[arvanlaar]

Hey All,

My wife and I got to talking about redoing our roof this year or the next and she brought up something that I never really thought about. If you install a steel roof, do you have to ground it somehow? I have never heard of this and assume you don't have to but it seems to actually make sense.

Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

 

[Windows on Wash]

I am not aware of a code provision that requires it.

If it is hit by lightening, it should have a path to ground via normal attachment to the home.

Is it a terrible idea, no. I would contact a lightening specialist for a consult or have them do it.

 

[1985gt]

I am not aware of a code provision that requires it.

If it is hit by lightening, it should have a path to ground via normal attachment to the home.

Is it a terrible idea, no. I would contact a lightening specialist for a consult or have them do it.

+1

If you are really concerned with it only have a lightening specialist look at it. There is some very serious consequence if done wrong.

 

[hardtroofing]

Yea all of the horse farms that have copper of metal roofs the lightning rod guys come behind us drilling holes and stomping over the roofs, I hate it but I guess they are there for a reason. I rarely seem them in smaller residential homes but they are usually around if the house is over 500k Good Luck and don't strike out lol

 

[1985gt]

If it's a standing seam roof they make S-5 clamps to install lightning rods with, I would insist they use them.

 

[arvanlaar]

Interesting information. Thank you for your input. When we get closer to actually doing the roof, I will have to call around for more info.

 

[troyks]

I looked into this in depth when I was pursuing a metal roof, and found it boils down to local codes or installer preference. Metal roofing trade associations have conducted field tests to try and determine whether grounding the roof assembly was necessary or not because it is a valid question which nobody knows, and thus far there's no evidence that suggests grounding is necessary nor provides any benefit.