On 4/12/12 8:26 AM, Drax Felton wrote:
> How come few houses of modern construction have lightning rods if they were
> such an important invention?
>
Money? Fire insurance didn't really exist back in the 19th century, so
a lightning caused fire was a catastrophic event, financially.
Today, given that the odds of any one house being hit are fairly low,
the incremental losses for a HO insurance company from lack of rods is
probably small. (that is, the cost of premiums is lower than the cost of
a lightning protection system).
Also Modern houses are a lot less flammable than in the 19th century.
ANd, of course, maybe it's because people put up defacto lightning
protection with TV antennas and DBS dishes <grin>
In businesses, particularly with expensive assets that are insured, you
see a lot more lightning protection.
And, in high lightning areas, you see a lot more.. (at least in a
commercial/industrial setting... I don't recall seeing a lot of
lightning rods on houses in, say, Orlando)
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