Orlando Custom Homes, BRC Custom Homes

Lightning Rods

Living in Florida, the state with the most lightning strikes according to a National Geographic study, houses are constantly at risk of fire due to lightning that springs up. In addition to fire damage, lightning is capable of blowing out a house’s entire electrical system and all appliances connected to it. Thankfully, there are lightning rods to protect a family’s investment and home.

Lightning rods are part of a larger lightning protection system. The rods are placed at regular intervals on the highest portions of a house. In this case, the roof is dotted with lightning rods. In addition to lightning rods, a lightning protection system will have a rooftop network of conductors, multiple conductive paths from the roof to the ground, and bonding connections to metallic objects within the house or building and the grounding network.

Historically, lightning rods have been installed on buildings, trees, monuments, bridges, and even ships and boats to protect them from lightning damage. The individual rods themselves are frequently called finials, air terminals, or strike termination devices.

During Benjamin Franklin’s lifetime, he invented numerous items and performed a number of scientific experiments. One of those thoughts was for a lightning rod, or “lightning attractor,” as he called it. The idea stuck with him for many years and, if not for the slow construction process of Christ Church in Philadelphia, the kite experiment would never have happened.

In the 19th century, lightning rods became a symbol of American ingenuity and a decorative motif. They were frequently embellished by ornamental glass balls. These glass balls are now highly prized by antique collectors.

For more information on protecting your house from lightning, contact the Orlando custom home builders of BRC Homes at 352-383-1948.