The basis of conventional lightning protection systems

The study of lightning protection system design encompasses nearly 300 years. Yet, many of the original sources for common design practices used today remain obscure. This paper traces the significant developments in lightning protection from the late 1700s to the modern day. Emphasis is placed on significant events in the history that have had direct consequences in the establishment of design practices for lightning protection. It is also demonstrated that many of the design practices used today were subject to significant scrutiny and empirical qualification. Our intent is to familiarize the student of lightning protection design with the original literature, testing, and other noteworthy contributions to the design of effective lightning protection systems.