CI/SfB 68.
6
dıgest Protecting buildings
against lightning
The average number of days
each year during which
thunderstorms may occur
across the UK is between 5
and 20. This figure can
double over an 11-year
period due to the sunspot
cycle. The number of
lightning strikes to a square
kilometre of land each year in
England and Wales ranges
from 0.1 to 0.6 depending on
geographical location.
Courtesy of A N Wallis & Co Ltd
A lightning protection system
(LPS) for any structure must
be considered to be a
sensible precaution, but its
installation is particularly
important where there is a
clear risk to life, the structure
or its contents are
irreplaceable, or essential
services could be affected.
This Digest gives guidance on
calculating the risk of a
building being struck by
March 1998
Digest
428
lightning. It describes the
principles of designing LPS
for new and existing
buildings. However, as stated
in BS 6651, even where an
LPS is provided, it can never
be completely effective in
eliminating the risk of
damage to a structure or its
contents.
2
Lightning is an electrostatic discharge between
one cloud and another or between a cloud and
earth. It is estimated that cloud potential voltages
can be as high as 100 MV prior to a discharge and
the peak current stroke can rise in approximately
10 µs to anything between 2 kA and 200 kA.
For this reason, electromagnetically generated
mechanical forces between adjacent conductive
metalworks are extremely high so that an LPS
must be of robust design and secured with
substantial fixtures. Furthermore, the shock
wave produced by such a current can damage the
structural parts of any building.
Conversely, because each flash is of extremely
short duration, the thermal effects in conducting
materials are usually minimal. Obviously, fusing
can occur if the wrong size materials are used and
fire can result.
Sideflashing
Extremely high potential voltages are generated
in the metalwork of a structure when struck by
lightning. These potentials vary throughout the
building and should the difference between
adjacent metalwork be great, then there is a risk
of a flashover. This is called ‘sideflashing’ and if
it occurs, the lightning current can discharge to
service pipes, wiring, information technology
equipment, communications, and along many
other unintended paths to create extensive
damage, including risk of electric shock, fire due
to sparking and havoc to essential services.
Where sideflashing is considered to be a
possibility, measures should be taken to either
isolate the metalwork or to bond the metalwork
to the LPS (see also Down conductors, page 5).
Both have considerable implications and need
consideration.
The design intention is that the lightning
current should be confined to the path provided
by the LPS and so discharge itself safely to earth.
The risk to buildings of a lightning
strike
The average number of days each year during
which thunderstorms may occur across the UK is
between 5 and 20. This figure can double over an
11-year cycle due to the sunspot cycle. Figure 1
in BS 6651 gives the average number of strikes to
each km2 of land annually in England and Wales.
The probability of a strike to a building increases
when an LPS is installed so it is important to
ensure that the system effectively conducts the
lightning current safely to earth.
The need for protection
Acceptable risk
British Standard BS 6651 provides a procedure
for calculating the overall lightning strike risk
factor for a building or structure. An ‘acceptable’
risk factor is given as 10-5 per year, ie 1 in 100
000 per year. So if the overall risk factor is more,
for example 10-4, ie 1 in 10 000, then protection is
necessary. Sometimes other issues may override
a calculated low risk factor and a lightning
protection system will be installed, for example,
at an explosives dump or in a small art gallery.
Calculating the overall risk factor
The overall risk factor is determined by:
● Geographical location of a structure. This
determines the number of flashes to the ground
per km2 per year, that is, average lightning
flash density (Ng). Ng can be assessed for
England/Wales and globally by using the maps
in BS 6651 (Figures 1 and 3).
● Effective collection area (Ac) of a structure.
This is the plan area of a building opened out
in all directions. So, for example, the taller the
building, the more likely it is to attract a strike.
Ac = LW + 2LH + 2WH + πH2 (m2)
where L = length
W = width
H = height
The probable number of strikes per annum on the
structure:
P = Ac × Ng × 10-6
Weighting factors
The probability, P, is multiplied by five
weighting factors to obtain the overall risk factor.
The weighting factors take account of:
A Use of structure: the number of people using
the building, for example, a school, hospital,
office block or church
B Type of construction: for example, a thatched
or metal roof, or constructed of stone
C Contents or consequential effects: whether a
building is of historic or cultural importance
(museum, art gallery), or is a building where
essential public services are performed
(hospital, school, telephone exchange, power
station) or a building containing explosive or
flammable materials
D Degree of isolation: for example, a building on
a flat plain or a tall building in a town
exceeding at least twice the height of
surrounding buildings
E Type of country: for example, flat or
mountainous
Zones of protection
A lightning conductor provides protection by
attracting lightning to itself. The zone of
protection is the volume around the conductor
which is protected against a lightning strike. The
 3

