Comprehensive disaster risk management strategies are vital for all businesses. Planning and preparing for the chance events that could bring all your operations to a sudden and abrupt halt means you’ll be better equipped to deal with scenarios when they inevitably arise.
Does your disaster risk management strategy factor in lightning protection? This is a critical factor to consider. Lightning strikes can cause significant damage to infrastructure, equipment and servers. These incidents often lead to costly downtime, expensive repairs and potential legal liabilities. Even worse, they might injure or even kill someone.
All this makes it clear that businesses should assess their lightning risk and implement appropriate lightning protection measures. This blog addresses how to do just that.
The impact of lightning strikes on business
When lightning strikes a business’s premises, the effects could be devastating. These natural phenomena damage building infrastructure, fry communication networks, leave power systems a sizzling mess and could harm employees, visitors, locals or other stakeholders. In the worst-case scenario, a lightning strike might even result in death.
The impact of lightning strikes isn’t limited to the instant of its ‘contact’ – although that is undoubtedly the most dramatic. The fallout and the real problems are what comes next. For example, as mentioned in the introduction, a strike could result in downtime. The longer your business is down and out, the more costs it incurs, and the more time you aren’t making any sales. Downtime is one of the most harmful things to a business’s reputation, and your brand may be adversely affected.
A lightning strike will also most likely damage your property. It can cost thousands – even tens of thousands – to repair once you factor in the engineers, builders, electricians, plumbers, inspectors etc. In fact, in rare – but possible – instances, lightning causes building fires, which could lead to the loss of your entire operating office, stock, policies, backups and more.
And that’s not to mention the ethical dilemmas and potential court time that could come from an injury or a death. These procedures are costly, time-consuming and stressful – all aspects you’d rather keep far away.
It’s also worth noting that lightning damage isn’t always caused by a direct strike. Indirect strikes – when lightning hits nearby – can do similar levels of damage to equipment and constructions, thanks to electrical surges, power fluctuations and the way a charge can travel through water (stay away from sinks, baths and showers).
Assessing your lightning risk
As part of your broader business continuity plan, assess lightning risk. It’s a critical component and could save you thousands of pounds.
Your business should evaluate the likelihood of lightning in your area. Bear in mind that it’s possible anywhere, although specific locations are more likely than others to experience it.
Alongside this, take the time to identify your most important equipment and infrastructure. For example, are any systems more critical than others? Are the lights more important than your heating? What about your servers? Computers? Which areas – departments or front of house – should you prioritise? The list continues.
Compile all this information into a formal document. With this assessment fresh in mind, you can decide how best to implement lightning protection measures. These should include the following:
- Lightning rods (air terminals)– These usually sit higher than the building’s roof. Their low-resistance metals mean lightning is most likely to strike them.
- Bonding conductors– Once lighting strikes the terminals, bonding conductors provide the path to the ground. They typically run around the outside of the building.
- Grounding electrodes– The final nail in the lightning strike’s coffin is the grounding electrode. Once the charge passes through the terminals and conductors, it must earth out. Grounding electrodes provide the point of contact with the earth, keeping it from passing through anyone – or anything – else.
- Surge protection devices– These limit the voltage spikes caused by lightning strikes (and other rare faults). Even if lightning does make its way into your power system, these help minimise the damage.
Combined, these pieces of hardware provide a low-resistance path for the lightning’s charge to follow, keeping it away from your critical systems. This creates the lowest possible risk for damage or injury.
The benefits of investing in lightning protection
Investing in lightning protection provides significant business benefits. Here are just a few of them:
- Improve safety for employees, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders: Installing a lightning protection system safeguards the well-being of all individuals associated with your business by minimising the risk of injury or death caused by lightning strikes.
- Minimise downtime and associated costs if disaster ‘strikes’: A lightning protection system reduces the likelihood of costly downtime and repairs in the event of a lightning strike, by preventing damage to your business’s infrastructure and equipment.
- Protect your critical systems: A properly installed lightning protection system shields your essential IT systems, electrical equipment and other vital assets from the devastating effects of lightning, ensuring business continuity.
- Reduce insurance premiums: Implementing a lightning protection system may lead to lower insurance premiums, as insurers recognise the reduced risk of damage and financial losses associated with lightning strikes.
- Enhance reputation: Investing in a lightning protection system demonstrates your commitment to the safety and well-being of your employees, customers and stakeholders, boosting your business’s reputation as a responsible and proactive organisation.
- Regulatory compliance: Installing a lightning protection system ensures that your business complies with relevant building codes and safety regulations, avoiding potential legal issues and fines.
- Demonstrate a commitment to safety and risk management: By proactively installing a lightning protection system, your business showcases its dedication to prioritising safety and effectively managing risks, setting a positive example within your industry.
Lightning protection plans and systems typically cost far less than you might think. Most setups are relatively simple despite the intricacies and reliance on professional installation. At Lightning Protection Testing UK, we pass those savings on to our clients.
Lightning protection is a critical component in disaster risk reduction. However, it’s often not given the same level of attention as other potential risks (such as fires, floods and cyber-attacks). Of course, lightning is far from the only risk to your organisation’s continuity and durability. Still, with today’s unpredictable weather, it’s vital to consider it.
An excellent and thorough way to assess your business’s lightning risk is to consult a team of professionals, such as Lightning Protection Testing UK. With decades of industry-relevant experience, our team can help you prepare to overcome the worst.
Are you interested in the services we offer? In addition to risk analysis and system implementation, we test existing measures and provide official certificates to validate your safety. For more information on what we do, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a friendly, commitment-free chat. We look forward to hearing from you.
