Exploration into the Business Model and Market Expansion of Lightning Protection Testing

The safety inspection of lightning protection devices for lightning striking buildings (structures) began in the early 1990s, and this work is under the jurisdiction of meteorological departments at all levels. With the development of the economy and society, detection projects have gradually evolved from direct lightning grounding testing to comprehensive detection systems with side measurement, anti lightning surge intrusion measurement, anti lightning induction measurement, equipotential connection measurement, surge protector measurement, and anti-static grounding measurement as the main contents. The testing agencies under the meteorological supervisory department have also developed with the establishment of lightning protection testing stations, lightning protection monitoring centers, and lightning protection stations. The testing personnel have evolved from personnel to full-time lightning protection personnel. The detection instruments and equipment have also been updated from the only grounding shake meter to digital grounding resistance testers, ground network grounding resistance testers, equipotential testers, surge protector inspection instruments, and other instruments. The lightning protection testing industry is becoming increasingly formal, requiring professional testing qualifications and obtaining measurement certification certificates in order to issue legal testing reports to the public. New projects that require lightning protection completion testing and projects that are put into use should undergo regular lightning protection testing, which is clearly stipulated in both technical specifications and laws and regulations. Therefore, lightning protection detection, as an important part of safety work, is widely understood and accepted by the government and safety responsible parties.

Recently, the China Meteorological Administration issued a notice requiring active fulfillment of the meteorological department's organizational and management responsibilities for lightning disaster prevention, further strengthening the supervision of lightning protection and disaster reduction safety, and in accordance with the requirements of the "streamlining administration and delegating powers" reform, strengthening the implementation of responsibilities, firmly establishing disciplinary awareness, and adhering to five red lines in work: first, no fees shall be charged for all administrative approvals, including lightning protection device testing qualification certification, lightning protection device design review, and completion acceptance; Secondly, the cancelled administrative approval intermediary services, lightning assessment and lightning protection product testing shall not be linked to approval again and shall not be used as a prerequisite for approval; The third is to convert it into technical services after acceptance. The technical evaluation of lightning protection device design and the testing of lightning protection devices for new, renovated, and expanded buildings (structures) shall not be charged to administrative counterparts according to the principle of who approves, who entrusts, and who pays; Fourthly, the ability evaluation of lightning protection professional and technical personnel should be separated from examination and training, and the provincial meteorological society responsible for the evaluation shall not organize training or charge fees; The fifth is the qualification management of lightning protection testing, resolutely opening up in accordance with the law, being fair and just, resolutely eliminating inconsistent standards, internal looseness and external tightness, and putting an end to behaviors such as cheating.

1. Current situation of lightning protection detection industry

With the strengthening of lightning protection management, there are currently 8 effective lightning protection laws, regulations, and rules, including 1 law, which is the Meteorological Law of the People's Republic of China; There are three regulations, namely the Decision on Setting Administrative Licenses for Administrative Approval Projects that Need to be Retained, the Regulations on Meteorological Disaster Prevention, and local regulations, such as the Zhejiang Provincial Meteorological Regulations issued by Zhejiang Province; There are four regulations, namely the "Management Measures for Lightning Protection and Disaster Reduction", "Regulations on Design Review and Completion Acceptance of Lightning Protection Devices", "Management Measures for Professional Qualifications of Lightning Protection Engineering", and local government regulations, such as the "Zhejiang Province Lightning Disaster Prevention and Emergency Measures" issued by Zhejiang Province. According to these laws, regulations, and rules, the meteorological department has fulfilled its functions of lightning protection public and technical services, making great contributions to lightning protection, disaster reduction, and safeguarding people's property losses. In November 2016, the China Meteorological Administration and 11 other ministries issued a notice on implementing the Decision on Optimizing Lightning Protection Permits for Construction Projects, attaching great importance to the integration of lightning safety management and optimization of lightning protection permits for construction projects. The lightning protection permits for housing and municipal infrastructure projects undertaken by the meteorological department were transferred to the management of the housing and urban-rural development department. The lightning protection permits for professional construction projects such as highways, waterways, railways, communications, nuclear power, electricity, and water conservancy are managed by various professional departments.