Metal Roof Lightning Protection

A metal building system with a conductive metal roof and a conductive metal structural frame gives lightning a low resistance path to the earth.

Metal roof lightning protection.

The only way to protect a building is with a properly designed and installed lightning protection system lps. Lightning is a powerful destructive force of nature and will strike a building regardless of its type of roofing. The lightning protection industry began in the united states when benjamin franklin postulated that lightning was electricity and a metal rod could be used to carry the lightning away from a building. Nor do metal roofs protect a building against lightning.

Metal roof or no these building strategies decrease your chances of a strike. The misconception that metal roofs attract lightning is probably because metal itself is known as a good conductor of electricity and people therefore assume that a metal roof must attract lightning. Metal roofs are resistant to wind and hail weigh less than asphalt shingles require little maintenance and are energy efficient. To prevent galvanic action with roofing and flashings copper components should be used with copper roofing and aluminum components with steel or aluminum roofing.

Metal roofs are no more attractive to lightning than any other type of roofing material. Lps components are typically cop per or aluminum. Then the metal s fire resistant properties will protect your building even further. It is less likely to result in a fire than other types of roofing materials.

Metal roofing materials are non combustible so if a metal roof does get struck by lightning. This is just one more reason why we at schroer sons believe a lifetime metal roof is the best roof available today. Metal roofs do not attract lightning strikes. A metal roof does not attract lightning.

All lps components should be listed by ul specifically for lightning protection. While a building s structural steel will conduct lightning it is the bonding interconnection and grounding provided by a lightning protection system lps that will dissipate lightning s harmful electricity safely to the ground. Because metal roofs are by definition made out of metal you might be concerned about lightning and wonder whether you need to attach a lightning rod to your metal roof. A metal building may survive a lightning strike with less damage than a similarly sized and located building made of higher resistance materials.

Video of the day volume 0. If your home is struck by lightning a metal roof will diffuse electricity away and cannot catch fire keeping your home safer in a thunderstorm.