A sample calculation of overall risk factor Table 2 Weighting factor B (From BS 6651)
An old stone church in a village in Lincolnshire of Factor B
dimensions: Type of construction value
L = 20 m
W= 15 m Steel framed encased with any roof 0.2
H = 30 m other than metal*
Reinforced concrete with any roof 0.4
From Figure 1 in BS 6651, Ng = 0.6 flashes/km2/year other than metal
Steel framed encased or reinforced 0.8
Ac = (20 × 15) + 2 (20 × 30) + 2 (15 × 30) + 3.14
concrete with metal roof
× 302 m2
Brick, plain concrete or masonry with any 1.0
= 300 + 1200 + 900 + 2826 m2
roof other than metal or thatch
= 5226 m2
Timber framed or clad with any roof other 1.4
Probability of church being struck than metal or thatch
= Ac × Ng × 10-6 Brick, plain concrete, masonry, timber 1.7
= 5226 × 0.6 × 10-6 framed but with metal roofing
= 3.136 × 10-3 Any building with a thatched roof 2.0
* A structure of exposed metal which is continuous down to ground level is
Applying the weighting factors from Tables 1–5: excluded from the table as it requires no lightning protection except adequate
Factor A = 1.3 earthing arrangements.
Factor B = 1.0
Factor C = 1.7 Table 3 Weighting factor C (From BS 6651)
Factor D = 1.0 Contents or Factor C
Factor E = 0.3 consequential effects value

The overall weighting factor Ordinary domestic or office buildings, 0.3

= A×B×C×D×E factories and workshops not containing
= 0.663 valuable or specially susceptible contents
Industrial and agricultural buildings 0.8
The overall risk factor
with specially susceptible* contents
= Probability of being struck × overall weighting
Power stations, gas installations, 1.0
factor
= 3.136 × 10-3 × 0.663 telephone exchanges, radio stations
= 2.08 × 10-3 Key industrial plants, ancient monuments 1.3
and historic buildings, museums,
that is, greater than 10-5 and therefore an LPS is art galleries or other buildings with
recommended. specially valuable contents
Schools, hospitals, children’s and other 1.7
residential homes, places of assembly
* This means specially valuable plant or materials vulnerable to fire or its
results.

Table 1 Weighting factor A (From BS 6651) Table 4 Weighting factor D (From BS 6651)
Factor A Factor D
Use of structure value Degree of isolation value

