Should Metal Roofs Be Grounded

If you plan on using metal roofing you may need to consider whether or not you need to ground that roofing like other metal equipment in construction.

Should metal roofs be grounded.

Metal roofs are resistant to wind and hail weigh less than asphalt shingles require little maintenance and are energy efficient. In general there s no need to unless it s mandated by your local building codes. Do you need to ground metal roofs. The short answer is no you don t have to ground a metal roof and you will incur no additional risk if you don t ground it in most circumstances.

Lightning is a powerful destructive force of nature and will strike a building regardless of its type of roofing. Experts say metal roofing systems aren t any more likely to be struck by lightning than other types of roofs. Wouldn t a grounded metal roof protect your home. Still the type of roofing is one of several risk factors.

No in fact the best thing you can do for your own personal safety during a thunderstorm is to head indoors. Your metal roof is not grounded and thus lighting has no reason to strike it. It does not attract any extra attention from lightning and just like buildings constructed with traditional building materials any electricity from a lightning strike will will be safely transferred to the ground below so occupants will be unaffected. Some actual disadvantages to metal roofs.

Metal roofing is safe and you won t incur additional risks if you don t ground it in most circumstances. Metal conducts electricity but when you are dealing with a full roof a lightning strike would ground out through the rest of the structure without causing damage or harm to the interior. Metal roofs do not attract lightning strikes. Because metal roofs are by definition made out of metal you might be concerned about lightning and wonder whether you need to attach a lightning rod to your metal roof.

Metal roofing is perfectly safe. A metal roof in no way makes your home more vulnerable or susceptible to lightning strikes. In simple terms the answer is no. We elaborate further in this post.

Nor do metal roofs protect a building against lightning. Do you need to have your metal roof grounded.