Is Metal Roofs Prone To 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.

Is metal roofs prone to lightning strikes.

The misconception that metal roofs attract lightning is probably because metal itself is known as a good conductor of electricity and people therefore assume that a metal roof must attract lightning. The concern about metal roofs attracting lightning strikes is most likely associated with the fact that metal can be an electrical conductor. It does not attract any extra attention from lightning and just like buildings constructed with traditional building materials any electricity from a lightning strike will will be safely transferred to the ground below so occupants will be unaffected. Lightning is attracted to.

Metal roofs and lighting. This may be because metal is highly conductive similar to the metal rods that are used to attract lightning. After all metal is highly conductive just like the materials used in lightning rods that are used to attract lightning strikes so doesn t it stand to reason that the metal roof will attract lightning too. The common myth is that metal buildings are more prone to lightning strikes than any other type of structure.

A metal roof can protect your house from both the heat of the lightning strike and the electrical current because of its non combustible nature. Metal is also a non combustible material. There is a perception or at least a suspicion that a metal roof will increase the likelihood of lightning striking the building. Even so metal roofs do not attract lightning and are not struck any more frequently than other roofing materials.

While a building s structural steel will conduct lightning it is the bonding interconnection and grounding provided by a lightning protection system lps that will dissipate lightning s harmful electricity safely to the ground. The metal construction association notes that metal roofs do not attract lightning. In reality when lightning strikes it is seeking a path to ground and almost always will strike whatever object is highest in the area that also has a direct path to ground. It has been observed that installing a metal roof makes building owners think more about lightning and the dangers of lightning strikes.

There is a belief that metal roofs increase the likelihood of a lightning strike. Lightning produces intense heat and often this heat can cause fires on the roof or inside the house. Metal roofing is perfectly safe. Metal roofs are no more attractive to lightning than any other type of roofing material.

Lightning occurs on too large of a scale to be influenced by small objects on the ground including metal objects. It is a false belief that metal roofs can increase the risk of a lightning strike.