Ornament and sculpture embellish architecture. Yet, depending on size and location, decorative elements may be exposed to lightning strikes and should be integrated into a building’s lightning
protection system.
East Coast Lightning Equipment and the skilled lightning protection specialists we work with can help you determine how to install lightning protection on existing or proposed building features without harming their beauty.
In many instances, an artwork itself can be used instead of a traditional air terminal (lightning rod). National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 780 – Installation of Lightning Protection Systems allows metal parts of a structure, including decorative elements, to be used as “strike termination devices” if they are made of metal at least 3/16” thick and electrically continuous with the rest of the lightning protection system.
If an artwork does not meet these criteria, we will suggest how to install conventional lightning protection components that are compatible.
While some of the projects shown here do not have lightning protection systems, they are examples of architectural and decorative elements that might be used as strike termination devices. Contact us for more information.