Lightning is said to strike the ground around 8 million times a day and the impact that this can have on businesses can be very severe.
According to a survey carried out by a German insurance company, lightning accounts for 27.4% of damages to electronic equipment. Studies carried out by French insurance company AXA have also concluded that after a fire, one out of every two businesses ends up having to cease trading within five years. This is due to the damages it causes to real estate and IT Equipment etc., which prevent the company from continuing with their business.
Furthermore due to the impact of global warming and the change in climate, scientists have predicted that this is likely to increase the risk of extreme weather conditions, with as many as double or triple the amount of lightning strikes by 2050. Moreover the increased use of silicon-based, micro-controlled devices across our society are making businesses more and more at risk to the threats of lightning.
Insurance companies do not as yet encourage Lightning protection measures to be adopted as standard practice. To protect a business from the damage that could potentially be caused by lightning strikes, Lightning protection systems can be put in place. This system works by diverting the flow of electricity away from the structure and passing it through into the ground.
It is of vital importance that companies are properly protected against the risks of lightning destruction, as it has the potential to seriously affect a business. A disciplined and systematic approach to lightning protection should be adopted as this will reduce the risk, ultimately reducing the costs to a business.
