What is the best protection against a lightning strike to a building?

Question

In America and the UK, they prefer the single rod or the Faraday Cage System. In France and Europe, the Early Streamer Emission (ESE) is prefered. Which is a better Systen?

Answer 1

In my opinion, ESE is a bunch of hot air. The link below shows a few scientists/engineers that are also opposed to the idea being any more effective than the normal lightning rod.

The best lightning protection we have now is a well-placed lightning rod system connected with appropriately sized cable. The cable should lead to a buried rod that is suffiiciently deep.

Answer 2

Neither one of the two systems proof to be a hundred percent effective. Nor has there been any unbiased study indicating that one is better then the other. Faraday cages have been the oldest method around, but even when a lightning hits that, the induction created in the cage is still so large, that it can destroy anything inside the building, even when it is not plugged in. In my college years I have conducted a study on this topic.

Answer 3

The Early Streamer Emission is better.

Answer 4

Neither. In South Africa we build an "Earth mat" below the structure to be protected. This mat is then connected to between 2 to 4 lightning conducting poles, which in turn is then connected to the mains power earth so as to pull the structure's potential down to that of the mains supply. This keeps the surrounding area virtually equal to the earth value of the mains.

Answer 5

Old Ben Franklin's invention, the Lightning Rod.

Answer 6

Th faraday cage will provide a greater protection

Answer 7

Don't anger Thor, God of Thunder!