Lightning Protection Inspection—A Process Guide from Lightning Master
It is recommended that lightning protection systems are inspected annually to ensure they function as designed.
The purpose of a lightning protection inspection is to determine whether your lightning protection system still complies with industry standards and is in working condition. Although lightning protection systems are low maintenance, annual inspections allow for the detection of anomalies or deviations from the industry standards. For instance, to determine whether the integrity of a lightning protection system has been compromised by exposure to environmental conditions or incorrect handling.
A thorough lightning protection inspection will evaluate all three primary elements of a lightning protection system.
These are:
- The Structural lightning protection
- The bonding and grounding system.
- Transient voltage surge suppression devices that protect your property against indirect lightning strikes or EMP.
How Often Should Your Lightning Protection System be Inspected?
The components of a lightning and static protection system can corrode over time, reducing their effectiveness, especially if installed near the coast or in a highly corrosive environment. As such, it’s recommended that your systems ought to be visually inspected at least once a year.
In areas that experience extreme weather patterns and climate factors, it’s advisable to conduct visual inspections more often depending on weather patterns in the region.
Put simply, lightning, and static protection systems should be repaired and inspected according to NFPA 780, which includes some of the following circumstances:
- Upon completion of installation
- Upon finding damaged system components
- After major electrical storms or extreme weather events, such as hurricanes or high wind events, that may cause damage to your system
- After expansion or modification to the underlying protected structures to ensure that the installed lightning protection solutions are adequate
Verifying the Integrity of Your Lightning Protection System
All lightning protection inspections should be carried out by a UL-Listed lightning protection system installer. The inspection will include a detailed report of findings and any deviations. It will also provide recommendations and a bill of materials to remediate any inadequacies to ensure full compliance with industry standards.
Lightning Master field service technicians will perform an on-site visual inspection of your facility’s lightning protection system.
Generally, the purpose of such a visual inspection is to ascertain that:
- The system complies with industry standards and with the current edition of the NFPA 780
- There are no loose connections or severed cables
- There are no missing components, such as air terminals
- There is no visual indication of damage to surge protection devices, usually visible by an LED light. If the lightning protection inspection indicates that some aspect of your lightning protection system is not up to standard, Lightning Master is here to help rectify any issues and repair and damage to your systems.
System Inspections, & Maintenance with Lightning Master
Lightning Master Corporation employs experts in the field of lightning protection to ensure all your assets are adequately protected. Our installers are UL-Listed lightning protection system installers. We’re a premier lightning protection company offering lightning protection services in Florida and throughout the country.
We design and install lightning protection systems to better protect your facility against all types of lightning damage, including those caused by direct lightning strikes and electrical surges. By working with us, you’re assured that your system will be installed, certified if required, and inspected according to industry standards.
Contact us for additional information about our services and the recommended lightning protection inspection process.