Lightning is a giant spark of electricity that originates in clouds or air. The dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning strikes happen when the negative electricity originating in the atmosphere connects with the positive charge of an object below. When this atmospheric electrical charge is less than a hundred yards from the ground, objects such as trees or buildings send sparks to meet it. When those sparks connect, the resulting channel creates a huge electric current surge that rapidly travels downward, producing the flashing bolt we call lightning.
Lightning rod protection is used to protect buildings by rerouting lightning strikes away from the structure and channelling the electricity down to the ground. Some people are under the misconception that the Franklin lightning rod protection is the only way to protect against lightning strikes, and others are confused by other products developed over the past 50 years, believing them to be similar to the lightning rod, such as Early Streamer Emission systems (ESE) and Charge Transfer System (CTS).
The CTS collects the induced charge developed by thunderstorm clouds from a designated protected area of the earth and transfers this charge through the ionizer or lightning rod protection into the surrounding air, creating a “space charge” that forms a shield between the storm cell and the protected area.
The charges transferred to the air can act in one of two modes – collection, which establishes a preferred conductive path for the lightning leader, and prevention mode, which reduces the electric field intensity to the level that delays the formation of an upward streamer from the protected area.
The fact is lightning is common and unpredictable on every continent except Antarctica. Lightning is almost sure to be even more of a concern in the future because of changing warm weather patterns.
Now is the time for all decision-makers to begin to look at the lightning issue. Choose whatever lightning rod protection system works best. Every structure is unique and requires a different level of protection. But failing to think about it or plan for it could mean getting caught unprotected one day. And the cost-benefit analysis will not be just a number to look past.
Lightning Eliminators & Consultant Inc. is your partner in choosing the best lightning rod protection.