March 2013

LPI Shares Lightning Safety & Protection Resources as a “Force of Nature” during National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

MARYVILLE, MO., March 5, 2013 – In conjunction with National Severe Weather Preparedness Week March 3-9, 2013, the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) is reminding its members and the public to Be a Force of Nature and better prepare for severe weather threats, including the often underrated threat of lightning.  Lightning protection experts from around the U.S. recently met in Las Vegas for the annual LPI/ULPA Lightning Protection Conference and discussed ways that LPI members can Be a Force of Nature by knowing the lightning risk, taking action, spreading education and serving as an example.

Sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is a nationwide effort to increase awareness of severe weather and to motivate individuals, families, businesses, and communities to take actions that will prepare them in the event of severe weather.

Each year, individuals are killed or seriously injured by lightning, tornadoes and other types of severe weather, despite advance warning. In 2012, there were more than 450 weather-related fatalities and nearly 2,600 injuries. Severe weather knows no boundaries and affects every individual. Lightning is a leading storm-related killer and is also responsible for more than a billion dollars in property damage each year.

“Lightning is the poor cousin to the other risks; it is quite frankly a very underrated disaster,” said Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president, public affairs of the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), a LPI/ULPA conference participant. “I.I.I. has a library of fun and interesting resources to educate yourself and your loved ones about this dangerous risk,” added Salvatore.  Visit www.iii.org to access I.I.I. resources. 

“Severe Weather Preparedness Week is a good time to remind individuals, families and communities about lightning safety and lightning protection measures,” said Bud VanSickle, LPI executive director.  “LPI’s annual conference provided a timely forum for partners and lightning experts to share information about lightning protection research, safety programs and educational resources about this weather hazard,” added VanSickle.    

For information about lightning safety, protection and LPI’s campaign to help build lightning safe communities visit www.lightning-risk.org or www.lightning.org/blog.

More information and ideas on how you can Be a Force of Nature can be found at
www.ready.gov/severeweather. Information on the different types of severe weather such as tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flooding is available at www.weather.gov
or the Spanish-language web site www.listo.gov.  Information about lightning safety is available at www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.

LPI is a not-for-profit nationwide group founded in 1955 to promote lightning safety, awareness and education and is a leading resource for lightning protection information and system requirements.  For information about lightning protection and national safety standards, visit the LPI website at www.lightning.org.

December 2011
From Nursing Home Deaths to the Destruction of Sir Richard Branson's Home, Lightning Causing Notable Losses in 2011

Fire Prevention Week Underscores Hazard of Lightning to Life and Property

HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As 2011's Fire Prevention Week is observed in the United States (Oct. 9 – 15), recent lightning-triggered fires here at home and abroad have highlighted the deadly impact of lightning on unprotected homes and other structures.

Just days ago in Croatia, three people were killed after lightning ignited a fire in a nursing home that also injured 11 people. In August, Sir Richard Branson's home on Necker Island was reduced to rubble after a lightning strike that forced visiting actress Kate Winslet to rescue Branson's 90-year old mother from the blaze. Here in the United States, hundreds of less well-known buildings were similarly destroyed by lightning-triggered fires.

Against this backdrop of death and destruction, the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) is once again seizing national Fire Prevention Week as an opportunity to remind property owners of the importance of lightning protection systems in helping to prevent property loss and injury during lightning storms.

"A lightning strike to an unprotected structure can cause catastrophic damage," said Julie Rochman, CEO & president of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). "Fortunately, there are relatively simple, inexpensive steps that can be taken to substantially reduce the chances of lightning-related damage and disruptions."

A lightning protection system provides a network of low resistance paths to safely intercept lightning's dangerous electricity and direct it to ground without impact to the structure or its occupants. According to Bud VanSickle, executive director of the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI), the key to protecting people and property from lightning is through the professional installation of lightning protection systems.

"As property owners consider an investment in lightning protection, they should be sure to contract with qualified and experienced specialists who are trained to install systems in accordance with the nationally recognized safety standards of LPI, NFPA and UL," said VanSickle.

Lightning strikes cost more than $1 billion in insured losses in 2010—a significant increase from 2009, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). An analysis of homeowners insurance data by I.I.I. found there were more than 213,000 lightning claims in 2010, up nearly 15 percent from 2009. These losses ranged from damage to expensive electronic equipment to structural fires that destroyed entire homes.

