Quote:
Originally Posted by Altavia
I have a similar background.
Key factors influencing my decision to install lightning mitigation as a preventative likelihood/risk reduction include:
* Seven homes struck within a 3 mi radius of our home in the 4 years here.
* Fires tend to start in the attic with the homeowner unaware until a neighbor notified them.
* CSST Gas lines in attic acting as lightning rods:
- the CSST manufacturer recommends LPS in lightening prone areas if installed.
- Several strikes appear to have been at the garage corner where the iron gas line enters the attic.
- Nearby lighting strikes can punch pinholes in the CSST tubing resulting in delayed/undetected gas leaks, until something ignites them.
* The Villages installs LPS on critical buildings and infrastructure.
* LPS is required by code for schools, retirement homes and hospitals.
* There is discussion to add LPS to the building code -installation cost would be much lower during construction.
* It takes 2-3 years to rebuild a home here destroyed by lightening.
* For us, the cost was less than our $2K deductable.
|
I agree, well said with real facts. I would add: there are lightning protection systems (LPS) and then there are LPS installed according to the CODE. Big difference. We had a LPS that was not originally installed per the CODE, rendering it near useless. For example, the conducting cables were placed coming down through my gutter downspouts. CODE violation, a great way to set your house on fire. Another example: conducting rods/posts were not placed far enough away from the house and were not deep enough. CODE violation. SAND is not a good conductor and therefore grounding rods/posts need to be placed DEEPER into the ground for energy dispersement. Based on the above, when we had our roof replaced we had A1 Lightning reroute and improve our LPS so it will perform as intended and is accord with the code. A1 does this work for residential, industrial, commercial LPS in this FL area. Great guys. By the way, my neighbor across the street has had TWO lightning strikes on his home in 20 years. He has a LPS (not done in accord with the code) and received partial protection from the strikes. Not catastrophic damage. Rods are still not placed properly though. So, LPS owners — check your systems. Read the code and get professional advice. A1 seems to know what they are doing. Good luck, all in the “Lightning Capital of the U.S.”