Lightning Rod Installation On Metal Roof

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.

Lightning rod installation on metal roof. They must be located at the highest points on a roof. End rods should be no more than 2 feet from the end of roof or outside corner s. Nor do metal roofs protect a building against lightning. When lightning is ready to discharge it will whether there is a metal roof handy or not.

Lightning is a powerful destructive force of nature and will strike a building regardless of its type of roofing. It is faulty logic to assume that a metal roof attracts lightning strikes similarly to a lightning rod because lightning rods are not made to attract lightning. Space roof lightning rods air terminals evenly no more than 20 feet apart or 25 ft. Depending on the building s size and configuration additional air terminals are required around the roof perimeter at intervals not exceeding 20 feet within the field of the roof on rooftop.

The most obvious above roof components are air terminals formerly called lightning rods. There are many types of finials such as solid poles hollow poles flat strips or even bristle shaped and although copper and copper alloys are the most common materials used in the construction of lightning rods a number of different conductive metals can be made into a rod. When considering a metal roof for your home please keep in mind that while metal conducts electricity it does not draw or attract it. When a flat roof has dimensions greater than 15 m by 15 m additional air terminals will be installed in the middle of the roof at intervals of 15 m or less in a.

Metal roofs are resistant to wind and hail weigh less than asphalt shingles require little maintenance and are energy efficient. Metal roofs do not attract lightning strikes. Extensive research on lightning protection reveals that metal roofing is no more likely to attract a lightning strike than any other type of conventional roofing material. Also harger feels it is imperative that the installation contractor follow the roofing manufacturer s requirements when it comes to attaching.

Lightning hits the hi. A metal roof should never have copper lightning protection components installed on it unless the roof metal is copper says mark s. Harger president ceo harger lightning grounding grayslake ill. Still the type of roofing is one of several risk factors.

Lightning strikes on metal roofs are an understandable concern for homeowners considering an upgrade to a metal roof.