The Lightning Protection Institute is a not-for-profit nationwide group founded in 1955 to promote lightning safety, awareness and education and is a leading resource for lightning protection information and system requirements. The LPI certifies individuals for the installation of lightning protection systems through a Master Installer testing program to qualify competence. LPI recently introduced a third-party inspection program for installation quality assurance. Information about follow-up inspection services can be found at www.lpi-ip.com. For a list of certified contractors and other information about national safety standards for lightning protection installation, visit the LPI website at www.lightning.org.

From October 9-15, 2011, lightning safety advocates will support the "Protect Your Family From Fire!" campaign, sponsored by the NFPA. More information about Fire Prevention Week can be found at www.firepreventionweek.org.

December 2011
Deadly Weather in 2011 Fuels Demand for Technologies to Limit Nature's Destructive Force

Lightning Protection Systems Hailed as Affordable Way to Minimize Damage

HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL today, disaster safety leaders and weather experts described the staggering economic, human and structural impact of severe weather over the past year. Conference delegates discussed the impact of severe disasters on families and communities, strategies to enhance mitigation and adoption, and consumer communications, as well as cutting edge advances in technology. Lightning is a significant component of the destruction, causing approximately one billion dollars in damage each year with 26 deaths and many more injuries to date in 2011.

Through August of 2011, according to information provided by WeatherPredict Consulting, severe weather events in the U.S. claimed over 600 lives, one of the deadliest periods in years. The largest toll came from devastating tornadoes that struck the Southeast and Central United States earlier this year killing hundreds. Other fatalities were caused by Hurricane Irene, which claimed 45 lives. Major floods, wildfires and severe winter storms also added to the death toll. WeatherPredict is a U.S. affiliate of RenaissanceRe, a leading global property catastrophe reinsurance company. One of WeatherPredict's primary roles is bringing intelligence to the risk managers dealing with natural catastrophes.

"In the context of historical natural catastrophes, 2011 continues to be a particularly challenging year, with significantly high human loss and property destruction," said Craig W. Tillman, president of WeatherPredict Consulting Inc., and a lead presenter at the FLASH conference. Tillman called lightning an often underrated threat that deserves more attention from property owners. "Since lightning strikes are so common, the technologies available to protect property from severe lightning damage are often overlooked," said Tillman.

"As FLASH brings our partners in disaster safety and weather together for our annual meeting, it's a good opportunity to remind property owners about the solutions available to minimize the impact of severe weather," said Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president and CEO of FLASH. "Lightning protection technology continues to be an excellent solution to limit lightning's destructive force."

Bud VanSickle, executive director of the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI), applauded Henderson for the contributions FLASH continues to make in enhancing disaster safety in America. "Once again, FLASH has achieved great success through its annual meeting in fostering collaboration between leading experts in disaster safety, property loss mitigation and severe weather outcomes," said VanSickle.

VanSickle said property owners considering an investment in lightning protection should be sure to contract with qualified and experienced specialists who are trained to install systems in accordance with the nationally recognized safety standards of NFPA, LPI and UL.

Lightning strikes cost more than $1 billion in insured losses in 2010—a significant increase from 2009, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). An analysis of homeowners insurance data by the I.I.I. found there were more than 213,000 lightning claims in 2010, up nearly 15 percent from 2009. These losses ranged from damage to expensive electronic equipment to structural fires that destroyed entire homes and caused serious injury or death. Insured catastrophe losses in the U.S. totaled $17.8 billion during the first half of 2011, according to insurer MunichRe, underscoring the importance of investments to minimize property damage due to natural disasters.

The Lightning Protection Institute is a not-for-profit nationwide group founded in 1955 to promote lightning safety, awareness and education and is a leading resource for lightning protection information and system requirements. LPI certifies individuals for the installation of lightning protection systems through a Master Installer testing program to qualify competence. LPI recently introduced a third-party inspection program for installation quality assurance. Information about follow-up inspection services can be found at www.lpi-ip.com. For a list of certified contractors and other information about national safety standards for lightning protection installation, visit the LPI website at www.lightning.org.

November 2011
9/11 Opinion Survey Reveals Concerns about Terrorism and Natural Disasters as Americans Invest in Protection Measures to Safeguard Families and Property

HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the nation set to recognize Veteran's Day amid war coverage and news about security threats, a recent 9/11 Opinion Survey shows that Americans remain very concerned about a major terrorist attack happening in the United States. The survey also revealed that Americans are spending money to better protect themselves from natural hazards like lightning and hurricanes.

