Do You Need A Lightning Rod On Your Roof?
Lightning rods are most commonly installed on the roofing of high rise buildings and houses located on hill tops. These structures are most vulnerable to million volt bolts. Lightning strikes on low houses are rare enough that most homeowners don’t worry much about them. However, when a lightning bolt does connect with an unprotected house it can destroy all the electrical systems present. Phone lines and metal plumbing are potential conduits for electricity from the lightning strike to cause injury to people inside the home.
It’s good to know that most home owner’s insurance will cover damage from a lightning strike. The insurance carrier will investigate the legitimacy of the claim by tracking the weather and checking satellite lightning strike data. However, it will take time to repair extensive damage. Preventing this inconvenience and protecting expensive electronics may be worth the expense of installing a lightning protection system. This is especially true for luxury homes that are several stories tall.
A lightning protection system generally has 5 parts:
- A series of Air Terminals (the actual lightning rods) installed along the highest points of the roof
- A braided conducting cable that connects the rods with the grounding elements
- Ground rods or plates to redirect the electricity into the earth away from the home
- High grade metallic bonds to the keep parts together during the surge
- Surge arrestors to protect the home from indirect strikes on nearby electrical lines
Lighting protection systems add stress to the roofing system. Care must be taken to ensure that leaks do not occur from mounting the rods and cable. Extra flashing may be needed to ensure a proper seal around the various components.
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Tags: Roofing
