What Is The Best Way To Seal A Metal Roof
Butyl tape is a tried and true metal roof sealant. Butyl tape is most often used to create a gasket between pieces of metal trims. We use it religiously on offset cleat, Z , and closure. Butyl tape is superior in this application because it is sticky and helps hold the metal trims in place while you screw them down.
Metal Is Your Best Protection
While metal doesnt increase the risk of a lightning strike, it does help reduce the impact. Remember, lighting is negatively charged electrons looking for the path of least resistance to the earths positively charged electrons. Metal is a great conductor of electricity. When lightning strikes a metal roof its conducted away fast toward the ground or another nearby conductor.
Metal is also a non-combustible material. Lightning produces intense heat, and often this heat can cause fires on the roof or inside the house. A metal roof can protect your house from both the heat of the lightning strike and the electrical current because of its non-combustible nature.
A metal roof can protect your home from lightning damage better than other building materials.
In fact, the Metal Construction Association says, Because metal roofing is both an electrical conductor and non-combustible, the risks associated with its use and behavior during a lightning event make it the most desirable construction available.
While metal roofing can keep you safer during a lightning strike, your property can still be damaged. If you live in an area prone to electrical storms or own expensive electrical equipment you should consider a lightning protection system, which creates a consistent connection between the earth and sky.
Lets Say A Lightning Strike Does Happen
On the off chance that your steel building or roof is struck by lightning, it is less likely to result in a fire than any other type of roofing material.
Why?
This is because the fixed grounding of such a building creates a more secure way for lightning to travel.
Although weve learned that metal buildings are not more prone to lightning strikes, we still encourage responsible owners to review the extra precautions listed below to better protect their property.
The Metal Construction Association Breaks This Situation into Two Parts:
As weve stated before, steel is not a lightning magnet. However, it does have the capacity to decrease the destructive impact, should lightning strike your home or building.
Its important to note:
That a metal building or roof will likely survive a lightning strike with significantly less damage when compared to other building materials.
You may also be asking, should a metal roof be grounded? Our answer is yes.
A grounded lightning pole is installed with a ground rod hammer, 10-feet below the surface of the earth. A grounding system connected to the earth will help to absorb the impact and equalize your buildings electrical systems, in the event of a hazardous lightning strike.
Did you know?
Extra preventative measures include
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Are Metal Roofs More Dangerous
Installing a metal roof onto your commercial building can have several benefits. It is one of the most durable roofing systems available today, meant to last for decades. But the benefits of metal roofing systems are meant for another article.
The question that just about anyone asks is whether or not that metal roof is dangerous when it comes to attracting lightning. After all, we have been told our whole lives that metal is a natural conductor of lightning, so that must mean that its dangerous.
The short answer is no, metal roofing is not dangerous and does not naturally attract lightning strikes. Generally speaking, metal roofing is quite safe. It holds no extra attraction to lightning. Like buildings that are constructed with traditional building materials, any electricity from lightning strikes will be transferred safely to the ground below, keeping the occupants inside safe.
Still, that does not mean that you shouldnt take preventative measures to keep your building safe from lightning strikes with a metal roof. Here are some things that you need to take into consideration.
Metal roofs do NOT increase the risk of lightning strikes, according to MCA. However, building owners should take precautions to protect against lighting, regardless of their roofing material.
What Is The Best Roofing Material For Lightning
Heres a brief overview of how common roofing materials perform when it comes to lightning and fire.
Asphalt ShinglesAsphalt shingles are one of the most common roofing materials, mainly due to the fact that they are the cheapest. Given that asphalt shingles dont conduct electricity and, as a petroleum-based product, are flammable, they arent the best choice for homeowners in lighting-prone regions.
Clay or Concrete TilesConcrete or clay tiles are naturally fire-resistant materials and typically come with a Class A fire rating. Its important to note that while clay or concrete tiles have excellent fire resistance, there is much to be desired when it comes too performance. Simply walking on a tile roof can cause damage, so homes in regions prone to hail, hurricanes, tornadoes or high winds may want to consider a stronger roofing material.
Wood Shingles or Shake When it comes to fire, a wood roof is one of the worst choices. Wood is obviously a combustible material and as such, it requires substantial treatment and fire-retardant to achieve a Class B or Class A fire rating. Insurance carriers typically wont insure homes with wood roofs in wildfire areas, even after theyve been treated with fire-retardant, so if you live in a lighting-prone or fire-prone region, youll probably want to avoid a wood roof.
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Metal Roofs And Lightning
The concern about what happens when lightning strikes metal is directly related to the fact that metal can act as an electrical conductor. Despite that fact, metal roofs absolutely do not attract lightning strikes. Not only that, they are not struck any more frequently than any other type of roofing material.
