Jennifer Morgan

For over 120 years, the NFPA’s Standard 780 has stood as the definitive guide for effective lightning protection. Within the standard lies a crucial tool: the Simplified Risk Calculator, designed to quantify lightning risk for specific structures, empowering architects and engineers to shield properties from nature’s electric wrath. 

Two commonly cited solutions are lightning protection systems and surge suppression. While they both address issues related to lightning, they serve distinctly different purposes.

Most components of a lightning protection system can last the life of a structure with little maintenance. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of typical roofing systems and rooftop equipment; they need routine servicing, occasional repairs, and, all too frequently, replacement.