Thursday, May 21, 2015

If lightning strikes this spring or summer, I hope it's in the form of love at first sight. But unfortunately, when lightning really strikes, this frequent natural phenomenon can pose severe hazards to life and property.

Our sources at InSpectopedia.com, a free encyclopedia of building and environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis or repair, say, according to Underwriters Laboratories, that "lightning is the visible discharge of static electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between the earth and a cloud."

In our next two segments, we'll try to enlighten property owners about lightning protection systems; how lightning rods work; and some basic design specs for lightning protection systems. But first, a quick little science lesson.

UL says as negatively charged electrical energy move from clouds toward the earth, positive "lightning bolts" actually move upwards from vertical features like the edges of buildings, chimneys or trees, racing along an ionized path in the air towards that downward-moving negative energy.

Hundreds of times each month across the nation this common natural phenomenon triggers structure fires or electrical surges into wiring that trigger fires - and can virtually obliterate electric equipment and appliances throughout an entire building.

Lightning protection systems control electrical discharges by directing them through a low-resistance path to the ground, avoiding passage through parts of a structure and reducing risk of fire or other damage.

Air terminals (rods - the sketch at page top is of a lightning protection system terminal rod tip) are fastened to the building to intercept electric discharges which might otherwise strike a building component itself, such as a chimney or metal roof.

Electrical discharges striking the air terminal are directed through heavy duty metal conductors to a grounding system (rods driven into the soil) and into the earth bypassing the structures that attract the hit.

In our second report, we'll cover some of the basic lightning protection system components that could help save you and your property from a dangerous strike.

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