Talk of The Villages Florida
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Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)
-   The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)
-   -   Lightning caused house fires (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/lightning-caused-house-fires-159784/)

Fanman 08-21-2015 08:46 PM
We had A1 lightning Protection install a system on our home. They are a 1st class outfit. We could not be happier with the job they did on our home. Very knowledgable and explained every piece that would be installed. Highly recommend them.

rdhdleo 08-21-2015 09:13 PM
Good to know! I feel we will be going with them. Very thorough in explaining everything they do and cover and how they will do it!. Thanks for letting me know you had a great job done by them :)

Bosoxfan 08-21-2015 09:17 PM
Im hoping my neighbors on both sides of me get lightening rods :)

rdhdleo 08-21-2015 09:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bosoxfan (Post 1103003)
Im hoping my neighbors on both sides of me get lightening rods :)
Why? You won't be protected. It's a fallacy that they "attract" lightning.

Bosoxfan 08-21-2015 10:08 PM
I'll take my chances . Lightning protection isn't regulated. For all you know you're throwing good money away!

angiefox10 08-21-2015 10:34 PM
You don't hear about the homes with rods
 
ThE gentleman who spoke to our village about lighting protection told us that no home that had burned from lighting had rods. To that point. The night the home burned in Bridgeport of Lake Miona, there was another home that got hit by lightning. My girlfriend posted on FB their home got hit that's night. She had rods. He husband was in the room next to the rods. He heard the power go down the wires. No one heard about that home. It didn't burn down.

I have rods

ajbrown 08-22-2015 06:50 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by rdhdleo (Post 1102984)
Update on my experience with lightning rods. Shortly after we moved here 13 years ago the lightning started to freak me out. Stupidly a guy in a truck came around saying he had been installing lighting rods on some of our neighbors homes. Back then there weren't all these resources to find out more into and I was so paranoid, we said ok and had it done for $600. Since then with all these threads on it here and on Facebook I started questioning what we had done. Figuring it probably wasn't to code so today we had A1 Lightning protection come out and check it out. Yep not to code and actually dangerous they way it was done. (I have the gas lines in the attic) We called Triangle which people here have mentioned and I was pout off by the fact they would not come out and talk to us to check our system without charging us $150 to do so! They gave us a quote over trephine no even telling us what exactly they would do! A1 Lightning Protection came out at NO charge and inspected everything. Their quote to put in a new copper system including my birdcage and do proper grounding of everything $1550 less than what Triangle quoted on the phone. A1 said they could bring our current system up to code for $800 but we feel it's worth the extra money to go copper all the way (except for the birdcage which cannot be copper.) Just thought I would let everyone know in case your considering the rods.
Interesting. I had quotes from both of those companies. It was just the opposite of what you found. A-1: $2050 and Triangle: $1300.

Reasons for higher price:
  • A-1 uses copper, not aluminum
  • A-1 must do some extra work as they come through the roof soffit instead of wrapping around gutter.
  • A-1 has a cost of going to potential customers to explain all this stuff. That meeting helped me understand the system.

Triangle will use copper and the job will be $1600, leaving a difference of $450. Copper or aluminum will do the job based on what I read.

I believe they both do a quality job based on what folks say and their credentials.

Stdole 08-22-2015 12:55 PM
Lightning / Fire Fighter
 
I can tell you this...... 30 yrs in the Fire Fighting business, I have never been on a house fire (that was approved protections system) that had
lightning protection rods with copper. That mean something to me!

Do not dream of ideas "like it draws lightning" or "how could little rods
on the roof save a home" remember lightning can even travel on 22 ga. phone wire without melting it and travel right into your home.

I am not saying it will survive a major direct hit... I can't imagine any system or protection could do this... but are you also sure your Insurance
Co. will cover 100% of everything in your home without any doubts.. of course not... but better than anything else going.. do your homework as you would on your insurance companies... I would say the rods are better
for the costs than the money in the banks (no protection there for lightning that I am aware)

Xcuse 08-22-2015 01:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bosoxfan (Post 1103022)
I'll take my chances . Lightning protection isn't regulated. For all you know you're throwing good money away!
It is not regulated by a government agency, but there are recognized standards:
UL 96/96A - Standards For Safety “Installation Requirements for Lightning Protection Systems.
NFPA 780 - Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
LPI 175 - Standard of Practice for the Design - Installation - Inspection of Lightning Protection Systems

Lightning 08-25-2015 09:34 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stdole (Post 1103203)
I can tell you this...... 30 yrs in the Fire Fighting business, I have never been on a house fire (that was approved protections system) that had
lightning protection rods with copper. That mean something to me!