What is lightning attracted to? Thin points, high points, and structures that cover a large area of ground. That means that the likelihood of a lightning strike hitting your home or commercial business building depends on the height and size rather than the materials used in the construction.
Speaking of material, there is currently no known material that can be implemented to decrease the likelihood of a lightning strike. However, you can do things to decrease the potential for structural harm to your building should the building be struck.
Fire is actually the most destructive element of a lightning strike. This is because most roofs will immediately combust. This is where metal frames actually come in handy. As far as building materials go, traditional wood is much more likely to combust than metal due to the latters non-combustible nature.
So, what happens when lightning actually does strike your metal roof? The electricity will spread itself out across a larger area. This diminishes the immediate impact of the strike. From there, the fire-resistant properties of the metal will help to protect your building further.
Protect Your Home From Lightning With A Metal Roof
While roofing material plays no role in the probability of a lightning strike, a metal roof is much safer than other roofing types during storms. For more information about metal roofing, reach out to the experts at Long Roofing. Our qualified metal roofers have experience installing, inspecting and repairing a variety of types of metal roofs.
If youre interested in scheduling a roofing inspection, call 866-270-7058 or visit us online today!
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Are Metal Roofs Safe In Lightning
So while metal roofs dont increase the chances of lightning striking your home, what happens if lightning does strike a metal roof? How does the damage compare to a lightning strike on asphalt shingle roofing? The MCA goes on to say that As a noncombustible material, a metal roof may even be a more desirable construction option.
If a construction material is electrically conductive, as is the case with a metal roof, the charge will quickly pass through the material rather than building up and becoming stronger, which is more likely to occur with a less conductive, more insulative material. This means that the threat of fire is significantly reduced when it comes to a metal roof and lightning strikes.
Both potential roof damage and the threat of danger to the lives of your loved ones are reduced when you install a metal roof. If youre comparing metal roofs against asphalt shingles, consider the safety of each material. While asphalt shingles arent highly flammable, they are often only resistant to mild fire exposure, whereas metal roofs are entirely noncombustible. Safety and durability are some of a metal roofs top advantages.
What Happens To Metal Roofs In A Lightning Strike
In contrast, lightning that strikes a metal roof can be instantly and safely contained. Metal roofs are designed with aluminum rod protection systems that spread the energy caused by the lightning contact, before delivering it safely to the ground outside your house. This means the lightning is immediately offered a path of least resistance, that does not involve entering your home or attacking your electrical wiring. By providing concentrated hot points that channel the lightning energy safely, a metal roof can guard against the chaotic nature of a lightning strike. The multi-layered steel of a metal roof is also engineered to resist the shock impact of lightning, keeping the house beneath safe from everything a storm can throw at it.
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What Happens When Lightning Strikes A Metal Roof
Extensive research has proven that metal roofing is no more likely to attract a lightning strike than any other type of roofing material.
In fact, as a non-combustible material with the highest Class A fire-resistance rating, metal roofing is one of the best materials for homes in lightning-prone regions.
When it comes to lightning strikes and roofing, its all about fire prevention. If the roof is covered with combustible materials such as wood petroleum-based asphalt shingles, a lightning strike can easily start a fire.
Lightning produces intense heat, and often this heat can cause fires on the roof or inside the house after “jumping” from the roof to the first available path to the ground.
Now, think about how a lightning rod works when placed on top of a building. Made of highly conductive and non-combustible metal, lightning rods are designed to intercept the voltage from a lightning strike and provide a safe and direct path to the ground.
When lightning strikes a metal roof, the voltage and risk of fire are quickly contained since metal is conductive and provides the lightning strike with a direct path to the ground outside of the home.
If you live in a lighting-prone region, youll want to look for a roof that is made of non-combustible materials and has the highest Class A rating for fire.
Does Having A Steel Roof Make My House More Vulnerable To Lightning
If you’re planning on purchasing a home with a metal roof or if you’re planning on replacing your existing roof with a metal one, you’ve probably come across some naysayers. One of the most heavily circulated misconceptions about metal roofs is the idea that steel roofing makes your home more susceptible to lightning strikes. As we work through this topic, you’ll find that not only is this conviction wrong, but also that the truth is actually quite the opposite.
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Does Grounding A Metal Roof Make It Safer
Electrical grounding provides lightning strikes an alternative route to reach the ground. Ideally, there are countless ways of grounding a building. Many residential properties attach bare copper wires to electrical boxes throughout the building structures. These grounding systems ensure that the lightning is safely dispersed.
