The importance of a lightning protection system can be determined from the fact that during thunderstorms, there are at least 6000 lightning strikes per minute. Assuming a 30% strike rate, this translates into 900 deaths every minute of a thunderstorm. While this is not the case, the following aspects about lightning are considered valid. When struck by lightning, people do not glow or “fry to a crisp” but the heart and breathing are often affected.
Only about 30% of people struck actually die, and the incidence of long-term disability is low, particularly when appropriate first aid is applied promptly.
A lightning protection system is essential to any structure. The objective of a lightning protection system is to protect the structure. By protecting the structure, personnel within the structure are also protected in the event of a lightning strike. The Lightning Protection System captures the lightning down streamer and discharges the resultant high current levels to ground, through the shortest path, within the shortest time.