Against this backdrop, safety industry leaders are urging consumers to be cautious when hiring contractors to install home protection technologies such as lightning protection systems, generators and window and door reinforcements.

When it comes to spending money to better protect families and property from natural disasters, the survey showed the top steps taken were increasing insurance coverage (39%) and creating a family disaster plan (39%). Creating a disaster supply kit was the next most common step (34%).

When making homes more disaster-resistant, the survey indicated that investments in generators and lightning protection were the most frequent steps taken (23% and 22% respectively). Other investments included installation of window and door protection (11%) and the construction of safe rooms (11%).

"The good news in the 9/11 Opinion Survey is that more Americans are taking steps to protect themselves, their families and their property from natural hazards," said Bud VanSickle, executive director of the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI). "In light of this trend, it's incumbent on the safety industry to help consumers make educated choices about the systems they have installed on their properties."

As property owners consider investing in lightning protection to help prevent fires and damage to appliances and other equipment, VanSickle said consumers should be sure to contract with qualified and experienced specialists who are trained to install systems in accordance with the nationally recognized safety standards of LPI, NFPA, and UL. A lightning protection system is an important investment in areas prone to lightning, as it provides a network of low-resistance paths to safely intercept the dangerous electricity and direct it to ground without impact to the structure or its occupants.

Online resources to help consumers determine the right products and technologies to protect homes include www.flash.org (Federal Alliance for Safe Homes-FLASH) and www.disastersafety.org (Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety – IBHS). The National Storm Shelter Association's website, www.nssa.cc, offers information on code approved safe rooms.

The 9/11 Opinion Survey was developed by the disaster safety communications firm Cote & D'Ambrosio. Full results of the survey are available at www.disastersafetystrategies.com. The survey was developed in conjunction with several leading emergency management and public health organizations to measure attitudes toward terrorism and natural disasters a decade after 9/11.

When asked to rate their concerns about natural disasters, the highest number of consumers were very or somewhat concerned about lightning strikes (62%). Concern levels for other hazards were: flooding (60%); tornadoes (59%); hurricanes (53%); ice storms (51%); earthquakes (47%); hail storms (47%); and wild fires (40%).

Lightning strikes cost more than $1 billion in insured losses in 2010—a significant increase from 2009, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). An analysis of homeowners insurance data by the I.I.I. found there were more than 213,000 lightning claims in 2010, up nearly 15 percent from 2009. These losses ranged from damage to expensive electronic equipment to structural fires that destroyed entire homes and caused serious injury or death. Insured catastrophe losses in the United States totaled $17.8 billion during the first half of 2011, according to insurer MunichRe, underscoring the importance of investments to minimize property damage due to natural disasters.

The Lightning Protection Institute is a not-for-profit nationwide group founded in 1955 to promote lightning safety, awareness and education and is a leading resource for lightning protection information and system requirements. LPI recently introduced a third-party inspection program for installation quality assurance. Information about follow-up inspection services can be found at www.lpi-ip.com. For a list of certified contractors and other information about national safety standards for lightning protection installation, visit the LPI website at www.lightning.org.

SOURCE Lightning Safety Alliance

October 2010
Homeowners Can Prevent Costly Lightning Fires

In support of NFPA's Fire Prevention Week --- firepreventionweek.org

HARTFORD, CT — October 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Natural disasters can have a devastating effect on you, your home and your property. The risk of fire, especially fire associated with lightning, is often overlooked and underrated as a potential threat. Even the most safety-conscious homeowner may not have considered this risk that affects thousands of homeowners each year. Lightning associated with thunderstorms and sometimes hurricanes can pose a variety of fire hazards. The massive power of lightning’s electrical charge and intense heat can induce destructive power surges through home circuitry, burn holes in CSST gas piping, explode brick and roofing materials, and ignite house fires.

An analysis of homeowners insurance data by the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) found there were 185,789 lightning claims in 2009 costing $798 million, with an average claim totaling $4,296. These losses ranged from damage to expensive electronic equipment to structural fires that destroyed entire homes.

