Istituto Superiore di Fulminologia, I.S.F., thanks to the research and discoveries of Mario De Bernardi in the field of Fulminologia, a science that he founded, has the objective of diffusion at all levels the principles, means and methods capable of safeguarding man and its habitat from every danger, direct and indirect, deriving from lightnings and in general from violent exchanges of energy seriously damaging for the balance of life in its extended meaning.
I.S.F. activities are pre-eminently: 

study, research, experimentation, data collection from laboratory and active installations in the field of Fulminologia and related sciences. Fulminologia is the science studies keraunic phenomena, their causes and effects, the related protections and what concerns the balance of the electric and magnetic fields existing in nature (M. De Bernardi discoveries);

I.S.F. promotes, relates and organizes national and international congresses, conferences and seminaries, etc.;
- publishes scientific-technical papers; 
- issues the I.S.F. Bulletin, journal of scientific, technical, normative and legal information;

research and elaboration of norms of principles for advanced technologies in the field of Fulminologia;

The preparation, the nomination and the qualification in the field of Fulminologia - a post University discipline with public activities;

The studies, researches, the observations related to natural lightnings cannot be of the experimental traditional type, for the practical impossibility, in any case for the extreme difficulty, in recreating into the laboratory all the factors and in second instance of keeping track of all the parameters that concur to prime and determine natural lightnings; but they necessarily must be of the "explorational" type and the classification of data, as consequence, of "epidemiological" type that is of an historical-statistical type over a proper number of plants especially in areas of high keraunic danger and/or where natural lightning attracting systems have previously failed, and for a proper period of time. 
It is useful to keep in mind that natural lightnings and also artificial lightnings, those latter recreated with good approximation in I.S.F. laboratory (Istituto Superiore di Fulminologia) of Varese-Italy, are not electrostatic phenomena^(*) subordinated to the laws of electrostatics, but electrodynamic, both in the development phase and also in the phase of power expression, subordinated to the laws of electrodynamics.
On the other hand lightning is a phenomenon so complex, its diversity so great from one place of space to another, its variability from instant to instant of time so rapid, that only God can simulate it with a mathematical model and only a imbecile may claim it.
The results of such a research, if positive, must be reasonably accepted whatever its degree of comprehension and/or acceptability of the hypothesis and theories that are of ideological support to the above mentioned plants. The position of who is unable to understand how a certain system of things work, states that the system can not work, against every evidence of facts, has in the past caused serious damages to scientific and technical progress. 
Given the high number of lightnings in the world, therefore removed from the statistic 
fluctuations that accompany rare phenomena, if the totality of the plant taken into consideration is sufficiently extended in space and sufficiently prolonged in time, obvious requirements for validity, then the statistical data obtained from these observations holds an acceptable degree of credibility and reliability.

An electrostatic discharge can be rigorously and ideally obtained ex.: by gradually increasing the voltage between the condenser armatures to the extent of the collapse of insulating dielectric, with increments of infinitesimal intensity and infinite durations, in reality with increments of very small intensity and very large duration, in other words very slowly increasing the voltage between the armature of the condenser and strictly producing not a static discharge but a parastatic one.
The electrostatic laws are therefore strictly applicable to linear and stationary systems or also, as first approximation, may be applied to linear and slowly variable systems, parastationary, and not certainly to non linear and rapidly varying systems, as eminently are the keraunic systems.

Fulminologia is the science that studies keraunic phenomena (their causes and effects), the electromagnetic superenergies accumulate in singular points, the protection from them and what concerns the balance of the electric and magnetic fields existing in nature (M. De Bernardi discoveries). 
From 1947, starting therefore from the first fundamental discoveries of Mario De Bernardi in the field of lightnings till the first years of 1960, the keraunic phenomena (their causes and effects) - atmospheric and terrestrial electric discharges (lightnings and super lightnings), electro inductions, radio interferences, globular lightnings, M.D.B. electromagnetic superenergies accumulated in singular points, have been studied in their electrodynamic reality. 
We have come to the discovery of the M.D.B. Geotriode. This analyses the rapidly variable electric and magnetic fields, high tensions, the frequency range: VLF ÷ γ ray ÷ any frequency regardless of how high, they represent the fundamentals of Fulminology, new science founded by Mario De Bernardi. 
Therefore it is a science that is cleanly detached in its fundamentals from Electrotechnics and where acquired knowledge in scientific and technological sectors such as Radio engineering, Electronics, Nuclear physics converge and fuse, including aspects totally new - Superenergies M.D.B. accumulated in singular points - in the field of electromagnetism, discovered since 1947 by Mario De Bernardi, which have been granted in national and international scientific and technical publications.

