Lightning conduction and protective screening of buildings

The Kalzip system offers safe and effective protection against lightning strikes and their electro-magnetic effect on both plant and equipment, by acting as:

• A lightning arrest or conducting device to prevent lightning strikes affecting the structure
• A protective screen to counter the electromagnetic effect of lightning strikes

When installing Kalzip roof or wall cladding systems there is generally no need for dedicated or additional lightning protection devices.  A strike hitting a Kalzip clad building would cause, at worst, no more than a small hole in one of the sheet seams.

Kalzip aluminium profiled sheets can be regarded as natural components of a lightning conducting system, as per the International Standard ENV 61024-1, because the crimped seams of the sheets give a permanent electric connection. An essential pre-requisite is, of course, that the profiled sheets are conductively connected to earth.

If the complete building envelope consists of aluminium, i.e. Kalzip systems used for both the roof and wall cladding, the envelope will halt and collect the electrical energy from lightning and safely conduct it to earth thereby preventing dangerous voltages from affecting the power supplies.

For further information about Kalzip as a lightning conductor, please contact the Kalzip Technical Department