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Lightning strikes pose a serious risk to buildings, electrical infrastructure, and occupant safety, potentially causing fire hazards, structural damage, and costly power surges.
A properly installed Lightning Protection System (LPS) safely diverts electrical energy into the ground, preventing dangerous voltage spikes and equipment failures.
Lightning storms are one of nature’s most powerful forces, generating immense electrical energy that can cause severe damage to buildings, electrical systems, and equipment.
When lightning strikes a structure or even the surrounding area, it creates transient overvoltages, which are sudden spikes in voltage that can damage electrical systems, destroy sensitive equipment, and pose serious safety hazards.
In the UK, BS EN 62305 (Protection Against Lightning) sets out the standards for lightning risk assessment, system design, and protective measures to ensure buildings and their electrical systems are safeguarded from the devastating effects of lightning strikes.
Compliance with these regulations is essential for commercial, industrial, and public buildings, helping to prevent fires, structural damage, and business disruptions.
When lightning discharges, the energy follows the path of least resistance—often directly into a building or nearby infrastructure.
A direct strike can ignite materials, cause structural fires, and destroy rooftop installations like antennas or solar panels.
However, even an indirect strike can induce powerful transient overvoltages, which travel through electrical and data networks, overloading circuits and frying sensitive equipment such as computers, security systems, fire alarms, and industrial machinery.
The damage caused by transient overvoltages can be just as catastrophic as a direct strike.
Electrical surges travel through power lines, phone lines, and communication networks, affecting equipment even if lightning does not directly hit the building.
This is why surge protection devices (SPDs) play a crucial role in any lightning protection strategy, preventing dangerous voltage spikes from spreading through internal wiring and damaging critical infrastructure.
To reduce the risks associated with lightning, BS EN 62305 establishes a structured approach to lightning protection, ensuring that buildings, electrical systems, and occupants are kept safe. The standard covers:
Compliance with BS EN 62305 is critical for businesses and public facilities, as it helps prevent structural damage, financial loss, and safety risks associated with lightning strikes.
The effects of a lightning strike go beyond structural damage.
BS EN 62305 categorizes the potential types of loss caused by lightning into four main areas:
Businesses that rely on sensitive electronic equipment—such as data centres, industrial sites, and healthcare facilities—are particularly vulnerable to these losses.
Installing a properly designed lightning protection system significantly reduces these risks.
Not every building requires a full lightning protection system, but BS EN 62305 mandates that a risk assessment be carried out to determine whether protection is necessary.
The assessment considers factors such as:
If the risk assessment determines that protection is required, lightning protection measures must be implemented in accordance with BS EN 62305 to ensure compliance.
Once a lightning protection system is installed, it must be regularly inspected and tested to ensure ongoing effectiveness.
BS EN 62305 recommends inspections at least every 12 months, including:
A detailed report and compliance certificate should be provided after each inspection, documenting the condition of the system and any necessary maintenance work.
This documentation is essential for insurance compliance and safety audits.
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Lightning strikes can cause serious damage to buildings, electrical systems, and infrastructure, leading to fire hazards, power surges, and costly downtime.
To mitigate these risks, UK regulations such as BS EN 62305 and BS 7671:2018 outline the requirements for lightning protection systems (LPS) and surge protection devices (SPDs) to safeguard properties and occupants.
In this section, we answer the most common questions about lightning protection, including regulatory requirements, risk assessments, system components, and inspection schedules.
Whether you’re protecting a commercial building, industrial site, church or public facility, our expert insights will help you understand the importance of proper lightning protection and compliance.
Lightning protection testing ensures that your system is functioning correctly and meets BS EN 62305 standards.
Regular testing helps prevent fire hazards, structural damage, and electrical failures caused by lightning strikes.
In the UK, lightning protection systems should be tested at least every 11 months to account for different seasonal conditions and ensure ongoing compliance with BS EN 62305.
A lightning protection system (LPS) inspection ensures that the system functions correctly and complies with BS EN 62305.
The inspection includes the following key checks:
Regular lightning protection inspections help maintain system effectiveness, reduce risk, and ensure compliance with UK safety regulations. Need an inspection? Contact us today on 01276 300 351.
If your system does not meet the required standards, we will provide recommendations and a remedial action plan to bring it back into compliance and ensure safety.
Yes. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that electrical systems, including lightning protection, are properly maintained to ensure safety.
Many insurers also require compliance with BS EN 62305.
Not all buildings require a system, but risk assessments based on BS EN 62305 determine whether one is necessary.
High-risk buildings, such as tall structures, industrial facilities, public buildings, and historic sites, typically require protection.
Yes, surge protection is required for buildings with a lightning protection system under BS EN 62305.
Even with a lightning protection system (LPS), a lightning strike can induce dangerous transient overvoltages (power surges) that travel through electrical wiring, damaging sensitive equipment and posing a fire risk. Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) help mitigate this by safely diverting excess voltage away from electrical systems.
According to BS EN 62305-4 and BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations), surge protection is mandatory in the following cases:
✔ Prevents damage to electrical and electronic systems.
✔ Reduces fire risks caused by power surges.
✔ Ensures compliance with BS EN 62305 and BS 7671 regulations.
✔ Helps maintain business continuity by protecting essential operations.
Need surge protection for your building? Contact us today to ensure your property is fully protected!
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We offer nationwide lightning protection testing services to ensure your building remains safe and compliant.
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