⁽³⁾ Bibliographic note: extract from the paper "La Fulminologia", by Prof. Davide De Bernardi, in the records of International Congress on the subject: "What physics for the next century? / Quale fisica per il 2000? organized by the Research Group of "Geometry and Physics" of University of Study of Perugia, Ischia - Italy, May 29 / June 1 1991; extract from the paper "The Antimpatto® lightning preventor within the normative and juridical context", by Prof. Davide De Bernardi, in the records of the Conference for the official presentation of the Antimpatto® De Bernardi lightning preventor, organized by the Army General Staff - Inspectorate of the Army Corps of Engineering, Rome, Cecchignola Military School, October 21, 1992.

The I.S.F. Lightning Station was planned and created by Prof. Ing. Mario De Bernardi, Fulminologo, in 1974 - Updated by him in May 1988, is located over the Campo dei Fiori Massif, Punta Paradiso - elevation 1226 m above sea level, Varese-Italy, in the Citadel of Nature Sciences founded by Prof. Salvatore Furia.

• continuous control of keraunic events and energetic exchanges also in a non thunderstorm atmosphere by passive monitoring and selective pre-disposition for active monitoring at large radius of action;

• studies and preventive protection tests against any keraunic danger and local electromagnetic pollution - means and methods Antimpatto® De Bernardi.

The Station in addition guarantees, since its origin in 1974, the safety, absolute protection, 100%, of the Citadel of Nature Sciences and the several service emplacements of other public institutions there co-located from any keraunic danger, direct and indirect, and from local electromagnetic pollution.

The Citadel of Nature Sciences under the aegis of the University of Pavia, of the Province and Municipality of Varese includes the following Institutions:

The Astronomic Popular observatory "G.V. Schiaparelli"; 
The Pre-Alpine Geophysical Centre and annexes:
    - The Meteorological Observatory; 
    - The Seismic Observatory VAI, part of the National Seismic Network, ING; 
The Centre for Botanical Studies and Cold Greenhouse.

⁽⁴⁾ Bibliographic note: extract from periodical publication, I.S.F. Bulletin n. 9 ÷ 12 1988

LABORATORY COMPARATIVE TESTS: ideological foreword and application models

The I.S.F. comparative tests, are tests that simulate within the limits of technical possibilities and based on a thorough extended long experience in nature by Mario De Bernardi, natural lightnings in their extreme variety, in other word it cannot take the laboratory into nature, but, as much as possible, nature into the laboratory, they are not a coercion over the nature, but in harmony with the nature.

I.S.F. comparative laboratory tests: synthesis of previous experiments carried out under natural lightnings; taken back into the laboratory certain scale parameters relative to observed effects, have demonstrated and demonstrate:

- the deviating interpretation of the keraunic phenomenon caused by a superficial and very partial observation of the natural phenomenon^(*); this denotes the inability of Benjamin Franklin followers to recognize the essential lines;

^(*) in fact following investigations of the macroscopic phase of the phenomenon that, thanks to M.D.B. discoveries, today indicates that same is the final phase of a series of electrodynamic phenomena.

Note: since 1752, year of B. Franklin first studies in the field of electrophysics and until today, with the exception of M. De Bernardi discoveries that started in1947, the phenomenon (really only its final phase) has improperly been considered electrostatic: condenser cloud-ground; discharge of the condenser; stationary field; high tensions; low frequencies (electrotechnic isolation field) and has been improperly and forcibly located in the physic laws of electrostatics.

