I am not sure if this is what you are looking for:

26-500 Use and location of lightning arresters

(1) Lightning arresters shall be installed in every distributing substation in locations where lightning disturbances occur frequently and no other adequate protection is provided.

(2) Lightning arresters installed for the protection of utilization equipment

(a) shall be permitted to be installed either inside or outside the building or enclosure containing the equipment to be protected; and
(b) shall be isolated by elevation, enclosed, or otherwise made inaccessible to unauthorized persons.

So technically the answer is no, they are not required. Having said that, I have seen it many times due to insurance companies demanding it for protection of buildings and animals. If the weather vane is isolated from the building, then I don't see an issue. If it is not, and it is a requirement, I would use some #6 braided copper and connect to either the grounding system or to a separate arrest system. Second option preferred.

I personally have never done lightning arrest on a resi application. I have done a few on commercial / industrial applications (natural gas compressor stations, incinerators, etc) and the requirements were all spec'd out.

There is lots in the code book on lightning protection.


Cheers

 

I need opinions Please.

Should a decorative, ornamental, weathervane on the cupola of a horse stable, be grounded. If so; what is the best way. There is a sub panel in the stable fed underground from the main house. OPINIONS PLEASE?

Thanks.

I would not unless I made it part of a lightning protection system.

 

In my opion, if the weather vain was not grounded it has zero potential to ground. If you ground it your are creating a path. lighting strike trees all the time. put a ground on the tip of one and that tree just increased its odds of getting struck. Reason, I have replaced alot of damage lighting protection on a build and a taller building across the street has none and never gets hit. I would not create a problem.

 

Another grounding thread, Fire in the hole :laughing::laughing:

I probably wouldn't ground it, like jwjrw said if your worried about it put in a full LPS.

 

I'm not really too sure what you should do. I would however consider a lightning protection system as previously mentioned. Did you want to ground or bond this weathervane?

 

It's sitting on top of wood and we know how conductive wood is, so I'd ground it.

 

I wouldn't do anything about it myself. I would explain to the customer that I'm not a lightning protection expert and that the NEC doesn't cover this. I would reference them to a lightning protection contractor.

 

I would say we can do that, then sub it to a LPS contractor and collect more money.

 

Fine line between Lightning Draw...and Lightning Repel. Better left to those who are the specialists.:thumbsup:

 

Or insured..

 

I need opinions Please.

Should a decorative, ornamental, weathervane on the cupola of a horse stable, be grounded. If so; what is the best way. There is a sub panel in the stable fed underground from the main house. OPINIONS PLEASE?

Thanks.

Slather it in scotchkote.