A damaged bell tower, a heritage exposed
On September 5, 2026, in Carrollton, Georgia, lightning struck the Maple Street Mansion, a historic building whose Victorian turret and bell tower dominate the neighborhood. The impact sparked a fire in the upper section; firefighters contained it to the bell tower before it could reach the business on the ground floor.
This news highlights an international reality: an old building is not only vulnerable because of its heritage value. Its geometry, metal elements, evolving electrical systems, and sometimes difficult access to the attic require a protection strategy planned before the storm.
- the turret, the balcony and the bell tower have suffered structural damage;
- The fire was contained to the upper exterior, according to the owners as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta ;
- A check for hidden electrical damage was still necessary after the intervention.
Why do historic buildings concentrate the risk?
A salient point is a high or isolated part of a structure that can facilitate the attachment of a lightning strike. Bell towers, spires, turrets, chimneys and masts thus create areas to be examined as a priority during risk analysis.
Furthermore, an old building often combines heterogeneous materials and successive alterations. An added cable for lighting, a metal gutter, a telecommunications network, or a roof repair can constitute indirect pathways for energy if the Equipotential Spark Gap and surge arresters are not consistent.
- Height: it increases the exposure of the emerging parts.
- Continuity: downhill drivers must provide a controlled path to the ground.
- Incoming networks: energy, data and telecoms must be treated against overvoltages.
- Access: a feasible inspection is a prerequisite for long-term maintenance.
What constitutes lightning protection suitable for heritage buildings?
Lightning protection tailored to heritage buildings is a coordinated set of external and internal measures that channels a lightning strike, limits overvoltages, and preserves architectural integrity as much as possible. It therefore does not consist of simply installing a visible element on the rooftop; it encompasses studies, lightning arresters, down conductors, grounding, Equipotential Spark Gap, and equipment protection.
The international standard IEC 62305 structures this approach around risk assessment and site-specific measures. The objective is to reduce damage to people, the structure, services, and critical equipment, without confusing architectural preservation with simple post-disaster repair.
- identify volumes, roofs, protruding elements and networks;
- assess the human, operational and asset-related consequences of an impact;
- define the level of protection and internal measures;
- document the installation for inspection and future developments.
From grounding to the earth: protecting without trivializing architecture
An ESE) lightning rod is an external protection device designed to capture lightning strikes, with a design and installation tailored to the project. In a heritage site, its placement must be carefully considered in light of visibility, coverage, and conservation requirements; it never eliminates the need to address the other components of the system.
Therefore, downpipes must not be improvised around the facade. Their layout, fixing, connections to metal elements, and grounding must form a controllable continuity, while respecting fragile materials and restoration requirements.
- prioritize a study before roofing or facade work;
- plan pathways compatible with reading the facade;
- coordinate the rodholders involved in heritage, electricity and lightning protection;
- record plans, tests and inspection points.
Power surges: the damage that can remain invisible
A power surge is a transient increase in voltage that can propagate through an electrical or communication network after a direct or nearby impact. Even when flames are quickly extinguished, it can affect electrical panels, lighting, alarms, payment terminals, sensors, or security equipment.
This is why post-storm inspections must go beyond the visible traces on the roof. For buildings open to the public, a monitoring system like Contact@ir System can help organize checks of monitored elements, while AtmoGuard can be integrated into a weather alert system depending on the site's configuration.
- check the surge protection devices and their condition;
- control the panels, alarms and communicating equipment;
- examine the connections close to the point of impact;
- Archive the event and corrective actions.
Prepare the farm before the next storm cell
Ground lightning density Ng is the number of ground lightning strikes per square kilometer per year used in particular in FD C 17-108 and IEC 62305. It constitutes a useful input data, but it does not replace the observation of buildings, their uses and their networks.
In practice, an asset manager needs a dynamic record: plans, inspection results, photographs, deadlines, and decisions must remain accessible. Once the installation is brought into compliance with IEC 62305, LPS Manager allows for the organization of monitoring and maintenance planning.
- establish an inventory of critical protections and equipment;
- plan periodic and post-event checks;
- clearly assign decision-making responsibilities;
- Update the file after each building modification.
A four-step action plan following an impact
After a suspected or confirmed impact, the priority remains protecting people and alerting emergency services. Then, the operator must avoid two pitfalls: restoring service too quickly to a potentially damaged network, or allowing interventions to multiply without coordination or evidence of the damage.
In practical terms, a site visit should combine observations of the roof, alarms, electrical malfunctions, and available data on the storm event. If work on the bell tower is necessary, access at height, weakened materials, and nearby utility lines must be inspected before any cosmetic repairs are carried out.
- secure the perimeter and isolate any equipment that may be of concern;
- document the apparent damage with location and timestamp;
- have the continuity of protection and internal networks checked;
- Update the technical file after corrections and testing.
Finally, this feedback allows us to correct shortcomings without altering the building's fundamental character. It can also be useful to insurers, conservation teams, and operations managers, all of whom need factual information to determine priorities.
In a restoration context, this method also provides a basis for dialogue with heritage authorities. The choices of layout and materials can then be justified by the level of risk, the inspectability and reversibility of the interventions, rather than being decided in haste after further damage.
Conclusion: Protect history, maintain use
The Carrollton fire demonstrates that a single impact can damage the most iconic part of a historic building in minutes. However, the outcome also depends on preparation: IEC 62305 analysis, consistent external protection, surge arresters, and network monitoring all form a cohesive strategy. Protecting heritage means preserving not only its architecture but also the continuity of its operations and the safety of its occupants. Before the next storm season, a documented assessment transforms an anticipated risk into a verifiable action plan.
Sources: FOX 5 Atlanta, September 7, 2026 ; IEC, IEC series 62305.