- the improper and deviating derived method of "protection", exclusively nominal (as determined on hypothesis not validated by experience in nature, that is lacking scientific foundation) based on irrational concept of "lightning capture with ground discharge";

- the non suitability in protection and the hazard of the means so called capture means - really lightning attractors: Franklin rods, Faraday cages, radioactive rods, lightning tele-attractors, guard cables, etc.

­ the correct interpretation of the complex of keraunic phenomena due to a thorough and complete observation of natural phenomena that denotes the capability of researcher M. De Bernardi to pick the essential lines.

Note: from 1947, therefore starting from the first fundamental discoveries of Mario De Bernardi in the field of lightnings till the first years of 1960, the keraunic phenomena (and their causes and effects) atmospheric electric discharges and terrestrial (lightnings and super lightnings), electro-inductions, radio interference globular lightnings, M.D.B. electromagnetic superenergies accumulated in singular points have been studied in their electrodynamic reality: Geotriode M.D.B.; rapidly varying electric and magnetic fields; high tensions; frequency range: VLF ÷ γ ray ÷ any frequency regardless of how high; and are the fundamentals of Fulminologia, new science founded by Mario De Bernardi.

- the correct real method of protection, Antimpatto® M.D.B., validated by experience in nature therefore scientific based on the principle of preventing lightning formation:

-umbrella protection - Antimpatto® lightning preventor; 
-monitor for aerial and terrestrial electromagnetic disturbance of thunderstorm origins with automatic extraordinary increase of the safety protective effect of the Antimpatto® M.D.B. lightning preventor;

- the capability of the advanced Antimpatto M.D.B. means of protection from atmospheric and terrestrial electric discharges, direct and indirect (lightnings and super lightnings), electro-inductions, radio-interferences, globular lightnings, M.D.B. electromagnetic superenergies accumulated in singular points.

⁽⁵⁾ Bibliographic note: extract from periodical publication I.S.F. Bulletin n. 10 ÷ 12 1990, I.S.F. Bulletin n. 9 ÷ 12 1997

SCIENTIFIC DEMONSTRATIONS OF M. DE BERNARDI DISCOVERIES AND PRINCIPLES

Compare nominal protection systems, based on a wide use of metals.

⁽⁶⁾ Bibliographic note: excerpt from the lesson of September 14, 1989 of the I.S.F. Course on Fulminologia held at the Common Research Centre, C.C.R., of the European Community Commission of Ispra - Varese - ITALY, in the context of the Superior Course for the formation of Coordinators and Technicians for Civil Protection, instituted by the Department of Instruction and Professional Formation of the State Administration of Lombardy Region with the contribution of the European Social Fund; first European example of a Pilot Course for the formation of specialized staff in Civil Protection activities; excerpt from periodical publication I.S.F. Bulletin n. 9 ÷ 12 1989 / I.S.F. Bulletin n. 1 ÷ 2 1990

Gruppo Studi Problemi di Sicurezza, G.S.P.S.: purposes and activities

The "Gruppo Studi Problemi di Sicurezza" (Study Group on Safety Problems) of the I.S.F. has international coverage, collaborates with several scientific centres, educational and professional coordinating its activity, organizing in turn, also in cooperation, conferences, seminaries, updating courses and publications. The Group also issues the I.S.F. Bulletin, official news journal of the Institute, periodically sent to national and international Institutions: Heads of State, Cultural Centres, Universities, Council of Ministers, Ministries, Authorities, Regional Administration Departments, Safety and Ecology Institutions, Professional Offices and I.S.F. members.

I.S.F norms justify their existence from the present state of the art on matters of Fulminologia achieved thanks to the discoveries, principles, theories and methodologies of scientist Mario De Bernardi and by the unjustified lack of norms at national and international level. State of the art achieved through a strict scientific observation of the lightning phenomena seen in the context of De Bernardi Geotriode global system and the systematic study of events, habitats, natural bodies and structures, the latter intrinsically able to prevent the formation or evolution of the lightning.

