Should Metal Roofs Be Grounded

Metal roofing is safe and you won t incur additional risks if you don t ground it in most circumstances.

Should metal roofs be grounded.

The only way to protect a building is with a properly designed and installed lightning protection system lps. Because metal roofs are by definition made out of metal you might be concerned about lightning and wonder whether you need to attach a lightning rod to your metal roof. In general there s no need to unless it s mandated by your local building codes. The short answer is no you don t have to ground a metal roof and you will incur no additional risk if you don t ground it in most circumstances.

In the case of a metal roofed building any electricity from a lightning strike will be safely transferred to the ground below so occupants will be unaffected. Metal roofs are resistant to wind and hail weigh less than asphalt shingles require little maintenance and are energy efficient. If you plan on using metal roofing you may need to consider whether or not you need to ground that roofing like other metal equipment in construction. No in fact the best thing you can do for your own personal safety during a thunderstorm is to head indoors.

It does not attract any extra attention from lightning and just like buildings constructed with traditional building materials any electricity from a lightning strike will will be safely transferred to the ground below so occupants will be unaffected. We elaborate further in this post. Still the type of roofing is one of several risk factors. Your metal roof is not grounded and thus lighting has no reason to strike it.

Wouldn t a grounded metal roof protect your home. What if lightning struck your roof. Metal conducts electricity but when you are dealing with a full roof a lightning strike would ground out through the rest of the structure without causing damage or harm to the interior. Metal roofs do not attract lightning strikes.

Nor do metal roofs protect a building against lightning. A metal roof in no way makes your home more vulnerable or susceptible to lightning strikes. Some actual disadvantages to metal roofs. Lightning is a powerful destructive force of nature and will strike a building regardless of its type of roofing.

In simple terms the answer is no. Experts say metal roofing systems aren t any more likely to be struck by lightning than other types of roofs.