The Lightning Protection Institute (LPI), a nonprofit lightning safety group, urges builders to include lightning protection systems in their initial design plans, especially for smart homes. “Even though these automated systems are grounded, they are still highly vulnerable to lightning, since a direct strike can spark a fire and an indirect surge of current can pass through the wiring of a structure in any direction,” said Bud VanSickle, LPI’s executive director, in a statement. “Lightning can initiate a domino effect path of transient overvoltage which can disrupt, degrade and damage multiple electronic systems and connected equipment, making lightning protection systems significantly important for smart structures.”
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is also addressing this growing concern, and will be added two new technical provisions to the upcoming edition of the NFPA 780 Safety Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems. The 2017 Standard edition will address lightning protection applications for smart buildings and it will emphasize the importance of a comprehensive lightning protection approach in order to avoid a “lack of potential equalization (isolated grounding and lack of bonding) stemming from piecemeal or uncoordinated installations of the electric service, telecommunications, antennas and other electronics,” a problem that is too common in smart structure building applications.
