The lightning rod with early streamer emission device (ESE) — called ESE lightning rod in English — is the most widespread lightning protection system for the protection of buildings and infrastructure. Subject to the international standard IEC 62305-3, it must be subject to rigorous maintenance monitoring to maintain its performance over time.
Traditional preventive maintenance (annual or biannual inspection) is no longer sufficient in the face of traceability requirements from insurers, clients, and certification bodies. Predictive maintenance — based on real operational data — is the new standard for serious professionals.
Discover how LPS Manager enables you to implement predictive maintenance of ESE lightning rods, at the scale of a single site or an international multi-site portfolio.
Why do ESE lightning rods require specific maintenance?
Unlike a simple pointed lightning rod, the ESE integrates an active early streamer emission mechanism. This device — based on electronic or piezoelectric technology depending on the model — is designed to trigger an early streamer upon a rise in storm voltage.
This mechanism requires specific monitoring:
- State of the early streamer emission device — aging, corrosion, operation of the internal mechanism
- Count of triggering events — number of impacts received since the last inspection
- Continuity of the down conductor — wear caused by repeated lightning currents
- State of the earth terminal — earth resistance according to IEC 62305-3 thresholds
- Verification of fasteners — corrosion, loosening due to vibrations
According to IEC 62305-3, an exceptional verification is mandatory after each detected impact on or near the installation for protection levels LPL I and II. Without impact monitoring, this obligation cannot be met.
From preventive maintenance to predictive maintenance
Traditional preventive maintenance is based on a fixed schedule, without taking into account the site’s actual lightning activity. It can lead to two unsatisfactory situations:
- Over-maintenance — unnecessary visits to non-struck sites generate costs with no added value
- Under-maintenance — a site that has received multiple impacts between two visits is left without appropriate inspection
Predictive maintenance corrects both problems. It triggers interventions based on real events — detected lightning impacts, triggering data, weather alerts — rather than an arbitrary schedule.
LPS Manager — the pilot for your ESE maintenance
Impact monitoring and automatic alerts
LPS Manager integrates meteorological and lightning detection data for each geolocated site. As soon as significant storm activity is detected near a site, an alert is sent to the file manager.
If the site is equipped with a communicating ESE lightning rod (Paraton@ir with Contact@ir System from LPS France), impact detection is sent directly into LPS Manager — with the date, time, and intensity of the event.
Intelligent scheduling of periodic general inspections
LPS Manager automatically manages the calendar for Periodic General Inspections (VGP):
- Configurable reminders at 30, 60, and 90 days before the regulatory deadline
- Automatic triggering of an exceptional inspection alert after detected impact
- Prioritization of sites according to their compliance score and lightning activity history
- Global view of the inspection schedule across the entire portfolio
Complete history per installation
Each LPS Manager file contains the complete history of the ESE installation:
- Installation date and lightning rod model
- All past inspections with reports and photos
- Lightning events recorded by date and intensity
- Non-conformities detected and corrective actions taken
- Earth resistance measurements over the years
This history constitutes the digital life record of each installation — unalterable, time-stamped, accessible from the field as well as from the office.
Access Nsg data via Strike Radar
LPS Manager integrates with the Strike Radar service from LPS France. Strike Radar is the source of Nsg data (local ground flash density) — data obtained from real measurements rather than generic statistical estimates.
Concretely: you configure and manage your site file in LPS Manager. From your file, you access your Strike Radar space where you find keraunic reports, lightning strike certificates, and Nsg calculated from actual impacts measured around your site.
This data makes it possible to:
- Refine lightning risk calculation according to IEC 62305-2:2024
- Validate or question the installed protection level LPL
- Justify to the client a revision of the risk assessment
Which ESE lightning rods are compatible with LPS Manager?
LPS Manager is compatible with all ESE lightning rods — whether communicating or not. For ESEs with automatic information feedback, LPS France offers:
- Paraton@ir — communicating IoT ESE lightning rod, with the integrated Contact@ir system for real-time impact feedback
- Ellips — ESE lightning rod with extended protection range
For isolated sites without local network, the Contact@ir MD (with integrated SIM) enables IoT connection independently of the site’s network infrastructure.
Conclusion
Predictive maintenance of ESEs is no longer reserved for large organizations. With LPS Manager, any lightning protection professional can implement structured monitoring based on real data to ensure the compliance of their installations with IEC 62305-3.
Automatic scheduling of periodic general inspections, impact alerts, complete history, access to Nsg data via Strike Radar: LPS Manager is the tool that transforms reactive maintenance into predictive maintenance.
👉 Try LPS Manager for free and start managing the maintenance of your ESEs today.
