When we think of lightning, the first thing that comes to our minds is an electric bolt that rushes across the sky when there is a thunderstorm. When far away, lightning looks amazing, but if it strikes your building, it can do a lot of damage. Let’s find out what these damages are:

What Is Lightning?

Let us quickly understand lightning before we look at the damage that it can cause to a building.

Lightning is a natural electrostatic discharge that results from the accumulation of electric charge in the atmosphere. When this charge is released, a strong and possibly destructive electrical surge is produced.

Damages Caused by Lightning Strikes to Your Building

Risks of Fire

One of the most serious risks of lightning is fire. During a lightning strike, materials like wood, insulation, and gas lines can catch fire. This could result in serious fires that might quickly burn down the entire building.

Damage to Structure:

Lightning can cause structural damage to buildings. This means that building materials like concrete and brick can become brittle or crack due to the intense heat produced by a lightning strike. Even though it may not always be visible right away, this damage can eventually affect the building’s foundational strength.

Damage to Electrical Systems:

When lightning strikes a building, its powerful electrical charge can surge through the building’s electrical systems. This surge can overload equipment, harm wiring, and even start electrical fires. It may also interfere with your home’s power supply.

Electronic Damages:

Computers, televisions, and other delicate electronics are widely used in buildings. These devices can experience a surge of electricity during a lightning strike, which can fry their circuits and make them useless.

Damage to the Roof and Chimney:

Lightning usually strikes a building’s highest point, which is mostly the roof or chimney. A direct hit can cause structural damage and fires, or it can even destroy the bricks and roof tiles in these areas.

The Role of a Lightning Protection System

Now that we know the potential harm lightning can cause, let us discuss how a lightning protection system can protect your building and its occupants from these dangers.

A lightning protection system is a collection of lightning rods, conductive materials, and grounding systems designed to prevent dangerous lightning strikes from affecting a building. This is how it goes:

The Lightning Rods:

Lightning rods, also referred to as air terminals, are put in at a building’s highest points. They attract lightning strikes and give the electrical energy a secure path to travel.

The Conductors:

The lightning rods are connected to the ground by conductors, mostly made of copper or aluminum. These elements make sure that the lightning strike’s electrical energy safely goes into the ground, protecting the structure from damage.

Grounding Systems:

A lightning protection system’s effectiveness depends on proper grounding. To create a path that allows the energy of lightning to be safely spread out, grounding electrodes are dug into the soil.

 A lightning protection system can be of great help in protecting your building and its occupants from any danger that lightning can cause. This system is essential to making your building’s residents feel safe. If you live in the UAE, JSM Energy can provide you with the best lightning protection system. Contact us at +971 58 5358 330 today.