Many homeowners think that the same principle applies to metal roofing systems. But is it essential to ground a metal roof in the name of increasing its protective levels during lightning?
The National Fire Protection Association and other reputable roofing contractors agree that metal roofs do not need grounding. And generally speaking, no building codes require homeowners to ground their metal roofs. However, these non-grounding rules apply if the homeowner strictly follows the basic building codes like using lightning arrestors and lightning rods.
Building owners could also consider using PVC piping and extending then from the houses interior to its exterior. In other words, though grounding isnt a must-do requirement, it does not pose any adverse effects on a structure.
Are Metal Roofs A Good Option For Thunderstorms And Thundershowers
If you live in an area where there are many thunderstorms and thundershowers occur, selecting a metal roof is a great choice for your home. They stand up better to hail and severe weather so you will spend less time fixing and repairing your roof.
They also have many other benefits including lowering your energy bills and being fire resistant.
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Metal Roof Lightning Protection
A metal roof is an excellent choice for a home or building in an area that experiences a lot of lightning storms. Metal roofs are extremely durable and can withstand the high winds and heavy rains that often accompany these storms. In addition, metal roofs provide an excellent level of protection from lightning strikes. Lightning strikes can cause a lot of damage to a home or building, but a metal roof will help to prevent this damage.
It may be advantageous for a building to have a properly installed metal roof in the event of lightning strikes. A metal building is less likely to be struck by lightning than a building with another type of roofing material. Despite this, lightning protection systems can assist in reducing the effects of a strike. In accordance with NFPA 780 requirements, proper metal roof grounding will actually allow lightning to strike over the roofs broader area, generating energy. As a noncombustible material that is also used to support electrical conductors, metal roofs may have a more appealing construction appeal.
How Metal Roofs Are More Protective During Lightning Strikes
You are relatively safe from lightning strikes when youre beneath a roof of any kind. However, metal roofs do offer some slight advantages. As metal resists the passage of electricity less than other materials, metal roofs can actually help reduce damage to the building from the strike. Also, as they are not flammable, metal roofs wont catch fire from the strike, unlike some other roofing materials.
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The Benefits Of Metal Roofs
A metal roof with a maintained lightning conductor system gives lightning an easy path to the ground leaving little to no impact on your building.
The increased benefit of a metal roof over something less conductive is that the metal roof will help conduct the electricity to the ground and offer less resistance. As an electrical conductor, a heat disperser and non-combustible material, metal roofs are actually the safer option to protect buildings from lightning strikes.
Other more conventional roofing materials will suffer from lightning due to their electrical resistance. With the odds of either roofing being struck being the same, choosing a metal roof is an additional preventative safety measure for your peace of mind. Additionally, consulting local meteorologists can help you determine the likelihood of bad weather in your area.
It Is Flawed Logic To Assume That A Metal Roof Attracts Lightning Similar To A Lightning Conductor
Since lightning rods are designed to catch lightning, it is not correct to assume that metal roofs attract lightning like lightning rods. There is also a flawed logic at work if we assume that metal roofs are attracted by lightning strikes just as much as lightning conductors. We cannot assume that metal roofs are not attracted by lightning because lightning conductors are not designed to attract thunderstorms.
In fact, the presence of a metal roof should not statistically increase or decrease the probability of lightning strikes. This fact is not supported by facts and statistics, but rather by the fact that it does not do as much harm as one might think. In fact, the existence of metal roofs causes damage to thunderstorms, no lightning strikes, and in fact, it should not statistically reduce or increase the probability of thunderstorm damage or lightning strikes.
Long history, a metal roof does not increase the likelihood that a building will be struck by lightning, and it does not make lightning less dangerous if it happens by chance. If a metal roof is struck by lightning, this will help to minimize the damage, as the electricity from lightning strikes can spread over a larger area. If lightning strikes your home, the electricity will spread over a large area, reducing the immediate impact.
However, metal roofs are not attracted by lightning and can be hit by them in various ways, such as wind, rain, thunder or even lightning strikes from above.
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Can Metal Roofing Lessen The Chance Of A Lightning Strike
Unfortunately, the material a homeowner selects for their homes roofing does not impact the probability of a lightning strike. While metal roofs help protect your home and family from damage and injuries due to lightning, they dont lessen the probability that a bolt of lightning could strike your home. Instead, lightning strikes are influenced by these few factors:
What Happens When Lightning Hits A Metal Roof
When lightning hits a metal roof, it will likely hit the ground outside the home. This is because the lighting is conductive and provides a path for the strike to go outside the home and into the ground.
In most cases, the strike will be redirected and will not go into your home or cause damage to the home.
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