UAE buildings are not safe from lightning strikes like before because of climatic changes. And the changes are going to get worse in the future, leading to many electrical accidents and injuries. Thankfully, we have a lightning protection system with us. The system prevents the serious impact of lightning on the buildings, both indoors and outdoors. 

A lightning protection system is efficient to provide complete protection to the building. But, if it’s accompanied by the right roofing material, the performance quality increases. So, you should be very careful about roofing and re-roofing in addition to installing a lightning protection system. 

In this post, we will discuss different roofing materials that work the best with the lightning protection system and provide increased security to a building. 

Metal roofing 

As metal is a conductive material, it’s the best for lightning protection. The myth is conductive metal attracts lightning but the fact it gives electricity a path to follow when lightning strikes occur. The lightning travels through the panels, down to the ground through the structure of the building when it hits the metal roof. This is referred to as the conductive pathway. 

The pair of conductive pathways and a lightning protection system gives a complete system. The only thing is that the lightning protection system should be with the right number of conducting rods and the terminals should be correctly located and connected. The pair guides the electricity harmlessly into the ground below the building. 

Metal roofing is an uncomplicated option. Regardless of the coating or finishes applied, all the metal roofing offers similar lightning protection. 

Tile roofing 

Sometimes, achieving conductivity over the entire roof isn’t possible. In this condition, you should look for fire-resistant roofing material. The fire-resistant roofing material works just like conductive material or better than that, depending on the situation. 

A fire-resistant roofing material becomes important when the lightning strike is close or direct. The strike surges through the power system of the building and damages electrical items. Other than this, the heat of the strike causes a fire, causing far more damage to the structure. 

One of the best fire-resistant roofing materials is concrete or clay tiles. When a tile and lightning protection system combine, chances of fire reduce even if the lightning strike is directed to the roof. Even the high winds don’t cause problems. 

Fire-rated asphalt roofing 

When people don’t get metal or tile roofing, they prefer asphalt shingles. But, unfortunately, they are not a great choice to protect a building against lightning strikes. Also, the shingles have no innate protection against electricity or fire and cannot handle high winds. 

If you want asphalt shingles only, you should look for fiberglass composite products that carry a Class A fire rating. These fire-rated shingles resist higher temperatures and ignite more slowly when exposed to a spray of sparks, offering the most lightning strike protection. 

The fire-asphalt roofing is good to pair with a lightning protection system because it is easy to install. You can easily cut the individual shingles and fit them around the terminals and connectors. 

The roofing material plays an important role in the performance of the lightning protection system. So, consider this before connecting with a lightning protection system supplier.