Significantly, since the origins, man consciously or not, has built dwellings recreating, just so, the morphological characteristics of those habitats and natural bodies. 
Today instead safety is handled with utopian trust and fictitious expedients as the so called "lightning capture", trying to hypocritically minimize the consequences of lightnings, wrongly considered inevitable.

Careful observation of the lightning phenomena linked to the dynamics of the atmospheric and terrestrial electric fields and their evolution in thunderstorm conditions, the successful outcome of preliminary experiments and the over thirty years (1947-1985)^(*) success of several ten thousand Antimpatto® lightning preventor plants which always have assured safety, absolute protection, 100%, in zones of high keraunic dangerousness and chiefly where they replaced the conventional plants -lightnings attractors- which had systematically and repeatedly failed (historical-statistic proof), have convinced I.S.F. researchers and technicians that lightnings are not inevitable phenomena. 
In particular, with the adoption of protective Antimpatto® plants the formation of lightnings can be prevent still conserving unchanged the atmospheric and terrestrial exchange necessary to the ecological balance in a thunderstorm or fair weather atmosphere.

By preventing the lightning formation and therefore its consequent manipulation, in effects it is automatically eliminate the danger to persons and things in the area of the protect volume, since the possibility for the keraunic event to occur in presence of the Antimpatto® protection coincide with that relative to the occurrence of events classifiable as "CATASTROPHIC EVENTS".

It therefore results undisputable that a plant conceived and created to I.S.F. norms guarantees the safety, absolute protection, 100%, consequently permitting a drastic reduction of the COST/SAFETY ratio. 
Today the Antimpatto® lightning preventor outlines for the future its indispensability; it is a safety tool of the scientific evolution in perfect harmony with the ecosystem; in addition to protect from direct atmospheric and terrestrial electrical discharges (lightnings), undirect ones - overvoltages and overcurrents in general - ball lightnings, electromagnetic superenergies accumulated in singular points (M.D.B. discoveries), from environment electromagnetic pollution (electrosmog) at last from lightningas generated by nuclear fission or fusion bombs - NEMP, ecologically takes a wider meaning because capable of:

b) emitting an intense and healthy electronic wind (that may be amplified) capable of dissipating atmospheric polluting clouds (dusts, particles, gas, ions) that stagnate over our cities; and to operate as an ozone generator at high altitudes.

The wrong interpretation or the negligent omission of the prescriptions contained in norms I.S.F. 85/1 may determine the arise for danger of damages by lightnings and all others correlated phenomena above citated.

PARAMETERS OF LIGHTNING, DEFINITIONS AND NOMENCLATURE OF PLANT DEVICES

HARMONIZATION OF THE STRUCTURE TO BE PROTECTED WITH THE PROTECTION PLANT

SECTION I - preliminary criteria of protective intervention relative to the morphology and environment context of the structures to be protected.

The preparation, the nomination and the qualification in the field of Fulminologia - a post University discipline with public activities; Fulminologo is therefore that who is learned in Fulminologia. 
The qualification of Fulminologo is exclusively attributed by the Istituto Superiore di Fulminologia to those who after having undergone thorough studies and completed application and updating courses at said INSTITUTE, have reached in the specific subject levels of superior knowledge and undisputed professional capabilities. In consideration of the appeal of this qualification and the pleasant resonance of the term "Fulminologo", an improper use of the title and as well improper self attribution (free of charge) have already occurred by those who obviously wanted distinction and pride.
In addition I.S.F. qualifies planners, technicians for: installations, testing, verification, inspections for Antimpatto® plants conforming to I.S.F. norms 85/1.

collaboration with all citizens, public and private institutions as it concerns scientific problems of common interest especially regarding the safety and health of the community; in particular handles judiciary expertise and assistance thereof.

Istituto Superiore di Fulminologia "Mario De Bernardi", I.S.F., Ente Internazionle Studi e Metodologie d'Avanguardia / International Institute Studies and Methodologies of Vanguard.

Lightning Station - Experimental Station Antimpatto® Protection: Campo dei Fiori 
Massif, punta Paradiso 1226 m a.s.l. - Varese