A lightning rod (AUS) or lightning conductor (UK) is a metal rod or conductor mounted on top of a building and electrically connected to the ground through a wire, to protect the building in the event of lightning. If lightning strikes the building it will preferentially strike the rod, and be conducted harmlessly to ground through the wire, instead of passing through the building, where it could start a fire or cause electrocution. A lightning rod is a single component in a lightning protection system. . | http Generated by Foxit PDF Creator Foxit Software ttp For evaluation only. Lightning rod A lightning rod AUS or lightning conductor UK is a metal rod or conductor mounted on top of a building and electrically connected to the ground through a wire to protect the building in the event of lightning. If lightning strikes the building it will preferentially strike the rod and be conducted harmlessly to ground through the wire instead of passing through the building where it could start a fire or cause electrocution. A lightning rod is a single component in a lightning protection system. In addition to rods placed at regular intervals on the highest portions of a structure a lightning protection system typically includes a rooftop network of conductors multiple conductive paths from the roof to the ground bonding connections to metallic objects within the structure and a grounding network. The rooftop lightning rod is a metal strip or rod usually of copper or aluminum. Lightning protection systems are installed on structures trees monuments bridges or water vessels to protect from lightning damage. Individual lightning rods are sometimes called finials air terminals or strike termination devices. The United States Patent Office labels Lightning protectors in Class 174 Electricity conductors and insulators Subclass 2 Lightning protectors and Subclass 3 Rods . The lightning rod was invented by Benjamin Franklin in the Americas in 1749 and perhaps independently by Prokop Divis in Europe in 1754 History As buildings became taller lightning becomes more of a threat. Lightning can damage structures made of most materials masonry wood concrete and steel as the huge currents involved can heat materials causing a potential for fire and also water to high temperatures. Some of the most ancient lightning conductors can be found in Sri Lanka in places like the Kingdom of Anuradhapura that dates back to thousands of years. The Sinhalese kings
