Even though the UAE is one of those nations that are known sunny weather and infrequent severe rains, the country is becoming more accustomed to lightning strikes. In the Arabian Peninsula, lightning strikes have been much more frequent lately, especially during the summer.

Is a lightning rod necessary to keep my building safe?

Lightning protection is not mandatory for all buildings. However, having a lightning rod and lightning protection system makes good sense if you have the following conditions:

• Your building is in an area where lightning strikes occur frequently.
• The building is huge and tall.
• There are tall trees surrounding the property by 10 feet.

How does a lightning rod protect a building?

It is not possible to completely avoid lightning strikes. It’s critical to recognize that lightning rods are only a small part of a larger lightning protection system. A lightning protection system’s goal is to divert the high-voltage electrical energy away from the building and toward the ground. Full lightning protection systems include surge protection to protect electronic and other devices within the buildings.

A copper rod that is mounted on or close to a building is referred to as a “lightning rod.” The purpose of this copper rod is to offer a path to the ground with the least amount of resistance. The path of the least resistance to ground is what electricity seeks. The lightning rod can therefore direct energy away from the atmosphere and toward the ground.

Preparing Your Building to Prevent Lightning Damage

The methods for safeguarding your property and belongings from lightning damage can range from simple and inexpensive to complicated and costly. Let’s start with the simple and reasonably priced steps you can take.

Things You Can Quickly Take Care of Yourself

• Power strips shouldn’t be used as safety measures. Most are not made to offer dependable protection against lightning strikes.

• Unplug any expensive devices. If you will be gone for a while, unplug the computer, TV, etc. Temporarily unplug the equipment if a storm is coming. The lightning strike’s direct path to these devices is through wiring. The best surge protection is when they are unplugged.

Items for Which You Might Need Professional Assistance

Pay close attention to the piping and wires that enter the building: Lightning can strike exposed pipes and cables outside your property, which provides a direct route for the bolt of lightning to enter. For information on the best lightning protection options and how to install them, get in touch with a reputable lightning protection system supplier.

Proper grounding will safeguard the building’s gas plumbing: Black iron pipe is generally considered to be safe, although many more recent buildings are equipped with gas lines made of corrugated stainless-steel tubing (CSST). The benefit of this tubing is that it is simple to install. Unfortunately, it has the drawback of being vulnerable to punctures during electrical storms, leading to gas leaks.

Install surge protectors that are UL listed along with a reliable lightning protection system: Lightning protection systems such as ESE lightning protection systems, lightning rods, and surge arresters are designed to protect your buildings from lightning strikes and help direct the lightning electrical energy to the ground, safeguarding both the building and its contents.

Looking for the highest quality lightning protection systems in the UAE? Contact JSM Energy to safeguard your building and its occupants from lightning strikes.