise that they be platinized, gilded, or nickel plated. Vanes, finials, and ornamental ironwork so frequently form the upper portion of edifices, that it is essential to consider their relation to the conductor. They should always be in perfect metallic connection with the conductor. The possibility of such metal work inducing the charge to desert the conductor for some other path is sometimes suggested, but it could not happen unless the conductor were out of order, e.g., of inadequate conducting power, or had an imperfect earth-contact. With respect to factory chimneys, a different practice prevails in England from that which is nearly universal on the Continent. In this country one straight rod is usually carried up on one side of the chimney to a height above the top about equal to the diameter of the chimney. On the Continent two arches of iron are put crosswise over the aperture of the chimney, and a vertical rod is carried up from the intersection. In both systems the upper terminal suffers from the corroding effect of the fumes from the chimney. Dr. Mann thought, Appendix F, p. (132), that considering the ready path for lightning afforded by the heated smoke discharged from chimneys, a coronal conductor should be placed upon them, as well as a multiple point. Messrs. Gray say, p. (9): “For high chimney shafts we fit a copper band round the top, and four points thereon connected to main down rod.” The Edinburgh Gas Works chimney, 341 feet high and 14 feet across at the top, was fitted with a conductor under the advice of Faraday, Appendix F, p. (89). It had an iron plate on the top; Faraday directed that the rod should be connected with this plate, and the upper terminal should rise vertically 6 feet above it. We are of opinion that a coronal or copper band, with stout copper points, each about 1 ft. long, at intervals of 2 or 3 ft. throughout the circumference, will make the most durable and generally useful protector for a factory chimney, but these points should be gilded or otherwise protected against corrosion. MATERIAL FOR CONDUCTOR.—Iron and copper are practically the only two metals which need consideration; brass, which has sometimes been used is so perishable that its employment is a self- evident error. We will assume the conductivity of equal lengths and weights of iron to be, in the case of steady currents of electricity, ⅙th that of copper, and the cost of iron to be ⅑th that of copper, this 4 5