A polite way of saying no research exists that proves ESE technology. That report was in 1995. The NFPA said after 2000:This report suggests that there is opportunity to improve human knowledge about lightning and offers suggestions for further research.
The Hearys are specifically cited due to common knowledge. They spend massively promoting their products in advertising, hearsay, and through lawyers. Never spend any money on research. The NFPA is politely saying ESE will not be considered unless they do science. Because no science says ESE devices work. ESE companies refuse for one simple reason. The product is promoted on hearsay and myth to consumers most easily scammed. Why waste money on science?For many years, controversy has surrounded the question whether the NFPA should develop a standard for a new lightning protection technology known as Early Streamer Emission (ESE) lightning protection. The proponents of that technology, primarily those associated with the Heary Brothers Lightning Protection Company, Inc., and related corporations (who will hereafter, for convenience, be referred to as the Hearys) have extolled the technology and, in particular, have claimed that ESE terminals offer a vastly increased zone of protection over that of traditional lightning rods. Those claims have been disputed and, most recently, a special panel created to consider information and to issue a report concerning ESE lightning protection technology to the Standards Council (BryanPanel Report), firmly rebutted the claims of ESE proponents that the technology had been adequately validated, concluding, among other things, as follows:
The ESE lightning protection technology as currently developed in the installation of complete systems does not appear to be scientifically and technically sound in relation to the claimed areas of protection or the essentials of the grounding system (Bryan Panel Report at p. 26).
The NFPA reports were being polite. Other IEEE papers are blunter. ESEs are a marketing scam that even failed in FAA and NASA tests. In one case, three days after it was installed, it was blown from the building by lightning. Now, what happens to radioactive material in some ESE protectors? ESE industry will not even discuss that.
Protection is always about the electrical path to earth. An electrical current that exists AFTER a plasma path is constructed kilometers through the sky. A current that exists simultaneously everywhere in a path that destroys one or some items in that path. Or that is harmlessly conducted without any damage when a human installs well proven protection. Routinely earth 20,000 amp lightning strikes without damage using technologies proven over 100 years ago. The least expensive solutions (ie earthing and 'whole house' protector) do better than what was routine 100 years ago. To have direct lightning strikes and no damage.
Amazing how 100 years of well proven science can be disputed by speculation and myths promoted only by advertising and hearsay.
An effective protection system means you know how and where hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate. Protection of everything (even a Telsa) is about where energy dissipates. Advertising and hearsay does not change that reality.