Method for inspection of atmospheric discharge protection systems: Grain storage plants

ABSTRACT Brazil has the highest incidence of atmospheric discharges, on average of 77.8 million hitting the country yearly. Companies providing post-harvest services have a high monetary value concentrated in their predominantly metallic structures. Atmospheric discharge protection systems (ADPS) are used in this context to protect the facilities and people, composed of several elements that require visual inspection with a certain periodicity, an activity framed as working at height. This research aimed to establish a methodology for employing a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in the visual analysis of the operational condition of external atmospheric discharge protection systems components located in grain storage structures to collect information during the preliminary risk analysis and planning of activities at height. A survey of the current literature related to the subject was carried out, in addition to the norms, inspection agencies, and operational prerequisites of this type of equipment in the national territory. Finally, a method was created and validated based on the inspection checklist with the main points for checking, which generates a score that represents the urgency level of intervention, applied in a unit located in western Paraná, Brazil, on 11/28/2022. This procedure eliminated the risk of workers falling during the planning and inspection stage of the structures, which helped the qualified professional to issue the technical inspection report more quickly. The disadvantage is related to the dependence on favorable weather conditions. RESUMO O Brasil é o país com a maior incidência de descargas atmosféricas, em média 77,8 milhões atingem o país todos os anos. As empresas prestadoras de serviços pós-colheita possuem um elevado valor monetário concentrado em suas estruturas, que predominantemente são metálicas. Os sistemas de proteção contra descargas atmosféricas (SPDA) são utilizados neste contexto para realizar a proteção das instalações e pessoas, os quais são compostos por vários elementos que necessitam de inspeção visual com determinada periodicidade, atividade enquadrada como trabalho em altura. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo estabelecer uma metodologia para o emprego de Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) na análise visual das condições operacionais dos componentes de um sistema de proteção contra descargas atmosféricas externo, localizados em estruturas de armazenamento de grãos para coletar informações durante a