Good Morning

I know this subject has been discussed previously but a slightly different query, i need some advice for a nursery school, the fire risk assessment has stated we need lightning protection.  The propeties are all low storey bulding ie 2 max 3 storey and most are converted residential properties.  Where do we start with this, is it best to contact the insurer in the first instance for advice?  In the past its only something ive ever considered for taller properties and not sure its actually needed, do we need to go to a consultant to do a risk assessment?  Just some advice on how to get started would be great thank you all.

Andrew

Two questions need asking

1) The FRA reporter needs to justify their statement (there is no UK regulation mandating such devices) just in case they did not correctly prepare your report (e.g. leaving a comment from a previous inspection in their template)

2) Where they do actually validate e.g. trees immediately adjacent to the property then it needs discussing with the insurer who should always be involved for installation/maintenance as it will impact upon the issued cover

Must admit that a change of internal use is highly unlikely to impact upon whether the property suddenly now needs a lightning conductor.

Regulatory FRAs are aimed at life safety and driving down risks to tolerable levels  and NOT about eliminating all risk

I have rarely advised on fitting lightening protection and where I have it's been for premises at elevated position with perhaps a difficult evacuation plan (with vulnerable persons) or where hazmats are in use. Or where exisiting protection is in place but has not been maintained.

One could argue that a school contains vunerable persons, but again, its a judgement call by the person conducting the FRA and the RP when taking into account the design of the building, its means of escape and the profile of the students 

On the face of it, this looks like an assessor ticking boxes rather than providing a risk based solution

https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/lightning-protection/heag182-lightning-protection/

Bit of "light" reading - the RA process looks to be very specialised and complex

Thank you all for your comments, yes i agree on all the points and they should have challenged the comptence of the FR assessor.  I have advised they contact their insurer to see if the insurer insists they have it in their policy, the second option is to bring in a risk assessor to review.

Thank you, really helpfull feedback and advice, much appreciated.

​​​​​​​Andrew

Messey - thanks for inputting.

I can see why it might be much more likely that lightning protection would be required on a historic structure than on a relatively new low rise building.

On a historic structure the lightning protection might be at least as important from the point of view of avoiding loss of heritage than risk of harm to humans.