Fortunately, there is reliable lightning protection for buildings and structures. However, data on the cost of lightning protection and installation are not readily available. ECLE sponsored a cost study to help quantify the cost of lightning protection systems. The study aims to help building owners, architects, engineers and risk consultants to include more accurate cost estimates for lightning protection installation in their project planning.
ESE air terminals must be several feet higher than the house, so they are usually installed along the perimeter of a flat roof or on the ridge, chimney, or roof ridge. In most houses with sloping roofs, air terminals only need to be installed on the roof ridge and over chimneys and dormers, not on the perimeter of the roof. First, the professional installs the lightning rods on the roof, usually no more than 20 feet away and at least one foot from the end of the roof. Costs will generally be higher in buildings with extensive roof equipment and demanding architectural considerations; less in buildings with minimal roof equipment and simple configuration.
To allow comparison between regions, material types and construction styles, the prices of installed lightning protection systems were broken down according to square feet of roof area and square feet of floor area. If you have a large house and roof, the cost of a lightning rod for an ESE system may be more cost-effective, since you probably only need one lightning rod to protect your entire property. Riley's company, Ohio Valley Lightning Protection, will place several copper rods in the roof, connected by thick copper wires to metal stakes in the ground. However, keep in mind that some features such as dormers, fireplaces, balconies, skylights, roof equipment and large flat areas may increase the cost.
In non-residential buildings, the roof area is the most important factor in determining the work required to install lightning protection.