Do not dream of ideas "like it draws lightning" or "how could little rods
on the roof save a home" remember lightning can even travel on 22 ga. phone wire without melting it and travel right into your home.

I am not saying it will survive a major direct hit... I can't imagine any system or protection could do this... but are you also sure your Insurance
Co. will cover 100% of everything in your home without any doubts.. of course not... but better than anything else going.. do your homework as you would on your insurance companies... I would say the rods are better
for the costs than the money in the banks (no protection there for lightning that I am aware)
You may wish to see Dr. Martin Uman's book, The Art & Science of Lightning Protection, that can be found in The Villages Belvedere Library. Dr. Uman has been studying lightning at the University of Florida for over 40 years. The evidence is clear, lightning protection systems (LPS) do work when they are designed installed and maintained according to National Fire Protection Association-780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, 2014 edition. This standard has been in existence since 1904 and has been updated 27 times to keep pace with research, technology, and experience. Anyone wishing to do their due diligence should also read NFPA-780, Annex B, Principles of Lightning Protection.

LPS should be installed by firms that are listed by UL and their installers qualified as Master Installer by the Lightning Protection Institute. Be aware that this is a non-regulated business for residential properties and there are a number of firms scamming Villagers with systems that do not meet the aforementioned standard.

Lightning 08-25-2015 09:51 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bosoxfan (Post 1103022)
I'll take my chances . Lightning protection isn't regulated. For all you know you're throwing good money away!
See my post this date on this thread regarding LPS. They are used world-wide and have been for over 200 years. If they didn't work why would the developer put them on every pumping station, nearly every building at Sumter Landing, fire headquarters, and many other facilities like the Savannah Center and most of the charter school buildings. Also check all of the larger churches as they all have LPS. Healthcare facilities are mandated to have them by Florida Statute. They are all over OIA and now on all of the new toll booths in the Orlando area.

ajbrown 08-25-2015 10:16 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lightning (Post 1104321)
Stuff cut by Alan...

LPS should be installed by firms that are listed by UL and their installers qualified as Master Installer by the Lightning Protection Institute. Be aware that this is a non-regulated business for residential properties and there are a number of firms scamming Villagers with systems that do not meet the aforementioned standard.
It is interesting that one of the highest recommended companies in the area uses a Journeyman Installer. I believe he is an extremely qualified installer, but does not have the piece of paper to be a master.

jimbo2012 08-25-2015 12:00 PM
AJ, it's not rocket science, you can look up the specs to be sure it's done right.

It is a very simple install

Just because someone has a certificate as a certified installer still don't guarantee it's done right.

Moreover, I don't believe a license or certification is required for an installer.

Perhaps "Lightning" can site the section of the code that requires or states otherwise?

vette 08-25-2015 04:57 PM
It's important to understand that roof rods only offer protection from direct hits on the house. Not only do you need the correct number AND size of rods per sq ft: the system must be properly grounded as per your soil conditions. This system does not protect you from lightning surges thru the electric, phone and cable lines. You will need additional systems to protect your home from ground surges and near hits. I strongly suggest you check with your insurance company for their recommendations before you sign any contracts...

Lightning 08-28-2015 05:33 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimbo2012 (Post 1104384)
AJ, it's not rocket science, you can look up the specs to be sure it's done right.

It is a very simple install

Just because someone has a certificate as a certified installer still don't guarantee it's done right.

Moreover, I don't believe a license or certification is required for an installer.

Perhaps "Lightning" can site the section of the code that requires or states otherwise?
You are correct there is no licensing of lightning protection system installers (LPS) nor are permits required and there is no follow up inspection by any governmental body. It is a buyer beware marketplace. However, the responsible installers are affiliated with the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL). That is why in our presentations we suggest that anyone considering a LPS only seek bids from firms that are UL listed with the Master Installer designation from LPI. And don't be fooled by installers that tell you they use UL listed components as that is not the same as the firm being listed by UL where their work maybe inspected by a UL engineer.


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