A lightning protection system (LPS) is a bit like a seatbelt on a building: you hope never to “test” the protection, but you must verify it is ready. The annual lightning rod inspection (including down-conductors and earth connections) is mainly used to identify what is visible, what has come loose, what is oxidizing, what has been modified after work. These checks are vital for the safety of property and people.
We aim for simple, repeatable, and above all traceable control. The difference between “we looked” and “we inspected” is often photographs—well-framed, dated, and linked to a specific point.
In this article, we walk through a field checklist, point by point, with a photo protocol that holds up in audit.
Before arriving on site: preparing the inspection and photo file
You save time if you prepare the inspection like a maintenance tour. First, gather the technical documentation: LPS plan, lightning risk analysis (ARF), previous inspection report, outstanding reservations, access zones (roof, technical areas), and work history. If information is missing, rely on the knowledge base and resources from LPS France to clarify vocabulary and components (capture, down-conductors, cutting bar, connections).
Next, clarify the expected framework. Requirements vary by site and standard, such as NF C 17-102 and IEC 62305, but the idea remains the same: produce evidence to ensure regulatory compliance. To frame what a report should contain in terms of traceability, you can draw inspiration from the content of a verification report (identification, observations, location, actions). For standards and lightning practice references, keep a summary page on lightning standards and regulations.
You cannot “perform an inspection” if you cannot access safely. Block the time slot, plan PPE, authorizations, and appropriate access means.
On the equipment side, travel light but complete: smartphone (or camera), cloth, marker, flashlight, mirror, tape measure, and items to identify points (labels, printed plan). An application like LPS Manager also helps organize photos by zone, by down-conductor, and by control point, without mixing sites.
Before starting the visual inspection of the entire electrical installation, set a photo standard. The table below serves as a minimum, even when everything is “OK”.
| Controlled element | Overview photo | Detail photo | Index to capture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning rod, mast, capture | Roof view + building reference | Fasteners, corrosion, connectors | Reference, orientation, nearby environment |
| Down-conductor(s) | Complete facade, top to bottom | Clamp, junction, disconnector | Height, proximity to doors, possible impacts |
| Earth connection | Inspection chamber closed then open | Bar, connections, oxidation | Accessibility, humidity, labeling |
The right reflex: 1 wide photo + 1 close-up photo per point, even if nothing is wrong.
Lightning rod roof inspection: point-by-point control (and useful photos)
On the roof, start with the obvious: the capture device (Franklin point, rod, Early Streamer Emission device (ESE) depending on the case), its support, and what surrounds it. A serious lightning rod inspection often comes down to simple details: a split clamp, a pinched conductor, a corroded part, a route changed after adding HVAC equipment.
Follow a “top to bottom” logic:
- General condition and stability: verify the mast is plumb, absence of deformation, and fasteners. Look for signs of impact, tearing, or improvisation after another contractor’s work.
- Connectors and junctions: check if tightening appears consistent (without forcing), if parts are uniform, and if assemblies are clean, ensuring electrical continuity. A whitened, greenish, or pitted piece deserves a detail photo.
- Corrosion and compatibility: identify at-risk material couples (without concluding too quickly). The goal is to document, then decide on appropriate action.
- Immediate environment: guardrails, antennas, conduits, cooling units—all these metal masses change over time. Note what has “grown” around the capture.
For photos, be disciplined: an overview showing the lightning rod on the roof (with a visual reference), then close-ups of each critical fastener and connector. If in doubt, also take a “context” shot showing the obstacle or nearby equipment.
If you cannot explain a photo in one sentence (“where are we, what are we looking at?”), retake it. A useful photo tells a location and a defect.
Finally, when the site uses testable equipment, plan the right tool and procedure. For example, a lightning rod tester Test@ir® can help verify functionality according to the installation and equipment in place, but a complete resistance measurement is generally required at ground level; stay within your scope of competence and document what you do.
Down-conductors, equipotential bonding, and earth connections: following the “lightning path” to ground
Exterior down-conductors: clamps, junctions, disconnector
Next, descend along the facade, literally. Follow each down-conductor without skipping a section. Anomalies often come from an exposed point: vehicle impact, friction, vibration, or facade work.
Check: alignment, clamps (presence, regular spacing, holding), junctions (cleanliness, apparent tightening, no play), and the disconnector or control point (accessibility, cover, condition). Photograph the down-conductor in a wide view, then each singular point. If a part is hidden (cladding, vegetation, added conduit), document it clearly.
For installation logic and earth connection, a useful reminder is found in these installation and earth connection principles, to be read as a common sense reference, not as a compliance report.
Visible equipotential bonding: connections and nearby masses
When an equipotential bonding is accessible, examine it like an electrical “seam”. A seam holds if it is clean, tight, and protected. Track simple signs: oxidation, damaged braid, bent lug, missing part, or cable pulling on its connection.
Here, photos must show context (which mass, where) then the connection (tightening, condition). Add a size reference if needed (tape measure, glove, tool) to illustrate a crack or damaged section.
Earth connections and inspection chamber: cutting bar, connections, corrosion
On the ground, move from “visible” to “often neglected” earthing. First photograph the chamber closed (proof of existence and location), then open. Verify accessibility, cover condition, presence of water, cleanliness, and especially the cutting bar and its connections.
What to look for: loose conductor, corroded part, connection buried in mud, missing label, or inability to access. Even without measurement, the mechanical condition already speaks volumes. Inspection of the cutting bar prepares you to use a ground resistance meter to verify that earth resistance is below 10 Ohms, ensuring proper current drainage into the soil. And if the chamber is unfindable, this absence is a maintenance non-conformance, as you can no longer inspect.
To avoid this weak point, some sites install or replace the chamber with an adapted model, such as a plastic inspection window when coherent with the field and maintenance policy.
Additionally, as part of the LPS chain, verify the presence and condition of the surge arrester (SPD) in the main electrical panel.
Conclusion
A successful LPS periodic inspection is a complete journey, from capture to ground, with photos proving what you saw. By maintaining a simple standard (overview, then detail), you build a useful history, especially after work or weather incidents. If you establish a routine, the lightning rod inspection becomes a quick check, and deviations stand out immediately. The final inspection report is the cornerstone of a safety strategy. At the next visit, what do you want to find in 30 seconds: a pile of blurry images, or a clear file, point by point? These manual steps prefigure predictive maintenance and connected monitoring for modern buildings.