Houses and other buildings 0.3 Structure located in a large area of 0.4
of comparable size structures or trees of the same or greater
Houses and other buildings of 0.7 height, eg in a large town or forest
comparable size with outside aerial Structure located in an area with few other 1.0
Factories, workshops and 1.0 structures or trees of similar height
laboratories Structure completely isolated or 2.0
Office blocks, hotels, blocks of flats 1.2 exceeding at least twice the height of
and other residential buildings surrounding structures or trees
other than those included below
Places of assembly, eg churches, 1.3
Table 5 Weighting factor E (From BS 6651)
halls, theatres, museums, exhibitions, Factor E
department stores, post offices, stations, Type of country value
airports and stadium structures
Schools, hospitals, children’s and 1.7 Flat country at any level 0.3
other residential homes Hill country 1.0
Mountain country between 300 m and 900 m 1.3
Mountain country above 900 m 1.7
4
volume and shape of the zone will determine the
number and location of lightning conductors
needed to protect a structure. For structures less
than 20 m high and for vertical conductors, the
zone is defined as a cone, its apex being the top of
a conductor and its base the ground. The
protection angle is that made between the side of
the cone and the vertical at the apex (see Figure
2). To achieve an acceptable degree of
protection, the protection angle is recommended
by BS 6651 to be 45°. (For horizontal lightning
conductors, the zone of protection is the volume
generated by a cone with its apex on the
conductor moved from end to end.)
For structures more than 20 m high, the
protection zone should be determined using a
rolling sphere where the zone of protection is that
volume formed between the rolling sphere and
the point where it touches the structure (Figure
2). The smaller the radius of the sphere, the
greater the protection but the greater the cost of
installing the LPS. BS 6651 recommends a
sphere of 60 m radius.
Designing a lightning protection
system (LPS)
General considerations
Having established, by risk analysis, that a
building requires an LPS, it is important for the
lightning protection engineer to liaise with all
Lightning
conductors on roof
45
Zone of
protection
Up to
20 m
Lightning
conductors on roof
Additional
protection
needed
Radius
of sphere
100 m
Zone of
protection
Figure 2 Zones of protection: buildings 20 m high or
less (top); principle of the rolling sphere for buildings
over 20 m high (below) (from W J Furse & Co Ltd
those involved in the design project team from
the beginning of the project. The lightning
protection engineer must also ensure that the
principles are understood by the various
contractors during installation.
Components of the LPS
The LPS comprises the following networks:
● air terminations network,
● down conductors network (including joints
and bonds),
● earth electrodes network (including test
joints),
● earth termination network.
Initially, a survey of the building or relevant
drawings should be undertaken to identify the
metallic components in or on the structure that
can be integrated into the LPS. For example, a
metal roof, metal window-cleaning rails, a steel
frame or concrete reinforcing bars may be
incorporated into the LPS design. Making use of
the building construction metalwork may incur
design time costs, but the benefits can be
considerable. However, it must be borne in mind
that if parts of the LPS are immediately beneath
the surface of the structure’s fabric, surface
damage may result from a lightning strike.
Air terminations network
The air terminations network is provided
primarily to intercept a lightning strike. No part
of a roof should be more than 5 m from an air
termination conductor. Typically, this will be
achieved by a conductor mesh 10 m × 20 m for a
flat roof area.
Those metallic projections above the general
profile of a roof, for example, aerials and air-
conditioning units, should be connected to the air
termination network, unless they fall within the
protection zone of a higher protected part of the
structure.
Buildings and structures most likely to be hit
by lightning are those that project above their
surroundings, for example, chimneys, spires,
flagpoles, aerials, towers, water tanks and
railings.
Those parts of a building which project from,
or form sharp corners of, buildings or structures
are also likely to be struck, for example, the edge
of a roof.
Where reinforced concrete is used for down
conductors the air termination network should be
connected to the reinforcing bars.
Down conductors network
The purpose of the down conductors system is to
provide a low impedance path from the air
termination network to the earth termination
 5
network, in order to conduct the lightning strike 8d maximum Exceeding 8d

safely to the earth termination network.

Therefore, the down conductors should take,
where possible, the most direct route to the earth
termination network. Bends in the down
conductors should, if possible, be avoided (the
lightning current pulse will tend to straighten
them out!) as they generate a high self-inductive
voltage that may result in sideflashing. ‘Re-
entrant loops’ where unavoidable should be
designed as shown in Figures 3 and 4 as the high
inductive voltage can cause sideflashing and
structural damage. Down conductors should be d d
symmetrically placed around the periphery of the
structure, no more than 20 m apart, starting from Figure 3 Routing a down conductor to avoid
the corners. Where the building is more than 20 sideflashing: (left) this arrangement is permissible as
m high, the down conductors should be no more the sum of the length of the sides of the loop is less
than 10 m apart. than eight times the distance, d, across the open side
A separate down conductor system is not of the loop; (right) this arrangement presents a hazard
required on structures with steel frame or and is not permissible (from BS 6651)
reinforced concrete construction. All structural
metal, for example, pipes, stanchions, etc. should
be interconnected, that is bonded, so that it
participates in the lightning discharge to the earth
Not permissible
termination.
Permissible
The design of a down conductor system
should, in all instances, take into consideration
the need to minimise the probability of
sideflashing.

