On Saturday night a suspected lightning strike caused a fire and destroyed a home in Winifred. In times like this residents often ask about the efficacy of a Lighting Protection System (LPS) commonly called lightning rods.
Do lightning protection systems work?
This question has been asked and answered from inventor Benjamin Franklin’s time up to the present. They do function as designed based on overwhelming evidence collected over two centuries of exhaustive research found in the public domain. This includes studies conducted by NASA, University of Florida, the Iowa Fire Marshal’s office, the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office, Underwriters Laboratories, and several branches of the military.
Air traffic control towers are equipped with LPS to protect sensitive electronics for critical air safety operations. They also benefit from instrumentation to count the number lightning strikes received by the LPS. A Federal Aviation Administration study showed that the Tampa control tower recorded 25,000 lightning strikes with no damage. The Orlando control tower experienced 20,000 lightning strikes with loss of one telephone line.
The above demonstrates that LPS do work if they are designed, installed, and maintained according to the national standard on lightning, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems. This standard was first issued by the NFPA in 1904 and has been updated thirty times since by a panel of lightning experts.
CAUTION: this is a buyer beware marketplace because there is no state or local certification for LPS installers and no building permits with follow up inspections. The industry does police itself when LPS firms become “listed” by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) AND their installers pass four closed book proctored exams to qualify as “Master Installers” by the lightning Protection Institute (LPI). Also beware that firms found in the Yellow Pages or on Internet may not meet the above UL and LPI criteria.
In summary, LPS provide a reliable and time-tested method to protect homes from the destructive forces of lightning, ensuring safety and peace of mind for homeowners living here in the Lightning Capital of the United States.
If your club or organization would benefit from a free, noncommercial, educational, community service presentation that covers the above, personal lightning safety, surge protection, and debunks 10 common myths by the Lightning Study Group contact Len Hathaway at [email protected]
Villager Len Hathaway is a recognized expert in the study of lightning.