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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
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for Metal Finishing 1989-2025
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Galvanic action between stainless steel and galvanised steel
I am an electrical engineer. I install Lightning protection rod made of Stainless steel bolted to a Galvanised steel pipe. Will there be any galvanic reaction between the two?. Are both metals Similar or Dissimilar?.
SHAIKH GHULAMRASULAmeejee Valleejee & Sons Pvt Ltd. - Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
2006
Hi Shaikh,
The stainless steel lightning rod* and the dissimilar metals connection are both illegal in the USA. One example: Lightning rods ('air terminals') "shall be 3/8-inch minimum diameter solid copper or 1/2-inch minimum solid aluminum..." Another, taller building, requires 1/2-inch copper or 5/8-inch aluminum rods. *SS may be allowed or required in corrosive locations per some codes.
Check for applicable laws, electrical and fire codes in your country. One of these may also help:
National Fire Protection Association's Lightning Protection Code NFPA-780, Underwriters Laboratories Lightning Protection Code UL96 (components) & UL96-A (installation), Lightning Protection Institute Standard LPI-175, and American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) Standard EP381.1 (lightning protection on farms).
- Goleta, California
Finishing.com honored Ken for his countless carefully researched responses. He passed away May 14, 2015.Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
2006
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