“Make no mistake, lightning plays a substantial role in the damage done to homes and businesses every year,” said Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president, public affairs with the I.I.I. “Many losses can be prevented when lightning protection systems and surge arrestors are implemented as mitigation methods.”

According to the I.I.I., damage caused by lightning, including fire, is covered by standard homeowners and business insurance policies. Some home and business insurance policies provide coverage for power surges that are the result of lightning striking a home or business. There is also coverage for lightning damage under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy.

“While it’s true that lightning losses are generally a covered peril in most property insurance policies, there are treasured belongings that homeowners can’t replace or restore,” said Leslie Chapman-Henderson, President/CEO of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. — FLASH®. “Lightning protection is often one of the least expensive improvements that homeowners can purchase, and it can provide the best type of insurance — peace of mind and protection for family, home and valuables.”

For homeowners who don’t want to take a chance with lightning, a professionally installed lightning protection system is a viable idea. A lightning protection system provides a network of low resistance paths to safely intercept lightning’s dangerous electricity and direct it to ground without impact to the structure or its occupants. The Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) is a not-for-profit nationwide group founded in 1955 to promote lightning safety, awareness and education and is a leading resource for lightning protection information and system requirements. When considering lightning protection, LPI stresses the importance of consumers contracting with qualified and experienced UL-listed and LPI-certified specialists who are trained to install systems in accordance with the nationally recognized safety standards of LPI, NFPA and UL.

“Homeowners need to be aware that installation of a system is not a do-it-yourself project,” says Bud VanSickle, executive director for LPI. “An experienced professional should install the lightning protection system, since improper installation can lead to serious consequences—and could be worse than having no protection at all.”

The LPI certifies individuals through a Master Installer testing program to qualify competence in lightning protection installation. For a list of certified contractors and other information about national safety standards for lightning protection installation, visit the LPI website at www.lightning.org.

From October 3-9, 2010, lightning safety advocates will support the “Beep! Beep! Beep! Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With” Fire Prevention Week campaign, sponsored by the NFPA. More information about Fire Prevention Week can be found at www.firepreventionweek.org.

Media Contact:
Kim Loehr
LPI/LSA
804-314-8955
kiml@lightning.org

June 2010
How to Pick a Lightning Protection System Podcast

From iivideo - Lightning can be a dangerous hazard to your home with a single bolt carrying as much as 30 million volts of electricity. Fortunately there are lightning protection systems available to keep your home safe. Find out how to choose the right system from the right professionals to protect yourself from disaster. Watch the video below:

October 2009
Public Urged to Assist with Lightning Research Project

In Support of Fire Prevention Week 2009, “Stay Fire Smart!  Don’t Get Burned!”

To participate, please click the Lightning Damage Survey.

Hartford, Conn., October 4, 2009 – In conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, the Lightning Safety Alliance (LSA) is sponsoring a research project to learn more about the ways that lightning enters and damages homes and buildings.  Packing up to 100 million volts of electricity and a force comparable to that of a small nuclear reactor, lightning has the power to rip through roofs, explode walls of brick and concrete and ignite deadly fires. The LSA is initiating the research project in an attempt to collect and analyze lightning data and is urging property owners, firefighters and insurance professionals to visit its web site at www.lightningsafetyalliance.org to submit information about lightning incidents, fires and damage to their homes.  The LSA plans to present its findings to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and its Technical Committee on Lightning Protection, which reviews information pertaining to the NFPA 780 Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems.

Lightning strikes can be direct or indirect.  A direct strike to a structure typically results in resistive heating, arcing and burning, which can cause catastrophic damage to the structure and its contents.  An indirect strike near a structure typically damages sensitive electronics and vulnerable building systems.  In these instances, the lightning current can enter a building from a tree, fence, light pole or other nearby object.  In addition, lightning can travel on underground power cables, telephone lines or metallic piping into a building.

Property owners should also be aware of lightning concerns surrounding a relatively new gas piping used to transmit fuel gas in homes, known as corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST), which has been found to be susceptible to damage from arcing by direct or nearby lightning strikes.  In some situations, lightning has created holes in the CSST, allowing gas to leak, which has resulted in home fires. On September 15, 2009, the NFPA announced the appointment of a task group to review the lightning-related technical issues affecting CSST in gas piping systems.  The task group will provide the NFPA Council with a review and analysis of the jurisdictional and technical issues relating to lightning and CSST in gas piping systems and identify the need for research, data and further committee action with regard to bonding, grounding and lightning protection.  

