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The Villages Voice — September IssueThe September Issue of the Villages Homeowners Association (VHA) newsletter The Villages Voice has an article about these lightning strikes on page 16, and I recommend that you read the article on page 15 as well, "Fire protection/prevention checklist summaries from U.S. Fire Administration, http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/, Department of Homeland Security" website. Last I looked, the current issue is not yet available online, but click on the VHA's The Villages Voice web page, then click on September 2009 when it is available. |
I just received this from a friend about the subject of lightning and the
homes destroyed here in The Villages. It might be of interest to others. I
make no recommendations about lightening rods as I do not have the expertise
to comment. 
I did have a licensed plumber put iron pipe in the attic to
replace the flexible and thin gas pipe that the builder put in to minimize
the fire should a lightning strike hit the roof. Many of my friends in the
bicycle club have also done so. It runs from around $1,000 to $1,200.
Ken Kraut
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2009 3:09:42 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: LIGHTNING
To: Bailey Trail Villagers, Friends, and Neighbors
The 2009 Lightning Season
To date,
this has been a very active lightning season. Two homes have been
destroyed by lightning in a nine day span; August 12th in Virginia Trace
and August 21st in Sunset Pointe. This brings the number of
homes destroyed by lightning in the last six lightning seasons here in
The Villages to seven. This includes four in our area (two in 2006
in Poinciana, one in Sunset Ridge in 2008, and now one in Sunset Point).
None of the seven were equipped with a
Lightning Protection System (LPS),
commonly referred to as lightning rods.
Should I install an LPS to protect against a direct lightening strike?
Only you can make that decision for your family and home. If you are considering the installation of a LPS, the selection of a qualified installer is very important for this specialized work. The Study Group on Lightning has observed that some of the installers working in here The Villages may not be designing and installing systems to the national standard — National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, 2008 edition.
Where can I find a qualified installer?
Caution,
the place to start may not be in the Yellow Pages. You have a better
chance of obtaining a system that meets NFPA-780 standards if you choose an
installer that is listed by one of the following organizations:
How
much does an LPS cost?
You should
expect to pay $2,000 to $3,000 for a designer home, less for a villa or
ranch, and more for a premier.
This will be more than the non-listed
installers will charge, but you have a greater chance of receiving a
quality installation. There are some Villagers who have gone the extra
mile and paid an additional $400 fee to have their LPS "Certified" by an
Underwriters Laboratories engineer/inspector and receive a UL
Lightning Protection Inspection Certificate.
Will I get a credit on my homeowners insurance for an LPS?
Unfortunately, there are very few insurance carriers who will
voluntarily give rate credits, even here in the lightning capital of the
USA.
Over the last
2+ years, the Study Group on Lightning has
lobbied State Senator Carey Baker, Representative Hugh Gibson, and his
successor Marlene O'Toole to introduce legislation that would require
homeowner insurance carriers to offer a meaningful rate credit for a
properly designed and installed LPS. Currently, this is still a work-in-progress. Those of you with an LPS may wish to make your thoughts
known to our elected officials in the Florida Legislature.
Where can I get more information?
University of Florida:
Presentations to Village Groups & Organizations
The Study Group on Lightning, a small group of volunteers with no affiliation to any firm or organization related to the lightning industry, offers a 30-minute PowerPoint presentation on lightning, including direct lightning, indirect lighting, and CSST (Corrugated Stainess Steel Tubing) gas pipe. Contact me or my colleague Bob Freeman.
Len Hathaway