A common question asked when considering lightning protection is: What are the chances
of being struck? While lightning tends to strike objects that are higher than the surrounding area,
the strikes often occur in valleys, as well as on hilltops. With lightning hitting the Earth one hundred times each minute, almost no place is completely safe, and some areas receive repeated strikes for no obvious reason. Precise predictions are impossible, but the risk of being struck increases as: elevation increases, height of structure increases, or the footprint of the building increases.
Other risk factors include: A building located in an open area or next to water, underground utilities, chimneys or other roof projections, metal fencing, and invisible dog fences.
The most dramatic lightning strike will burn a building to the ground, while the most common lightning damage is from induced surges in wiring systems from nearby strikes, which cause extensive damage to connected equipment. Being at the end of a power line compounds the surge problem, while a steel roof on a protected building can help shield internal wiring from harmful electromagnetic fields. Plug-in and hard-wired surge suppressors are an important part of effective lightning rod systems.
An investment in proper, UL certified lightning protection provides surge suppression for your electronic equipment, enhancement of existing electrical/phone/TV grounds, a safe path for potential lightning strikes, and peace of mind day after day.