Frequently Asked Questions

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Lightning protection systems are very effective.  The problem with most commercial systems is that they are not checked regularly and portions get disconnected while unrelated work is getting done on a roof.  Any work on a roof, from HVAC repairs to a complete re-roof should be followed by a full system inspection.  Extensive research shows they are 97%, or more, effective when properly installed. 

The components are designed to last the life of the roof- or one strike.  In an unoccupied commercial building where an LP system does it's job correctly, it's possible that the building owners/occupiers don't know there was a strike.  Portions of the system may have been destroyed or damaged beyond effectiveness.  This is why routine inspection is critical.  In the early days of lightning protection, glass balls were installed around the lightning rods.  Glass does not fair well in a lightning strike, so property owners could simply look at the rods to see if they had been struck.  If a glass ball was broken, the entire system could be checked for damage and continuity as they could assume they had indeed suffered a lightning strike.  Without a lighting protection system, they would know they had taken a strike when their building burned down!  

Master Label is a designation awarded by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) that certifies that a lightning protection system complies with all installation requirements to ensure maximum protection for a structure.  Here is a link to UL's Master Label process.   A Master Label expires after 5 years and the cost for it varies based on the size of the structure. 

In short, no.  There is no legal requirement to install lightning protection in New York or have a Master Label system (with the exception of buildings within the Veterans Administration). However, having UL inspect the installation of a lightning protection system is the only way to verify that your system meets the national codes that were established to ensure structure safety. Most installers or manufacturers 'self-certify' that their products or services meet national codes, however that makes it difficult to know whether or not the system is correct and will function as promised.  UL offers inspection by independent, third party, knowledgeable field agents.        

Of course not.  Lightning is stochastic.   I believe that word was coined by the first person tasked with studying and defending against lightning.  Master Label lightning protection systems follow every code that has been established and tested.  The components are placed to capture and funnel the damaging heat and power of lightning away from your people and property and into the ground.  However, it is important for building owners to note that some UL certified installers can provide a Master Label without physical inspection by a UL agent.  It is imperative to ask your installer if a physical inspection of the property and system by a UL field agent will be done.  Runyon Lightning will always provide for a UL field agent physical inspection for Master Labels.   

Yes and no, but mostly no.  This is a very common misconception that dates back to the days of Ben Franklin.  Remember that lightning travels several miles to reach the earth and the average lightning rod is 10-15 inches tall.  There is no doubt amongst the professionals that study this phenomenon that lightning rods do NOT attract lightning in the sense that it wouldn't have struck your building if you didn't have them. They are merely placed in the areas that are most likely to get struck; areas such as the perimeter of a roof, corners (particularly outside corners) and higher objects on roofs.  As the lightning is forming, the negative charge is searching for the fastest route to ground, looking for the faint channel of positive charge trickling upward.  To some extent, higher objects just offer the closer path, and the materials used to make lightning protection system components are more conductive than building materials.  Hence the rods grab the lightning from the areas we can surmise are susceptible to a strike and disperse it amongst the multiple direct paths to ground.  Aside from height, there are countless other factors that determine where lightning strikes.  Lightning protection systems cover as many of these factors as possible. 

Both materials have been deemed equally effective for use in lightning protection system components.  There are other factors that can help you decide which to choose.  Cost is currently the most obvious difference as it is currently about double the cost for copper components as aluminum.   Copper components are heavier and therefore installation will likely be costlier also.  Theft of the components may also be a risk your business needs to consider.  Lastly, aesthetics is often a concern for homeowners.  Aluminum systems are likely to be less visible if installed with that in mind, but copper systems can be more attractive while more visible.  We can help you make that decision.  

The structural steel of a building does conduct lightning, but you need a lightning protection system to provide the necessary interconnections to make sure that the lightning is able to pass harmlessly through the building.  I think we can all agree that whenever possible, lightning should be kept outside of a building or home.  Relying on the infrastructure of a building to carry the lightning safely away, doesn't account for all the interior items somehow attached to this building steel.  For example, water lines and electrical conduit are often run along supports.  Lightning will branch out whenever the opportunity presents itself, meaning it will follow these paths to your appliances and other household items.  Routing the lightning protection system components directly to ground, avoiding places within a flash over range is critical.  

The cost of a lightning protection system is minimal in comparison to all the facilities involved in construction.  The National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA) calls lightning protection "the biggest bang for your fire protection buck".  Most residential systems will cost between $2-4,000.  Commercial locations vary quite a bit based on their size, height, what they house and how many roof top components need protection.  Estimates are always free of charge, so feel free to call or email and request a personalized quote. 

Yes, systems can easily be installed post construction.  A complete system will contain a series of lighting rods on the roof, interconnected and terminating in ground rods as well as surge protection and the interconnection of all utilities, where applicable.   On commercial locations, all roof top units will be addressed and tied in to the system where needed. Give me a call and I can give you a personal quote.