According to the Insurance Information Institute, 30.2% of all church fires are started by lightning strikes. With that in mind, why don’t more churches have lightning rods? Lightning rods originally developed by Benjamin Franklin in the mid-1700s still offer an effective method to divert the energy of a lightning strike.
Lightning rods do not attract lightning they provide a path for the energy of lightning to be diverted and dispersed into the ground. The lightning rod is not just a rod but a system of several pointed metal rods attached to the roof of the church. The rods are tied together by a piece of copper or aluminum that is then buried in the ground. The low-level resistance of the copper or aluminum allows the electrical current to be easily carried away from the building.
The NFPA has created standards for Lightning Protection Systems (NFPA 780). Products that are certified for Lightning Protection Systems are indicated by the UL 96 label. Today many churches have sophisticated electronic systems such as organs, audiovisual systems, and computer networks that must be considered when implementing a lightning protection system.
The lightning rod has been around for a long time and there is new technology coming out. Systems that use lasers to protect buildings, systems that lower the voltage between the ground and the charged cloud below the lightning, and Bipolar Conventional Air Terminals, along with others that are being marketed every day.
To ensure your system is in compliance to receive credit from your insurance company contact your Trusted Choice Independent Insurance agent at Richey-Barrett Insurance.
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