“The LSA’s research initiative will be helpful in identifying specific lightning related damage patterns that could lead to enhancements in lightning protection methods,” said John Kennelly, spokesman for the Lightning Safety Alliance (LSA), a nonprofit, non-stock, national league of lightning protection professionals and consumers dedicated to the promotion of lightning protection and safety.  “Lightning protection systems are critical in protecting our national infrastructure and various governmental agencies rely heavily on nationally recognized specifications for lightning protection.”

This sentiment is echoed by Mitchell Guthrie, former chair of the NFPA Technical Committee on Lightning Protection and current chair of the International Electrotechnical Commission Committee on Lightning Protection (IEC TC81).  “There is no doubt that implementing a properly designed lightning protection system significantly reduces the probability of damage from lightning to a tolerable level for any application,” added Guthrie.           

June 2009
MARYVILLE, MO--(Marketwire - June 16, 2009)

Hurricanes and tornadoes receive the news coverage, but lightning is the second leading cause of storm-related deaths, killing more people than tornadoes or hurricanes, topped only by flooding. In addition, thousands of properties are damaged or destroyed each year by lightning. A single bolt of lightning can generate heat in excess of 50,000 degrees F which can spark fires or cause surging through electrical circuitry. The average cost of a homeowner insurance claim from a lightning strike has more than doubled since 2004, rising to $5,321 in 2007, according to statistics from the Insurance Information Institute (III).

Packing up to 100 million volts of electricity, a lightning strike to an unprotected home or business can be disastrous, with lightning most often igniting roofs, sidewalls, framing and electrical wires.

"The good news is most personal injury and property damage caused by lightning can be prevented," says Leslie Chapman-Henderson, CEO and president of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. -- FLASH.

"Home and business owners needn't take their chances with lightning," explains Bud VanSickle, executive director of the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI). "A professionally-installed lightning protection system which meets U.S. Safety Standards (LPI, NFPA and UL) will prevent lightning damage by providing a safe electrical path into the earth for lightning's destructive energy."

Lightning protection technology is a specialty discipline and expertise is required for system design and installation. Systems for homes and businesses should be installed by trained and experienced LPI-certified and UL-listed specialists. FLASH and LPI offer these safeguards for
property owners seeking a qualified lightning protection specialist:

-- Make sure materials and methods comply with nationally-recognized

-- Only an experienced and reputable UL-listed, LPI-certified lightning
protection contractors are qualified to install lightning protection systems.

-- Check references. A qualified specialist should provide a list of references and affiliation with industry groups such as NFPA, ULPA, LSA and LPI.

-- Ask about surge protection. Lightning-induced surges can damage electronics and appliances. A qualified lightning protection contractor can provide options for service entrance arresters and surge protection devices.

-- Experience counts. Be wary of start-up companies or contractors offering a "price deal" to install, fix or repair your lightning protection.

-- When in doubt, contact www.bbb.org to locate your local Better Business Bureau to obtain reliability report information on a contractor before you hire.

The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes-FLASH®, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) collaboration of organizations dedicated to strengthening homes and safeguarding families from disaster. Based in Tallahassee, FLASH, is the nation's fastest-growing disaster safety education organization with more than 100 partners including FEMA, FL Division of Emergency Management, Georgia Pacific, The Home Depot, International Code Council, National Weather Service, Renaissance Reinsurance, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, USAA and WeatherPredict Consulting, Inc. To learn more about FLASH and access free resources, visit www.flash.org call (877) 221-SAFE
(7233).

The LPI is not-for-profit, nationwide group founded in 1955 to promote lightning safety, awareness and protection education. The organization provides a certification program to qualify competence in lightning protection installation, design and inspection. The LPI offers a list of certified contractors across the U.S. Visit the LPI website at www.lightning.org for more information about lightning protection.

August 2005
Professional Installation Key to Effective Lightning Protection

A single bolt of lightning can carry over 30 million volts of electricity. A lightning strike to an unprotected home can be disastrous. According to State Farm Insurance, the company each year has about 307,000 lightning related claims nationwide amounting to $332 million. For homeowners who don't want to play the odds and take their chances, a lightning protection system makes good sense. Unfortunately, homeowners and un-trained contractors, who attempt to install their own systems, could be doing more harm than good.

