Lightning Protection Primer

Lightning protection used to be a high priority in lightning-prone parts of the country. But changes in insurancepremium credits and building techniques contributed to its demise. Now it is making a comeback due to new construction materials that make buildings vulnerable and to the increased use of electrical and electronic equipment in households. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is widely used today for piping. But when PVC is used today for metal soil stacks, underground waste lines, and cold-and hot-water pipes, only the electricalwiring system in the building is left to conduct the lightning discharge downward to electrical ground. Aside from this potential danger with non-metal piping, the contents of households have changed too. Microwave equipment, VCRs, and home computers can be knocked out