Experimental Reliability Assessment and Optimization of Inspection Intervals for Industrial Lightning Protection Systems Using Reliability Engineering Techniques

This study presents an experimental reliability assessment and inspection interval optimization approach for Industrial Lightning Protection Systems. The work focuses on major LPS components such as down conductors, ground electrodes, connectors, clamps, support brackets, and air terminals. Failure data, repair time, inspection records, corrosion observations, and maintenance history were considered for reliability evaluation. Parameters such as MTBF, MTTR, failure rate, availability, and Risk Priority Number were used to identify critical components. The analysis showed that down conductors, ground electrodes, and connectors required priority inspection due to higher failure frequency and risk level. Corrosion, loose connections, and mechanical damage were identified as major causes of failure. Optimized inspection intervals improved inspection effectiveness, reduced downtime, lowered maintenance cost, and enhanced system reliability. The proposed approach provides a practical Mechanical Engineering-based maintenance framework for improving safety, maintainability, and lifecycle performance of industrial LPS.