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Air traffic control towers are equipped with LPS to protect sensitive electronics for critical air safety operations. They also benefit from instrumentation to count the number lightning strikes received by the LPS. A Federal Aviation Administration study showed that the Tampa control tower recorded 25,000 lightning strikes with no damage. The Orlando control tower experienced 20,000 lightning strikes with loss of one telephone line.

The above demonstrates that LPS do work if they are designed, installed, and maintained according to the national standard on lightning, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems. This standard was first issued by the NFPA in 1904 and has been updated thirty times since by a panel of lightning experts.

CAUTION: this is a buyer beware marketplace because there is no state or local certification for LPS installers and no building permits with follow up inspections. The industry does police itself when LPS firms become “listed” by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) AND their installers pass four closed book proctored exams to qualify as “Master Installers” by the lightning Protection Institute (LPI). Also beware that firms found in the Yellow Pages or on Internet may not meet the above UL and LPI criteria.

In summary, LPS provide a reliable and time-tested method to protect homes from the destructive forces of lightning, ensuring safety and peace of mind for homeowners living here in the Lightning Capital of the United States.

I spent 40 tears in the Air Traffic field, just moved into Shady Brook .. to me its worth the piece of mind.