12/15/2023 0 Comments Does metal roofs attract lightningOn the flip side, having the tallest building on the horizon will likely make your building a quite literal bigger target. If your building is smaller than geographical features and buildings around it – like the rock outcroppings or trees – it will be the least-likely target when storms roll in. The caveat here is that lower-lying lands tend not to drain as well, and you are looking at weathering wet years instead of a lightning strike, so keep that in the back of your mind. This is something to keep in mind if you are looking for a building site. If your property has several flatlands and hills, the buildings on the hills – which are your high points – will be more prone to those lightning strikes than any buildings that are in the lowlands. TopographyĪs stated previously, lightning is attracted to high points. Since lightning doesn’t strike buildings often, and your metal roof is tied to the ground using a strap or a lightning rod like other roofs, you should be fine. Depending on where you live, this could alter your building plans. The more expansive and/or taller a building is, the more likely that building is to be struck. If you are planning a new build, you can plan the building strategies and site location. Since we now know what can increase the chances of a lightning strike, measures must be taken. Factors That Influence Commercial Roof Lightning Strikes From there, the fire-resistant properties of the metal will help to protect your building further. This diminishes the immediate impact of the strike. So, what happens when lightning actually does strike your metal roof? The electricity will spread itself out across a larger area. As far as building materials go, traditional wood is much more likely to combust than metal due to the latter’s non-combustible nature. This is where metal frames actually come in handy. This is because most roofs will immediately combust. However, you can do things to decrease the potential for structural harm to your building should the building be struck.įire is actually the most destructive element of a lightning strike. Speaking of material, there is currently no known material that can be implemented to decrease the likelihood of a lightning strike. That means that the likelihood of a lightning strike hitting your home or commercial business building depends on the height and size rather than the materials used in the construction. What is lightning attracted to? Thin points, high points, and structures that cover a large area of ground. Not only that, they are not struck any more frequently than any other type of roofing material. Despite that fact, metal roofs absolutely do not attract lightning strikes. The concern about what happens when lightning strikes metal is directly related to the fact that metal can act as an electrical conductor. However, building owners should take precautions to protect against lighting, regardless of their roofing material. Metal roofs do NOT increase the risk of lightning strikes, according to MCA. Here are some things that you need to take into consideration. Still, that does not mean that you shouldn’t take preventative measures to keep your building safe from lightning strikes with a metal roof. Like buildings that are constructed with traditional building materials, any electricity from lightning strikes will be transferred safely to the ground below, keeping the occupants inside safe. It holds no extra attraction to lightning. Generally speaking, metal roofing is quite safe. The short answer is no, metal roofing is not dangerous and does not naturally attract lightning strikes. After all, we have been told our whole lives that metal is a natural conductor of lightning, so that must mean that it’s dangerous. The question that just about anyone asks is whether or not that metal roof is dangerous when it comes to attracting lightning. But the benefits of metal roofing systems are meant for another article. It is one of the most durable roofing systems available today, meant to last for decades. Installing a metal roof onto your commercial building can have several benefits. The Metal Construction Association has even pointed out that metal roofing may actually keep your building safer in the event of a lightning strike. Other factors like building height, size, and topography do, however, have an influence. Do metal roofs attract lighting? No, having a metal roof should neither increase nor decrease its chances of being struck by lightning.
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