"It's important to have an experienced professional install the lightning protection system," says Bud VanSickle, executive director of the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI). "Improper installation can lead to serious consequences and in severe cases may be worse than not having protection at all."

The LPI is a not-for-profit nationwide group founded in 1955 to promote lightning safety, awareness and protection education. Scientists, engineers, architects, installers and manufacturers are included in the organization's membership.

Recent reports of two devastating lightning fires to south Florida homes equipped with improperly-installed lightning protection systems reiterate the importance of experience, industry affiliation and certification when hiring a lightning protection contractor.

"I recently examined digital photos of a home fire in Altamonte Springs where a do-it-yourself lightning protection system caused the homeowner a big headache," says Guy Maxwell, president of the Lightning Safety Alliance (LSA), a non-profit, national league of lightning protection professionals and consumers dedicated to the promotion of lightning protection and safety. "The lightning protection system on the Altamonte Springs home revealed a variety of problems, like the absence of air terminals for the chimneys, improper downleads and incorrect grounding -- in a nutshell the system did not comply with installation safety standards," explains Maxwell.

"A situation such as the Altamonte Springs fire does not happen to a structure equipped with a lightning protection system that meets national safety standards for installation," says VanSickle. "Lightning protection is a specialty discipline. We can't stress enough, how important expertise and certification are in terms of proper system design."

A professionally installed lightning protection system which meets U.S. Safety Standards (LPI, NFPA and UL) will prevent lightning damage by providing a safe electrical path into the earth for lightning's destructive energy. Only experienced and reputable UL-listed and LPI-certified lightning protection contractors should install lightning protection systems.

"Specifying compliance with UL or NFPA standards is key to safe and effective lightning system performance," says Karl Keip, lightning protection service manager for Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL). "Lightning protection systems that have received the UL Master Label Certificate indicate that a system has been inspected for conformance with these national standards for system installation."

The LSA is currently sponsoring lightning protection tests at the University of Florida's International Center for Lightning Research and Testing. The two-year test involves triggering natural lightning to strike a full scale test home equipped with a lightning protection system that has been installed in accordance with NFPA and UL standards.

"To date the test house has been struck four times," reports Mark Morgan, Research Coordinator for the LSA. "In each instance the lightning protection system performed as expected. The lightning has safely traveled through the lightning protection system with no damage whatsoever to the structure or its contents."

The Lightning Protection Institute offers a list of certified contractors across the U.S. Visit the LPI website at www.lightning.org for more information about lightning protection and the LPI certification program.

Contact:
Kim Loehr
Lightning Protection Institute
804-314-8955

June 2005
National Lightning Safety Awareness Week in the US

A lightning strike to an unprotected structure can be disastrous. Packing up to 100 million volts of electricity and a force comparable to that of a small nuclear reactor, lightning has the power to rip through roofs, explode walls of brick and concrete and ignite fires. Statistics from the Insurance Information Institute show that commercial losses due to lightning strikes reach $5-6 billion each year.

Between 22nd and 28th of June the Lightning Safety Alliance is attempting to raise awareness of the importance of protecting businesses against lightning through the National Lightning Safety Awareness Week.

"Lightning protection systems are critical in protecting our national infrastructure and various governmental agencies rely heavily on nationally recognised specifications for lightning protection," said John Kennelly, spokesman for the Lightning Safety Alliance. This sentiment is echoed by Mitchell Guthrie, chair of the NFPA Committee on Lightning Protection and Technical Advisor for the US National Committee Advisory Group to IEC TC 81 (Lightning Protection). "There is no doubt that implementing a properly designed lightning protection system significantly reduces the probability of damage from lightning."

In Florida, the so-called Lightning Capital of the US, state building codes already mandate the installation of lightning protection systems for both hospitals and educational facilities. Lightning protection is also routinely installed on correctional facilities, EMS buildings, hotels and telecommunication structures in Florida. Newly enacted Florida Building Codes contain expanded requirements for lightning protection, which cover not only hospitals but also outpatient, ambulatory and extended-care facilities. The decision to provide lightning protection should be based on a thorough risk assessment. Examples of factors that need to be taken into account are physical and geographic location, cultural and historic value, building contents and occupancy.

