Your Home’s Vulnerability During an Electrical Storm

Your Home’s Vulnerability During an Electrical Storm

Electrical storms, often known as thunderstorms, are natural phenomena that pose severe threats to both housing and human safety. Storms are magnificent to behold from afar however, they can have disastrous repercussions if they hit near home. very year in the United States, hundreds of homes are damaged due to lightning strikes, power surges, and electrical fires triggered by storms. Another key point, homeowners must be aware of potential hazards and ensure their properties comply with American building code regulations.

Electrical Storm Damage to Your Property

Electrical storms cause lightning, simply a tremendous release of electrical energy. Particularly, energy can impact a home directly, pass via its wiring or plumbing systems, or cause deadly power surges. Electrical storms pose several concerns, including:

• Structural Damage from Direct Lightning Strikes- A direct lightning strike can result in fires, damage to roofing, walls, and foundational elements, and even the destruction of electronic equipment. The high heat from a hit can start electrical fires or burn down wooden structures. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that homes in storm-prone locations install lightning rods. These rods are designed to channel electrical currents from lightning to the earth safely.
• Power Surges- A power surge is a sudden surge of electricity that overtakes a home’s electrical system.

Damage to Appliances and Device

During a storm, an electrical surge can flow through the home’s wiring, frying fragile devices such as computers, refrigerators, HVAC systems, and more. Surge protectors are vital for avoiding costly damage. The National Electrical Code (NEC) mandates that homes employ surge protection devices (SPDs) to protect their electrical systems from surges. Upgrading the home’s electrical panel to add a whole-house surge protector is a popular recommendation.

Electrical fires

Lightning strikes and power surges can overheat electrical systems and cause fires. Faulty wiring in older homes is an even more significant concern during a storm. The NEC requires that residences have wiring and circuit breakers capable of handling unexpected electrical surges.

Protecting your home

Homeowners can take precautions to limit electrical storm threats to their property, including keeping households secure, compliant, and prepared. Install the following lighting protection systems to secure your home and foundation.

• Lightning Rods: As previously stated, lightning rods can safely channel electrical energy from a lightning strike into the earth, protecting the property’s structure. Luckily, modern building codes advocate this installation in storm-prone areas.
• Whole-House Surge Protectors: Installing surge protection throughout the home is an essential defense against power surges, which can destroy valuable devices. The NEC now requires surge protectors for new home construction, assuring homeowner safety.
• Grounding Systems Upgrading Grounding: Grounding systems must meet modern electrical codes to handle the massive amounts of energy generated by electrical storms. Particularly, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are also recommended to protect against electrocution risks indoors.
• Construction Code Implications: Grounding systems are heavily emphasized in construction code. Specifically, grounding guarantees that electrical charges from a storm are securely absorbed into the earth, lowering the likelihood of electrical shocks indoors.
• Fire Prevention and Alarms Smoke and Fire Alarms: Homes should be equipped with functional smoke and fire alarms to detect fires caused by electrical issues. These alarms should meet the requirements set by the NFPA, which provides guidelines on their installation and maintenance.

Foundation Repair

While electrical storms are an unavoidable part of nature, homeowners do not have to feel helpless. Primarily, ensure you reduce property and personal safety hazards by adhering to building rules and implementing safety measures such as surge protectors, lightning rods, and adequate grounding. Then invest in storm protection not only secures the home. Also provide peace of mind by ensuring that the threats of electrical storms are appropriately addressed. If you are concerned about your home’s stability due to an electrical hit or faulty construction, contact Atlantic Foundation and Repair for a free homeowner’s consultation.*

FAQ

1. What damage can a lightning strike do to my home’s foundation? Usually, lightning does not reach your home’s foundation, but exceptions exist. Construction should install adequate ground toward the beginning of the project.

2. How do I know I have a proper grounding in my home’s foundation? Start obtaining inspections during the beginning of the construction of your home to ensure adequate foundation installation.

3. Who can ensure the proper installation of my foundation? Foundation Repair teams like Atlantic Foundation provide the inspection needed for your foundation’s construction. Also, you can call home inspectors to ensure construction teams properly install your foundation.

Sources-

-(2023). NFPA 780 Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems. NFPA. https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-780-standard-development/780

-https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240522/fema-urges-preparedness-ahead-severe-storms-heading-east-tornadoes-and-other

-https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/smoke-alarms/installing-and-maintaining-smoke-alarms

-https://electrification.us.abb.com/products/surge-protective-devices

-https://lightning.org/

-NFPA (2023). National Fire Protection Agency 70 National Electric Code. NFPA. https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-780-standard-development/780

–Lightning and Surge Protection for Your Solar Backup System. https://lightningking.co.za/investing-in-lightning-and-surge-protection-for-your-solar-backup-power-system-is-a-good-idea/

*Disclaimer: This blog informs and suggests safety measures for your home. However, we urge you to take cover and follow all NFPA and FEMA protocols for official safety advice because, your safety is more important than property, so plan accordingly.