When studying digital lightning risk management tools, two names often come up: Sky Sentinel and LPS Manager. Yet these two solutions address radically different needs. Consequently, comparing them directly is not really relevant — on the other hand, understanding how they complement each other is.
In this article, we will clarify the exact role of each tool and explain why, in a comprehensive lightning management strategy on an international scale, both have their place.
LPS Manager: the lightning protection file management platform
LPS Manager is a cloud SaaS software designed to centralize and manage all lightning protection files across a fleet of installations. Concretely, it enables installers, engineering firms and site managers to:
- Create and track PPSF files in compliance with IEC 62305
- Plan and trace periodic inspections
- Automatically generate compliance PDF reports
- Manage multi-site fleets from a single interface
- Access keraunic reports and lightning strike certificates via Strike Radar
Additionally, LPS Manager natively integrates a free lightning monitoring feature. This feature makes it possible to monitor electrical activity around a given site, without additional hardware. This is a post-impact detection service: it indicates whether a lightning strike has occurred near a site, useful for triggering an inspection intervention.
What the lightning monitoring integrated into LPS Manager does
First, it detects whether an impact has occurred near a site after the event. Next, it can trigger an alert to signal that a field inspection is needed. On the other hand, it does not provide real-time alerts before impact to protect teams in the field — that is where Sky Sentinel comes in.
Sky Sentinel: real-time field HSE alert
Sky Sentinel is a real-time lightning alert system, designed for the safety of people working outdoors. Its role is fundamentally different from that of LPS Manager: it is about preventing an accident before it occurs.
Concretely, Sky Sentinel works as follows:
- Detection up to 50 km — monitoring of storm cells approaching your sites worldwide
- Graduated alerts: Yellow (storm 30-50 km away), Orange (< 30 km), Red (imminent storm, evacuation)
- Estimated time of arrival (ETA) — calculated in real time to anticipate team evacuation
- Companion mobile application — push alerts every 60 seconds for field teams
- 100% cloud, zero hardware — operational in minutes, deployed worldwide
- Compliant with IEC 62793:2020 — suited to HSE requirements of construction sites and industrial facilities
Sky Sentinel answers a simple question: “Are my field teams safe right now?”. It is primarily aimed at HSE managers, site coordinators and site managers with outdoor personnel.
Sky Sentinel vs LPS Manager lightning monitoring: the fundamental distinction
This is where confusion is frequent. Here is the essential distinction:
- LPS Manager monitoring = post-impact surveillance (after lightning) – used for document management and interventions
- Sky Sentinel = pre-impact alert (before lightning) – used for real-time people protection
Therefore, these two tools do not compete with each other. They operate at different times in the lightning cycle and address distinct needs.
Complementary tools, not competitors
Let’s take a concrete example. Imagine a wind farm in Central Europe, with a maintenance team on site. Here is how the two tools work together:
- Sky Sentinel detects a storm forming 45 km away. It sends a Yellow alert to the field team and the HSE manager. Technicians stop the intervention and take shelter.
- The storm passes and a lightning strike is detected less than 300 m from the wind turbine. LPS Manager records the event via Strike Radar and generates an inspection alert.
- The technician returns to site, performs the inspection, and updates the PPSF file in LPS Manager. A PDF report is automatically generated.
The two systems complement each other perfectly: anticipation – protection – documentation – compliance.
Who uses each tool?
- LPS Manager: lightning installers, engineering firms, asset managers, insurers
- Sky Sentinel: HSE managers, site coordinators, operational managers
In organizations that manage sites with field personnel and IEC 62305 compliance obligations, both tools are often used simultaneously.
Integration into the LPS France ecosystem
LPS Manager provides access to Strike Radar data (impact history, Nsg, lightning strike certificates) and is designed to work in synergy with Sky Sentinel.
- A single LPS Manager subscription is enough to access basic lightning monitoring
- Sky Sentinel can be activated for sites requiring real-time HSE monitoring
- The history of lightning events can be viewed in LPS Manager via Strike Radar
- Reports combine field data, regulatory compliance and certified lightning events
To learn more about Sky Sentinel, visit the Sky Sentinel page on lpsfr.com.
Summary table: Sky Sentinel vs LPS Manager
| Criteria | LPS Manager | Sky Sentinel |
|---|---|---|
| Time of action | Post-impact and continuous | Before impact (real-time) |
| Target audience | Installers, engineering firms | HSE managers, site coordinators |
| Main function | PPSF document management | Field personnel safety alert |
| Monitoring included | Yes (free, post-impact) | Yes (real-time, pre-impact) |
| Regulatory compliance | IEC 62305 | IEC 62793:2020 |
| Hardware required | No (100% cloud) | No (100% cloud) |
Conclusion
Sky Sentinel and LPS Manager are not in competition. One protects people before impact, the other protects installations and ensures compliance afterwards.
For organizations in areas with high lightning density (high Nsg), having both tools is an operational necessity.
Discover how LPS Manager can integrate into your lightning strategy: LPS Manager features or request a demonstration.
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