Thunderstorm season is in full swing. In May 2026, detection networks recorded 269,654 lightning strikes across French-speaking Europe, including 29,651 direct ground strikes (source: Keraunos, June 2026). Therefore, both professionals and individuals should check the condition of their lightning protection systems before the arrival of July and August—historically the most active months.
Thus, this article gives you the keys to assess your level of protection, understand the available solutions and act before an impact causes material or human damage.
Why does the summer of 2026 present a high risk of lightning strikes?
Summer thunderstorm activity is directly linked to heat and atmospheric humidity. Indeed, the higher the temperatures rise, the faster cumulonimbus clouds develop and produce intense electrical discharges.
Several indicators point to a particularly active summer in 2026:
- May 30, 2026 : A storm cell in northern France produced more than one lightning flash per second — the most electrically charged storm in France since January 2026
- Superbolt of 440 kA recorded in Eure-et-Loir (May 30) — an exceptional intensity (only 0.1% of lightning flashes exceed 200 kA)
- Globally, Vaisala Xweather detected more than 2 billion lightning events in 2025 (Vaisala Annual Report, January 2026)
- According to climate models, each additional degree Celsius results in approximately 12% more lightning strikes.
In addition, industrial facilities, high-rise buildings and sensitive equipment are particularly exposed during this period.
Which installations are subject to the requirement for lightning protection?
The international standard IEC 62305 (adopted in countries applying European standards by the NF EN 62305 series) defines the risk assessment criteria and the required protection levels. Furthermore, the NF C 17-102 specifically addresses early streamer emission (ESE) lightning rods.
The structures concerned include, in particular:
- Publicly accessible establishments ( ERP): hotels, hospitals, schools, museums
- installations for environmental protection (ICPE) and SEVESO sites
- High-rise buildings and industrial buildings
- Sensitive technical installations : data centers, service stations, telecom antennas
- Residential buildings in areas with high lightning strike density (high Ng)
However, even buildings not subject to regulatory requirements can benefit from protection adapted to their actual risk, calculated according to IEC 62305-2.
How to assess the lightning risk to your building?
Risk assessment involves a standardized risk analysis according to IEC 62305-2. This study takes into account:
- The lightning strike density Ng of the site (impacts/km²/year), a key parameter of the IEC 62305 standard
- The equivalent collection surface area of the structure
- The use of the building and the nature of the potential damage
- The type of soil and the immediate environment (trees, neighboring buildings)
Furthermore, for managers of multi-site power plants, Nsg (lightning strike density above ground, including intranuclear lightning) is now available via Strike Radar — a solution developed by LPS France that integrates precise data from the Vaisala GLD360+ global network. This Nsg data allows for the refinement of keraunic reports and lightning strike certificates.
What lightning protection solutions are available for summer 2026?
1. Structural protection by ESE lightning rod
The Early Streamer Emission (ESE) lightning rod is the reference solution for protecting buildings, according to NF C 17-102. It offers a calculated protection radius (Rp) covering the entire structure to be protected.
Unlike a simple Franklin probe, a ESE triggers an artificial upward tracer ahead of natural tracers, giving it a wider protection radius. The Paraton@ir and Ellips from LPS France comply with NF C 17-102.
2. Real-time impact monitoring with Strike Radar
Strike Radar is a SaaS service for keraunic data that allows, among other things:
- To know every lightning strike within a defined perimeter around your installations
- To access certified Nsg data from the Vaisala GLD360+ network
- To generate keraunic reports and lightning strike certificates exportable in PDF format
- To automatically integrate this data into LPS Manager for case tracking
Therefore, Strike Radar is particularly useful for engineering firms, certified maintenance providers and multi-site park managers who need to justify the history of impacts to an insurer or a control body.
3. Preventive alerts with Sky Sentinel
Sky Sentinel is a real-time lightning warning system designed to protect people on site. Being warned 30 to 45 minutes before a storm arrives allows you to:
- Triggering HSE evacuation protocols on construction sites
- Securing outdoor workers on industrial sites
- Suspend outdoor events (festivals, sporting competitions)
Thus, Sky Sentinel complements structural protection by adding a human and preventive dimension to lightning risk management.
Pre-summer checklist: 5 priority actions
- Have your installation inspected — NF C 17-102 requires a check after each impact and a periodic check according to the level of protection (LPL I: annual, LPL II: biennial)
- Check the soil resistance — measured during a dry period (ideally late spring), it must be below the threshold values of the standard
- Check the down conductors — corrosion, electrical continuity, roof fixings
- Activate impact monitoring — via Strike Radar to see which lightning strikes have hit your facilities
- Set up a storm alert — via Sky Sentinel for sites with staff present outdoors
FAQ — Lightning protection summer 2026
How often should a lightning rod be checked?
According to NF C 17-102, an annual visual inspection is required for LPL I and II protection levels. In addition, a complete inspection (ground resistance measurements, continuity, etc.) is mandatory every 24 months (LPL I/II) or every 48 months (LPL III/IV). Furthermore, an unscheduled inspection is required after each detected lightning strike.
Is my building protected if I don't have a visible lightning rod?
Not necessarily. Only a risk assessment according to IEC 62305-2 can determine whether active protection is required. Some buildings with low exposure (low Ng, low-rise buildings in sparsely populated areas) may be exempt. However, sensitive electronic installations always require surge protection (SPDs – Surge Protective Devices).
What is the difference between a lightning rod and a surge protector?
An lightning rod (lightning protection) protects the structure from direct lightning strikes by capturing and diverting the lightning current to ground. An surge protector (lightning protection, also called SPD) protects electronic equipment from lightning-induced surges. Thus, the two devices are complementary according to IEC 62305.
Manage your lightning protection installations all year round with LPS Manager
Effective lightning protection also requires rigorous document management. Ultimately, LPS Manager is the SaaS platform dedicated to monitoring lightning protection installations: standardized files, verification reports, automatic impact alerts via Strike Radar, and complete traceability for your audits.
To install compliant lightning protection and monitor its performance, explore the lightning rods and protection systems available at lpsfr.com. Once your installation complies with IEC 62305, manage and schedule its maintenance with LPS Manager.
In conclusion, don't let summer 2026 catch you off guard: check your system, activate monitoring, and protect your teams now. Storm season is already here—and so are the solutions.