Joints and bonds

Joints are subject to failure and therefore should
be kept to a minimum. Dissimilar metals in
contact will promote corrosion and should be
avoided. For example, if aluminium and copper
are connected, a moisture-inhibiting paste should Figure 4 Routing a down conductor to avoid
be applied around the joints. sideflashing: where there are cantilevered upper floors
Any metalwork inside a structure and in the down conductor should be routed down the side of
contact, directly or indirectly, with earth, must be the building and not into the recess (from BS 6651)
either bonded to the LPS or adequately isolated
from it. BS 6651 provides a graphical method to
establish the minimum isolation distance
required to prevent sideflashing, but it should be
noted that this is only applicable to the isolation
distance through air.
Bonding the LPS to the main earthing terminal
is essential and is recommended not only in BS
6651, but also in BS 7671 and BS 7430.

Earth electrodes network

The purpose of the earth electrodes is to provide
a consistent quality connection to the general
mass of earth during all seasonal conditions. The
proper function of the earth electrode is therefore
very dependent on the nature of the soil. Indeed,
it is important to conduct soil resistivity tests, as
described in BS 7430, in order to select the
appropriate earth electrode system.
6
Soil resistivity
Ideally, the value of soil resistivity should be low.
The conditions which contribute to the soil
resistivity are:
● moisture content,
● chemical composition,
● temperature of the soil.
To achieve a low resistance electrode system, a
wet marshy soil would be ideal. In practice, all
that can be done is to attempt to influence the
immediate surroundings of the earth electrode.
Because of its corrosive nature, salt should
never be added to the area immediately around
the electrode. Other added conducting materials
can suffer with migration and leaching from the
soil over a period of time. The installation will
require regular inspection and, if the conducting
material is required to be removed and replaced,
maintenance will be costly.
However, where locations demand such
treatment, the area around the electrodes can be
replaced with lower resistivity material, for
example:
● bentonite which retains and absorbs moisture,
● concrete,
● concrete with a conductive additive.
The deeper the installation the better as this has
the advantage that its electrical resistance will be
less affected by seasonal fluctuations in
temperature and moisture. Moreover, where the
installation comprises horizontal conductors,
they will be less likely to be affected by various
kinds of ground work in close proximity.
Types of earth electrode
The electrodes can form a combination of metal
rods, tubes, strips, plates or a combination of
these, and indigenous earths such as piles or
foundations can be most effective.
Ideally, rod electrodes should be spaced apart
at distances greater than their depth (Figure 5). If
it is not possible to drive the rod deep into the
ground, several shorter rods could be installed,
each connected to its adjacent rod by horizontal
conductors. If there is bedrock just below the soil
and driving electrodes into the ground is not
feasible, a horizontal strip electrode can be used
and will have to be laid radially, preferably in all
directions, and about 1 m deep. Alternatively,
horizontal solid plates or mats can be used but
their installation can be more expensive and
time-consuming.
Ground level
Inspection pit
Earth rod
L
Coupling
Not less than L
Figure 5 Spacing of rod electrodes in parallel
(from W J Furse & Co Ltd 1992)
A foundation metal structure buried in the
ground, for example, a reinforced concrete pile,
can form a most effective earthing system
provided there is electrical continuity between
the structural metalwork and the foundation pile.
Metallic water pipes, perhaps with plastics joints,
cannot be considered to provide a reliable earth.
Test joints
A test link should be connected between each
down conductor and its earth electrode. This is
removed to measure the resistance of the
electrode to earth.
Earth termination network
Where the installation of earth electrodes does
not achieve a sufficiently low ohmic value, the
electrodes should be interconnected by a
conductor installed at least 0.5 m beneath ground
level. The interconnections should follow the
periphery of the building and are referred to as
‘ring earths’.
A ring-earth arrangement is an important part
of the earth connection system, offering many
advantages and should be considered for all LPS
installations. One advantage is that the ring earth
can be extended and used to reduce the voltage
gradient at the surface of the ground, making the
area safer for personnel.
Corrosion protection
Because of corrosion, particularly in wet
conditions, the conductors, connecting the down-
conductors to the earth-electrodes, should be
protected by a PVC sleeve for a distance of 0.3 m
above and below ground.
For the same reasons, aluminium must not be
buried underground or placed in contact with
cement or mortar mixes.
 7

