Lightning can occur during most storms, which means lightning is a threat everywhere. When it occurs, it can cause significant damage to your business operations, valuable assets, and critical electronics. There are 7 types of lightning damage that your facility can experience: FIRES Fire can start anywhere the lightning channel contacts flammable material. These can include oil and gas tanks, pipes, wood, paper, etc. If lightning follows electrical wiring, it often times overheats, causing a fire hazard. POWER SURGES Lightning damage is caused by the electrical surge that is produced by the strike. Although not always immediately known, lightning can cause catastrophic damage to appliances, electronics, computers and equipment, phone systems, electrical fixtures, and the electrical infrastructure of your business. ROOF DAMAGE
A direct bolt of lightning hitting your roof can cause severe structural damage, punctured shingles, and even electrical fires. Strong lightning bolts can cause your roof to crack down the middle. It can also damage your gutters, shingles, and the eaves of your facility. DAMAGED ELECTRONICS Lightning typically damages electronics in one of two ways. The first is a direct lightning strike to the facility. And second through a nearby lightning strike that enter the facility through wires or pipes. The energy from a nearby lightning strike can travel through communication wires (such as phone, internet, or cable wires), directly from a utility pole into the electrical panel, or through conductive metal (such as plumbing or metal bars in the foundation). SHOCK WAVES Lightning can damage brick, concrete, and stone with its shock waves. It can also damage your walls and windows or even crack your foundation, compromising the structural integrity of your entire structure. BURST PIPES When the lightning hits near or directly at your location it sends a jolt through your facility and usually leaves your pipes with multiple pinholes sometimes in the slab or sometimes in the wall, that requires extensive repairs. INJURY, BURNS & EVEN DEATH If you are exposed to a lightning strike, you can suffer from injuries that have a range of severity. From shocks and minor burns to even death, you can be drastically impacted when you are struck by lightning. Lightning damage, while rare due to increased public education and prevention measures, can present with unexpected expenses, downtime and sometimes even personal injuries or death. Get your facility protected with Lightning Eliminator’s lightning protection system and solutions.
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AuthorLightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc. (LEC) serves its clients by installing and maintaining lightning protection systems (LPS), and prevention solutions. Equipped with over four decades of experience, LEC has provided successful support to over 90 countries and throughout the United States. Archives
December 2023
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