Metal Roofs And Lightning

The concern about metal roofs attracting lightning strikes is most likely associated with the fact that metal can be an electrical conductor.

Metal roofs and lightning.

Fire is the most destructive element of a lightning strike because most roofs will immediately combust. Steel roofing materials are no more attractive to lightning than any other type of roofing material according to the metal roofing wholesalers website. In this regard metal building materials far exceed traditional wood framed buildings due to metal s non combustible nature. Contrary to popular belief metal roofs can protect your home.

The less its resistance to lightning the less likely a building will suffer damage. Metal roofing materials are non combustible so if a metal roof does get struck by lightning it is less likely to result in a fire than some other types of roofing materials such as cedar shakes. Even so metal roofs do not attract lightning and are not struck any more frequently than other roofing materials. Extensive research on lightning protection reveals that metal roofing is no more likely to attract a lightning strike than any other type of conventional roofing material.

Lightning is attracted to. Should your metal roof be struck by lightning the electricity will be spread out across a larger area which diminishes the immediate impact. A metal building system with a conductive metal roof and a conductive metal structural frame gives lightning a low resistance path to the earth. Structural damage stemming from lightning strikes depend on the building material s resistance to lightning.

In fact as a non combustible material with the highest class a fire resistance rating metal roofing is the most desirable material for homes and businesses in lightning prone regions.