Do all Commercial and Residential premises in London and Manchester require Lightning Protection?

If a Premise which we are visiting is not in receipt of Lightning protection our Assessor will make an Assessment as to whether, in their opinion, it should be. If there is a possible requirement, the Assessor will identify this and suggest that a competent person should survey the building to establish if lighting protection is indeed required.  

The subsequent Report will identify that BS EN 62305-3:2011 gives general guidelines that should be followed to protect persons, as well as buildings and structures, including their installations and contents, from lightning.  The Report will identify that, by complying with these requirements, the Responsible Person can improve hazard prevention, reduce damage when lightning strikes and contribute to the electrical safety of their structures.  

If there is no apparent requirement for the Premise, Building to be in receipt of Lightning protection, this too will be identified, but with the recommendation that it should be considered, as it removes a possible Ignition source from a Premise, Building, and that this should be considered as part of any material roofing or structural repair and, or refurbishment. 

These preventative and protective measures are not only in accordance with recognised Guidance but also as a result of personal experience. 

In the process of inspecting a Five Storey Building converted into Residential Flats, the Building’s Caretaker identified that the Building had Lightning protection installed following a Lightning Strike which was “attracted” to the Building via Metal Roof Railings and an adjacent Satellite Dish. The strike materially damaged the Communal Television, Entertainment provisions and Communications provisions and irrevocably damaged several of the Residents Computers and Lap Tops.  

Obviously a “”striking” reminder of the importance of Lightning Protection.

If you are the ‘responsible person’ for a London or Manchester based commercial or residential premise and you are worried about your Fire Safety measures then contact London Fire Risk Assessments on 0781 8888626 their support team will be happy to talk through your concerns, alternatively click here.