Lightning Protection Inspection and Maintenance
Regular system checks and maintenance services to keep your lightning protection effective and compliant year-round.
A lightning protection system only works if every part is still connected. Site Safe Lightning Protection provides lightning protection inspection, testing and maintenance for homes, commercial buildings and oil & gas facilities in Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma, alongside the systems we design and install.
What an inspection covers. We check every major component: air terminals, conductors, connectors and fasteners, bonding to metal equipment and building systems, grounding, and surge protection devices. We verify continuity through the whole system and check the grounding. See what is tested during an inspection.
What inspections find. Loose or disconnected conductors, corrosion, bent or missing air terminals, and grounding damaged by excavation or landscaping. New HVAC units, antennas and solar panels are often added after the system went in and left unbonded.
How often. NFPA 780 and LPI-175 recommend a visual inspection every year and a full inspection with testing every 3 to 5 years (1 to 3 years for critical facilities). You should also have your system inspected after a lightning strike or any roof or building work. Your insurer or contract may require more frequent inspections.
Certified systems. A UL Master Label Certificate lasts five years and an LPI-IP certificate three, and either ends sooner when the roof or the system changes. Plan the re-inspection before it runs out.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a lightning protection system be inspected?
NFPA 780 and LPI-175 recommend a visual inspection every year and a full inspection with testing every 3 to 5 years (1 to 3 years for critical facilities). You should also have your system inspected after a lightning strike or any roof or building work. Your insurer or contract may require more frequent inspections.
What is tested during a lightning protection inspection?
Every part of the system: air terminals, conductors, connectors and fasteners, bonding to metal equipment and building systems, grounding, and surge protection devices. Continuity is checked through the whole system, and the grounding gets a ground-resistance check. See what is tested during a lightning protection inspection.
Should a system be inspected after a lightning strike?
Yes. NFPA 780 and LPI-175 both recommend an inspection after a known lightning strike, to find damaged or disconnected parts before the next storm. See when to have your system re-inspected.
Does re-roofing or adding solar affect a lightning protection system?
It can. Roof work and new rooftop equipment such as HVAC units, antennas and solar panels can disconnect conductors or leave new metal unbonded. Have the system inspected after any roof or building work. See common problems found during inspections.
How long do UL and LPI-IP certificates last?
A UL Master Label Certificate is valid for five years from issue, and an LPI-IP Master Installation Certificate for three. Either ends sooner if the structure, the roofing or the lightning protection system changes. See UL 96A and the Master Label.
Sources
- NFPA 780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, Annex D: Inspection and Maintenance (NFPA)
- LPI-175, Standard for the Design, Installation and Inspection of Lightning Protection Systems (Lightning Protection Institute)
- UL Solutions: Lightning Protection Installer and Master Label Certificate Program
- LPI-IP: Application Instructions
Connect with our experts
Submit the following form and our team will reach out! You may also call us anytime at (940) 641-0781