Inspection, testing, maintenance Construction sites

and records
Inspection
The LPS should be inspected every 12 months by
a competent person. Furthermore, if it is known
that the LPS has been hit by lightning, it should
be inspected as soon after the event as possible.
The LPS should be mechanically robust, free
of corrosion and compliant with the
recommendations made in BS 6651.
A visual inspection would include:
● signs of damage to the LPS conductors,
● physical condition of fixtures, clamps and
system components,
● signs of corrosion, particularly at joints,
● sample condition of the underground earth-
termination system,
● modifications to the LPS since the last check.
Testing
There are two electrical resistance tests to
conduct and record.
● First, the resistance of each earth electrode
should be measured in isolation by removing
the test link and ring-earth interconnecting
conductors. The resistance measurement
(ohms) should not be more than 10 times the
number of earth electrodes provided, so that
the combined resistance to earth does not
exceed 10 ohms.
● Second, the test link should be restored and the
resistance of the LPS system measured at any
point, but with the bonding to other services
disconnected. The reading should not be more
than 10 ohms.
From the commencement of the installation of an
LPS, it must be connected to earth at all times
(see BS 6651).
All large and prominent steel structures, such
as cranes, scaffolding, etc, should be earthed as
they are erected (see BS 7430).
Electronic systems protection
The proliferation of information technology
equipment (ITE) in buildings of all kinds makes
it advisable to consider providing special
protection for ITE against damage from a
lightning strike. Communications networks
interconnecting buildings are particularly
susceptible to damage from remote lightning.
Running external cables underground,
combined with a well-designed LPS for the
structure, will often provide adequate protection
for electronic systems. Additional protection can
be obtained by fitting surge protection devices
(SPDs) to cables at their point of entry to
buildings.
Appendix C of BS 6651 provides guidance on
protecting electronic equipment against
lightning, including risk assessment and the
criteria for selecting suitable SPDs.

Safety warning!
Any testing conducted on an earth system must be
undertaken by a competent person as under certain
circumstances the system can become live.

The recommended method of testing for

resistance values is outlined in BS 7430.

Maintenance
Any deficiencies found during any inspection
should be repaired, renewed or redesigned.

Records
It is prudent to keep adequate records, for
example, for safety purposes should an incident
or accident happen or, perhaps, for the purpose of
trend analysis of test data. The records should
include:
● all LPS drawings,
● details of soil tests, if any,
● all test results,
● all details of maintenance undertaken.
8

Acknowledgements List of abbreviations and terms

BRE wishes to thank J P Whiting, MSc, CEng, Ac Effective collection area of a structure (the
FIEE, for his technical assistance with the plan area of a building opened out in all
drafting of this Digest. directions)
Tables and figures from BS 6651: 1992 Code BS British Standard
of practice for protection of structures against H Height
lightning are reproduced with the permission of ITE Information technology equipment
BSI. Complete editions of BS 6651 and all other L Length
Standards can be obtained by post from BSI LPS Lightning protection system
Customer Services, 389 Chiswick High Road, Ng Average lightning flash density
London W4 4AL. P Probability
SPD Surge protection device
W Width
Further reading
Allen N L. The protection of churches against lightning.
SI units
London, Council for the Care of Churches; 1988, 15 pp.
CIBSE. How to strike back. Journal of the Chartered A ampere Electrical current
Institution of Building Services, March 1985, 34–38. m metre Length
Furse & Co. Earthing and lightning protection: s second Time
consultants handbook. Nottingham, W J Furse; 1992,
V volt Electric potential, potential
55 pp.
difference, tension,
Furse & Co. Electronic systems protection handbook: a
guide to protecting electronic equipment from lightning electromotive force
and transient overvoltages. Nottingham, W J Furse;
1995, 108 pp. SI prefixes
Johansson M. Lightning protection of buildings and their
contents—a review of current practice. Technical Note M mega 106 1 000 000
TN 1/94. Bracknell, Berkshire, BSRIA; 1994. k kilo 103 1000
Summers M. Lightning protection the natural way. m milli 10-3 0.001
CIBSE J, July 1994, Vol 16 , No 7, 45–46.
µ micro 10-6 0.000001
Woods P. BS 6651: providing calm before the storm.
CIBSE J, January 1993, Vol 15, No 1, 41–42.

Building Research Establishment

Other BRE Digests
335 Electrical interference in buildings
424 Installing BMS to meet electromagnetic
compatibility requirements

British Standards Institution

BS 6651: 1992 Code of practice for protection of
structures against lightning
BS 7430: 1991 Code of practice for earthing
BS 7671: 1992 Requirements for electrical installations

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