April 2005
IEEE Drops Exotic Lightning Rod Project

The Standards Association of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recently voted to terminate work on a standard to govern the so-called "Charge Transfer System" (CTS) type of lightning protection, at a March 20, 2005 hearing.

The CTS, which is sometimes called the "Dissipation Array System" (DAS) uses expensive, exotic multi-point lightning rods, which supposedly can prevent lightning from striking a particular location. The IEEE project, which began in December of 2000, remained inactive during most of its initial four-year term. The decision to terminate the project was made due to the absence of vendor-sponsored tests, which were supposed to establish the validity of the CTS theory. The tests were never circulated to IEEE working group members for their review. A Colorado firm, Lightning Eliminators and Consultants, which manufactures and sells CTS/DAS products played a central role in the IEEE project. Earlier this year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) similarly turned down Lightning Eliminators and Consultant's request to develop a standard for CTS/DAS products. In a decision dated January 14, 2005 the NFPA Standards Council concluded that the manufacturer's request failed to demonstrate "ample basis in the scientific and technical literature to support meaningful standards development for CTS/DAS lightning protection systems." The decision marks the fifth occasion, since 1989 that the NFPA has denied such a request concerning the CTS/DAS concept.

The scientific community of independent lightning experts has also expressed skepticism regarding the CTS concept. A December 2002 paper published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society points out that there is no basis in science for claims that an object on the ground can significantly affect the formation and location of lightning strikes. CTS/DAS products were first introduced more than 30 years ago.

In the 1970's the US Navy conducted field tests of the so-called lightning eliminating systems and determined that the CTS/DAS devices fail to prevent lightning strikes, reporting instead several instances in which the devices were directly struck by lightning. The FAA similarly tested lightning dissipating devices on several air traffic control towers in Florida in the 1980's. These tests also found that the devices did not prevent lightning from striking.

"A CTS typically costs much more than a conventional lightning protection system because the customer pays an additional cost for the so-called lightning dissipating rods," said Mark Morgan, vice president of the

Lightning Safety Alliance (LSA), a non-profit, national league of lightning protection professionals and consumers dedicated to the promotion of lightning protection and safety. "Unfortunately for consumers, the evidence to-date shows the claims attached to these fancy lightning rods to be false."

In its mission to reduce the risk of fire hazards worldwide, the LSA also supports efforts of the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI), the NFPA and the National Electric Code (NEC), which are responsible for codes and standards that provide fire, electric and life safety to the public.

May 2004
University of Florida Lightning Protection Research Underway at Florida Test House

Researchers from the University of Florida have scheduled the installation of the lightning protection system for a "test house" at the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT) on Thursday, May 27, 2004. Located at Camp Blanding, Florida, the test house will be constructed and equipped with a real-world lightning protection system as part of a two-year study designed to measure and study lightning currents. Modeled after a typical Florida home, the test structure will help develop lightning protection standards that could potentially be incorporated in Florida building codes.

The research, titled "Triggered Lightning Testing of the Performance of Grounding Systems in Florida Sandy Soil," will be conducted by Dr. Vladimir Rakov, with assistance from Dr. Martin Uman and Keith Rampo, all of the University of Florida's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The study intends to measure the currents occurring in the wiring and grounding of the structure, when rocket-triggered lightning strikes the structure's lightning protection system, which will be equipped with a UL, NFPA compliant lightning protection system for the first year of testing. The project comes with an estimated price tag of $40,000 per year; $20,000 has been donated by The Lightning Protection Institute (LPI), an industry association, and the Lightning Safety Alliance (LSA), the organization which originated the proposal has raised another $20,000 from a variety of sources.

East Coast Lightning Equipment of CT has donated the equipment for the lightning protection system and Maxwell Lightning Protection Co. of Orlando, Florida will donate the installation. Both East Coast and Maxwell are members of the LPI and the LSA. Other studies on lightning protection from scientists, engineers and safety experts have helped increase support for the promotion of technically valid safety standards for lightning protection systems. Data from the ICLRT study will be published and a technical report will be prepared for the LSA at the end of the second year. The University of Florida's ICLRT is presently the only facility in the world where lightning is artificially initiated from natural thunderstorms on a regular basis for the purpose of studying its physics and effects. In its mission to reduce the risk of fire hazards worldwide, the LSA also supports efforts of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the National Electric Code (NEC), both which are responsible for numerous safety codes and standards that provide fire, electrical and life safety to the public.