Lightning protection and lighthouses

A significant proportion of lighthouses are built on rock with perhaps only a thin covering of soil making earthing inadequate and costly. Many lighthouses are built on remote headlands leading to long electricity and telephone cables, considerably increasing the lightning collection area. Being located in remote, exposed positions, lighthouses have always suffered the ravages of storms. It is not surprising, therefore, that lightning strikes have not previously given cause for concern. Here, the author examines the protection of lighthouses form lightning strikes. From these studies, and consultants´ reports, the author has produced a set of draft guidelines for the protection of aids to navigation from the effects of lightning