Lightning And Metal Roofs

Metal clearly is far more resistant to fire than asphalt shingles wood shingles or other shingle materials.

Lightning and metal roofs.

While a building s structural steel will conduct lightning it is the bonding interconnection and grounding provided by a lightning protection system lps that will dissipate lightning s harmful electricity safely to the ground. It is a false belief that metal roofs can increase the risk of a lightning strike. In this regard metal building materials far exceed traditional wood framed buildings due to metal s non combustible nature. In fact the most destructive part of a lightning strike to a building is the fire it produces.

In other words metal roofing does not affect the chances of lightning discharging from the sky and striking structures. Regardless if a suburban area has metal roofs or not lightning will strike whenever it is ready. The concern about metal roofs attracting lightning strikes is most likely associated with the fact that metal can be an electrical conductor. Metal roofs are no more attractive to lightning than any other type of roofing material.

The exact location where lightning will strike depends on the geography topography and the storm s movement. In fact as a non combustible material with the highest class a fire resistance rating metal roofing is the most desirable material for homes and businesses in lightning prone regions. Lightning is attracted to. Steel roofing materials are no more attractive to lightning than any other type of roofing material according to the metal roofing wholesalers website.

The metal construction association notes that metal roofs do not attract lightning. Even so metal roofs do not attract lightning and are not struck any more frequently than other roofing materials. Fire is the most destructive element of a lightning strike because most roofs will immediately combust. Extensive research on lightning protection reveals that metal roofing is no more likely to attract a lightning strike than any other type of conventional roofing material.

A metal building system with a conductive metal roof and a conductive metal structural frame gives lightning a low resistance path to the earth. A metal building may survive a lightning strike with less damage than a similarly sized and located building made of higher resistance materials. Metal is inflammable by nature so in the event that your home is struck by lightning it should be safer than other roofing materials.