In the United States, the 2026 LexisNexis US Home Trends report has just been released, and the conclusion is clear: lightning and fire have become the most costly peril for home insurers. The cost of claims related to "Fire and Lightning" has jumped by 76.8% in one year, while the average severity of claims has climbed by 67.3% (LexisNexis Risk Solutions, July 22, 2026).
This isn't an isolated phenomenon in the United States. Around the world, insurance companies and homeowners are facing the same reality: extreme weather events are increasing, and lightning protection has never been more critical. Let's examine what these figures reveal and how to protect yourself effectively according to international standards.
What does the LexisNexis 2026 report say about lightning?
The LexisNexis 2026 US Home Trends report analyzes home insurance claims in the United States for the year 2025. It identifies "Fire and Lightning" as the hazard that has increased the most that year.
- Cost of claims : +76.8% compared to 2024
- Frequency : +6.0% year-on-year
- Severity : +67.3% compared to 2024
- Adding to the aggravating context : the Los Angeles fires of January 2025 (Palisades and Eaton), estimated at $61.2 billion in damages, significantly inflated these figures.
Furthermore, the overall severity of claims reached a historic high in 2025, up 93.2% compared to 2019 (LexisNexis Risk Solutions, 22/07/2026). Thus, even though the overall frequency of claims has decreased, each claim is becoming increasingly expensive to repair.
Why is lightning costing insurers more and more?
The severity of a lightning incident is the average amount of damage per reported event. It increases for several combined reasons.
First, rising material and labor costs increase the price of every repair. Second, extreme weather events concentrate damage across entire areas rather than on isolated homes. Finally, the value of electronic and connected devices in modern homes has increased significantly, making the bill even higher in the event of a lightning-induced power surge.
Therefore, a simple direct impact or induced overvoltage can now cause damage far greater than it would have cost ten years ago.
Lightning, a global risk and not just an American one
The United States is not an isolated case. In Europe, Africa, and Latin America, intense thunderstorms are also increasing, with direct consequences for residential and agricultural buildings. For example, several forest fires sparked by lightning recently forced evacuations in mountainous areas of France, illustrating that the risk of lightning strikes extends far beyond purely material damage to homes.
Furthermore, international lightning protection standards, notably IEC62305 (the international reference standard for lightning protection), are applied in many countries beyond the United States and France. This standard defines protection levels (NPF I to IV) based on a building risk assessment.
Lightning rod: essential direct protection
A lightning rod is a device installed at the highest point of a building that captures the impact of lightning and channels it to the ground via a conductor, in order to protect the structure from a direct strike. In France, the term ESE (Paratonnerre à Dispositif d'Apriming – Lightning Rod with Early Activation Device) is used to designate this technology, which is standardized in particular by NF C 17-102.
It is important to keep in mind that the lightning rod, the surge protector (indirect protection against overvoltages, also called SPD) and the grounding are three complementary devices, never interchangeable:
- The lightning rod captures and dissipates the direct impact of lightning
- The surge protector (SPD) protects electrical and electronic equipment against induced power surges.
- Grounding ensures the dissipation of lightning current into the ground
In practical terms, to reduce their exposure to risk and potentially their insurance premiums, a property owner or operator must consider all three dimensions together. Discover the lightning rods LPS France range of , as well as the associated down conductors and grounding rods
How to monitor the status of your lightning protection over time?
Installing a lightning rod is not enough: it is also essential to ensure that it remains functional over time. Indeed, a lightning protection device requires regular inspection and maintenance, as mandated by international standards.
This is where LPS Manager, the platform that centralizes document tracking, inspection planning, and access to keraunic reports for your lightning protection systems. This allows property owners and managers to demonstrate the compliance of their installations at any time, a significant advantage when dealing with insurers in a context of rising claims rates.
What lessons can be learned for homeowners outside the United States?
While the LexisNexis report focuses on the US home insurance market, several of its findings are broadly applicable beyond this national context.
First, the increasing severity of damage, rather than the increase in frequency, is a trend observed in many countries applying international building standards. In Europe, Africa, and Latin America, severe storms also concentrate significant damage in entire residential areas, particularly when homes lack lightning protection.
Furthermore, the proliferation of electronic and connected devices in modern homes—home automation systems, solar panels, charging stations—increases the insured value exposed to lightning-induced power surges everywhere. Consequently, even in regions historically less affected by costly lightning damage, the economic vulnerability of homes is increasing.
Finally, particularly for farms and isolated buildings in rural or mountainous areas, the risk of fire triggered by lightning remains a major concern worldwide, well beyond the sole framework of American insurance.
How to assess the level of protection needed for your building?
According to international standards IEC 62305, the lightning risk assessment of a building takes into account several criteria:
- The geographical location and ground lightning density (Ng) of the area
- The height and surface area of the building
- The nature of the activity carried out (residential, agricultural, industrial site)
- The presence of sensitive equipment or vulnerable people
This assessment determines the required level of lightning protection (NPF I to IV) and therefore the appropriate type of lightning rod and grounding system. For example, an isolated agricultural building in a mountainous area, exposed to a high lightning strike frequency, will generally require a higher level of protection than a standard urban dwelling.
Lightning and home insurance: what you need to know
In summary, the LexisNexis 2026 report confirms a global trend: lightning-related claims are becoming increasingly expensive, with a 76.8% increase in the cost of claims and a 67.3% increase in severity in the United States by 2025. This dynamic spares no region of the world applying modern construction standards.
Given this situation, lightning protection should no longer be seen as an option, but as a structural investment. A lightning rod compliant with NF C 17-102 or IEC 62305 standards, complemented by a surge protector and appropriate grounding, remains the best way to limit exposure to risk. Finally, long-term monitoring via a platform like LPS Manager ensures this compliance over time, an issue that is set to become crucial for both insurers and property owners.
Source: 2026 LexisNexis US Home Trends Report, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, July 22, 2026.
Sincerely,
The LPS France
