ᐅ Is a lightning rod still necessary?

Created on: 3 Aug 2017 08:21
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HilfeHilfe
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HilfeHilfe
3 Aug 2017 08:21
Hello,

we recently had some severe thunderstorms again.
A quick question: we have a modern townhouse with a flat roof. I have never seen a lightning rod.

Is it always necessary to install one on the roof?

Hmm, probably a silly question, but I would appreciate some clarification.
Basti27093 Aug 2017 08:41
No, our electrician recommended it to us back then and even had a company he regularly works with...

Well, we went ahead and had it done for just under $1,000. Now, on each gable side, there is a small wire pointing upwards, as well as on the satellite dish and the ventilation tiles (basically on everything that protrudes from the roof)... the wires then run down each corner of the house and are connected to the foundation grounding system (grounding electrode) in the concrete slab... inside, something additional was also installed in the electrical panel.

It was installed last year, and I received documentation including the wire diameter... now it needs to be inspected every 2 years... at least it should be.
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winnetou78
3 Aug 2017 08:42
We are currently thinking about this as well.

We never paid attention to it before. But now, if you look, you can see it in every fourth house.

However, it is not a requirement.

I would be interested to know the costs involved.
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dohuli
3 Aug 2017 08:50
Yes and no. It depends on the building. Usually, a lightning conductor is not required for a "standard" residential house, unless the respective regional building regulations or building code mandate it (although I am not aware of any country where this is the case; as far as I know, it is not required in North Rhine-Westphalia).
If a building is located in a particularly exposed position or is especially tall (I believe from about 20 meters [65 feet] upwards), an external lightning protection system must be installed.

Regardless, it is a separate question whether this makes sense, whether the building insurance might require it, or if it is a matter of personal safety preference.

However, the internal lightning protection system types 1 and 2, which are now mandatory for new constructions, certainly make sense. In some cases, for sensitive equipment, this can be extended with type 3.
Because much more often than a direct lightning strike, an indirect strike causes power surges that damage devices.
So, if not already installed, I would consider the installation of a combined lightning conductor system.
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winnetou78
3 Aug 2017 08:53
Is this the surge protection device?
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dohuli
3 Aug 2017 09:06
winnetou78 schrieb:
Is this the surge protection?


Yes, a combined arrester type 1 and 2 serves as surge protection type 1 = coarse protection and type 2 = medium protection. Details can be found, for example, on Wikipedia.