Which standard covers lightning protection systems?

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Lightning protection systems are guided by standards that spell out how to design, install, and maintain them so they perform reliably and safely. The NFPA standard for lightning protection provides the requirements for the overall system, including components like air terminals, conductors, bonding, and grounding, as well as how those parts are arranged, installed, and tested. It also covers material quality, corrosion resistance, clearances, and ongoing inspection and maintenance, ensuring the entire system works as intended over the building’s life.

This standard is widely adopted in U.S. building codes and safety guidelines, making it the most direct reference for implementing a complete lightning protection system. Other standards exist—such as international guidelines that frame general approaches, component-focused standards, or grounding practices unrelated specifically to the full LPS design—but they don’t address the full design, installation, and maintenance scope in the same direct way.