How Does a Lightning Protection System Work?
According to the NFPA, lightning strikes cause $451 million dollars in property damage each year.
A commercial and home lightning protection system is composed of 4 main components:
1. Lightning Rods or Air Terminals
A lightning rod is a metal rod or metallic object mounted on top of a structure, engineered to protect the structure in the event of a lightning strike. If lightning hits a structure, it will strike the rod and be conducted to ground through the wire, instead of passing through the structure.
2. Conductor Cables
Conductor cables are cables that carry lightning current from the lightning rods to the ground. These cables are installed along the roof and edges of the roof, then down one or more corners of a building to the ground rod.
3. Ground Rods
Ground rods are heavy, long and thick rods buried into the ground to provide a safe path for a lightning discharge.
4. Surge Protection Devices
Surge protection devices or SPD’s are installed on all incoming wires (i.e., data/telecom, electrical). This protects a building and all the expensive computers, TV’s, etc. from an indirect strike. An indirect strike is when the lightning strikes one of the above-mentioned wires and the lightning surge enters the structure through one of those wires.
The above components, when installed correctly, will provide the lightning surge a path to ground, avoiding damage to the home or commercial building.
While lightning rods help protect a structure and all occupants from a direct strike, a complete lightning protection system, including utility bonding, proper grounding, and surge protection help prevent harmful electrical surges and possible fires.
Contact us today to learn more!
Northeast Lightning Protection has been installing lightning protection equipment, including lightning rods in Connecticut (CT), Massachusetts (MA), New York (NY), Rhode Island (RI), New Hampshire (NH) and Vermont (VT), since 1976.
Northeast Lightning Protection, a Connecticut (CT) based company, provides the most advanced commercial and home lightning protection systems according to the codes of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. 96A, Lightning Protection Institute 175, and National Fire Protection Association 780.
For a free estimate, contact New England’s #1 lightning protection company, Northeast Lightning Protection.
Northeast Lightning Protection LLC
10 Peters Road
Bloomfield, CT 06002
Tel: (860) 243-0010
