Should my metal roof be grounded?

The short answer is no, a metal roof does not need to be grounded. In most cases, you will not incur additional risk if you don't ground it. Metal does conduct electricity. But when dealing with a full roof, a lightning strike would ground out through the structure, causing no more harm than non-metal roofs would.

raremanufacturing.com - Does a Metal Roof Need to be Grounded? - Rare Manufacturing Inc

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Does a Metal Roof Need to be Grounded?

The short answer is no, a metal roof does not need to be grounded. In most cases, you will not incur additional risk if you don’t ground it. Metal does conduct electricity. But when dealing with a full roof, a lightning strike would ground out through the structure, causing no more harm than non-metal roofs would. Lightning will strike whatever gives the least resistance, as a path to the ground. Therefore, a metal roof won’t pose any greater risk of a lightning strike than a standard roof on the same structure. As an electrical conductor and a noncombustible material, metal roofing has a lower risk of damage from a lightning strike. Occasionally, some municipalities or local building codes may require metal roof grounding. But major building code organizations do not recognize grounding of metal roofs as necessary.

Further Considerations

Keep in mind, the lack of a national code requiring a ground assumes that we’re following all applicable building codes. This includes using only PVC piping to extend from the interior of the house up through the roof. Not following this code could pose a serious risk to the occupants inside the structure. In this case, the lightning would not be grounded through the rest of the structure. It could instead travel down the pipe inside the building causing damage. Although lightning protection and roof grounding are not national code requirements, it is becoming routinely specified. These requirements vary based on local codes. While not required by national code, there are instances when you might consider lightning protection or grounding your metal roof, for peace of mind. An engineer can use a risk assessment calculation based on the NFPA 780 guidelines to help decide if lightning protection would be a recommendation for your home. Any official requirement for a lightning protection system would come from the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) in your area. If you wish to have lightning protection or grounding on a metal roof, please consult a lightning protection specialist. For additional information on the use of lightning protection, see NFPA 780 Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, 2017 Edition, National Fire Protection Association.

https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=780

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How thick should spray foam be on a metal building?

For metal buildings, if the primary reason you are insulating is to simply stop condensation from forming, then 1” of closed cell Foam it Green is all you need. If you are looking to insulate for heating and cooling purposes, we generally recommend 2” of foam for the walls and 3” for the roof.

foamitgreen.com - Metal Buildings - Spray Foam Project Guide

PREPARE FOR SUCCESS

It’s difficult if not impossible to get foam off of surfaces it hits. So, be sure to take the time to cover anything you do not want foam stuck to including floors, windows, equipment in the area, and even you once you start spraying! Along with the recommended PPE, the sprayer should have no exposed skin or hair during application. How do you get foam out of a beard? In a word, scissors. If your metal building sections arrived with an oily residue on them to prevent them from sticking to each other during shipping, check with the manufacturer for the best way to clean them. Most folks have luck with mineral spirits, but the point is that foam can have a tough time sticking to an oily surface. As always, make sure your target spray surfaces measure between 65F-85F.

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