Metal Buildings
One of the most persistent myths about metal buildings is that they attract lightning. Here is the truth about metal structures and lightning safety.
The Myth Many people believe that metal buildings are more likely to be struck by lightning because metal conducts electricity. This is one of the most common misconceptions about metal construction, and it stops some buyers from choosing steel buildings. The reality is quite different. The Facts Lightning is not attracted to metal. Lightning strikes the tallest point in an area, regardless of what material it is made from. A wooden building, a tree, a telephone pole, and a metal building of the same height in the same location all have an equal chance of being struck. The National Lightning Safety Institute, NOAA, and the Steel Building Institute all confirm that metal buildings are no more likely to be struck by lightning than buildings made of any other material. Metal Buildings Are Actually Safer Here is the part that surprises most people: in the event of a lightning strike, a metal building is actually one of the safest places to be. The metal frame acts as a Faraday cage — it conducts the electrical charge around the exterior of the building and safely into the ground, protecting the interior and anyone inside. Compare that to a wood-frame building, where a lightning…