Lightning Protection for the Farm

Lightning is the leading cause of farm fires. A well-installed and maintained lightning protection system routes lightning along a known, controlled course between the air and moist earth with over 90 percent effectiveness in preventing damage. Such systems can prevent damage to a building or any loss of income related to this damage.

Lightning protection systems consist of five parts:

1. Air terminals are rods or tubes of metal that are installed at every projecting high point of a building, such as roof peaks, chimneys, dormers, ventilators, gables, flagpoles, towers and water tanks. To be effective they must not be spaced too widely apart.

2. Conductors connect air terminals with the grounds. Conductors are copper or aluminum cables. Galvanic action will occur between aluminum and copper; therefore, only one metal should be used for the system or direct contact between the two should be avoided.

3. Grounds and ground connections provide contact with the earth for dissipation of the lightning charge. Usually, at least two ground connections are needed for any building - more with large or complex structures. They should be apart from building foundations and extend deeply enough to reach moist subsurface earth, no matter how dry the weather.

4. Bonding is the interconnecting of metal parts to prevent sideflash.

5. Lightning arresters guard against damage that might occur by way of electric power lines. Properly designed lightning arresters should be placed between power circuit and ground where the circuit enters the building. Large trees need protection from lightning. In addition, trees that are taller than or within 10 feet of a building need protection to prevent flashover. Also, lightning may cause a tree to fall on a building.

Livestock are often killed when they are near a fence or tree that receives a lightning discharge. Wire fences need to be grounded. Use galvanized steel posts at 150-foot intervals along the fence. It is also recommeded that long runs of wire fence by interrupted. Lone trees should either be fenced off to keep livestock away from them or be protected by a lighting protection system.

In an approved lightning protection system, the house, barns, sheds, silo and all other buildings are protected. All metal tracks, guys, lines and other metal bodies are bonded to the system as required. Arresters are installed where needed. Lone trees are protected. Metal fences are properly grounded. Electrical entrance services have Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved arrestors.