Euthalia's active lightning and surge defence protects the Osservatorio Astronomico di Campo Catino observatory

Many Italian cities today can boast the presence on their territory of astronomical observatories.
Offering significant contributions to research, distribution and educational preparation in the field of astronomy, these facilities are located in places far from cities and generally ‘uncontaminated’ by the light pollution produced by cities.

The isolated and particularly elevated location of astronomical observatories can be identified as one of the main causes of the lightning and surge phenomena that sporadically affects these structures.

Let us discover together, thanks to Mr. Mario Di Sora, Esq. – Director of the Osservatorio Astronomico di Campo Catino, why it is worthwhile to actively protect scientific and astronomical research centres, and, more generally, all buildings of cultural value in our country, with Euthalia’s active lightning and surge protection systems.

The Osservatorio Astronomico di Campo Catino began its research and outreach activities in March 1987, thanks to the financial support of the Lazio Region and the Provincial Administration of Frosinone that contributed to the reinforcing of the facility by equipping it with professional instruments and equipment, which had become increasingly technological over the years, but also very fragile.

A few years after research activities started, in 1991, the observatory suffered significant lightning damage to the electrical systems and all the electronic components of the first equipment in the facility.

The lack of a lightning and surge protection system on the building and the damage suffered, combined with the attention and importance given to the protection of the facility and the delicate and sensitive equipment inside it, prompted the Associazione Astronomica Frusinate to search for a complete and effective lightning and surge protection system.

Thanks to its presence on the market since 1947 with protection systems based on effective and innovative defence technology, Ingelva was commissioned to oversee the lightning and surge protection project at the Osservatorio Astronomico di Campo Catino, through the installation of its active defence systems.

From the year the protection system was installed and up to the present day, through extension and integration of the system to extend its protective effectiveness, and regular maintenance, Euthalia’s active defence systems continue to offer the Osservatorio Astronomico di Campo Catino effective and complete protection from the damage and risks caused by lightning and surges.

Discover how you can actively protect scientific research centres and other culturally important facilities with Euthalia’s active lightning and surge defence systems.

Ask here for information about Euthalia’s active lightning and surge defence system technology and book a free check-up.

Euthalia’s innovative systems, based on an ‘active‘ approach, work on prevention by keeping the electromagnetic field that forms during storms balanced, reducing its changes and thus the possibility of forming the leader discharge channel.

The preventive approach is the main feature that distinguishes them from traditional lightning rods, which, instead, are based on a passive operation approach, involving the presence of metal rods, whose particular function is to ‘attract’ electrical discharges (‘spike effect’) and dissipate them to ground through down conductors. These solutions only limit damage without preventing it and without considering the frequent possibility of energy backflow inside the building – as we have seen a very important factor – a very important factor, through all electrical and electronic equipment connected with a grounding conductor.

Depending on the structural and environmental characteristics of the building, the components of the EUTHALIA system (ENERG1CA® network – overhead protection, ARMON1CA® network – ground and internal protection) are combined and correctly installed (as required by EN 62305) to ensure complete and effective protection against direct and indirect discharges, and overvoltages and overfrequencies arising from the surrounding environment.

In addition to the preventive action and maximum protective effectiveness, another distinctive feature of Euthalia systems is their discretion in terms of aesthetic impact. In the design phase, optimal solutions for the installation of protection systems are studied and proposed in order to offer any customer – and building – a solution with minimal architectural and aesthetic impact, while maintaining and guaranteeing maximum effectiveness and a complete degree of protection.

Therefore, Euthalia’s solutions represent the best balance between an effective and innovative defence technology and care in preserving the architectural features of the structures they protect.

Ask about Euthalia’s active lightning and surge defence technology.

Euthalia provides research centres, institutes, associations as well as engineers, architects and design engineers, and researchers with its know-how and an experienced technical department for the analysis and implementation of all lightning and surge defence solutions in culturally and scientifically relevant contexts, of any size from small to large.

Discover how you can prevent lightning and surge damage with Euthalia systems. Contact us for a free quote