The UK has experienced some remarkable weather during 2026, from record-breaking temperatures to intense thunderstorms and lightning.
For building owners, facilities managers and property professionals, the events of the past few months provide a timely reminder that lightning protection should not be overlooked.
A summer of extreme weather
In June, around 29,000 lightning strikes were recorded across southern England during a period of intense thunderstorms. The storms brought heavy rainfall, flash flooding and disruption across parts of the country, while a house in Bristol was also badly damaged by a lightning-related fire.
The summer weather did not stop there.
On 27 August, severe thunderstorms affected parts of southern England. At London Luton Airport, a lightning strike affected air traffic control equipment, temporarily suspending airport operations and causing cancellations and diversions. The incident demonstrated how the effects of lightning can extend beyond the immediate point of impact, particularly where buildings and infrastructure rely on electrical and communications systems.
These events highlight the potential for severe weather and lightning to affect buildings, infrastructure and the systems businesses rely on.
What happens when lightning strikes?
Lightning carries an enormous electrical current. When a building is struck directly, that current needs a controlled path to earth.
Without appropriate protection, lightning current can travel through parts of a building where it may cause damage to structural materials, electrical installations and other conductive systems.
Potential consequences can include:
Fire and structural damage
Damage to electrical installations
Failure of electronic equipment
Damage to communications and data systems
Disruption to essential building services
Damage to roofing and other building components
Lightning does not always need to strike a building directly to cause problems. Nearby strikes can also create electrical surges that may affect sensitive equipment and systems.
For modern commercial buildings, where businesses increasingly rely on IT, telecommunications, security, fire detection and building management systems, this is an important consideration.
How does lightning protection work?
A lightning protection system (LPS) is designed to intercept a lightning strike and provide a controlled path for the electrical current to discharge safely to earth.
Depending on the design, a system may include air termination conductors, down conductors, test joints, earth electrodes and bonding connections.
The aim is to control the path of the lightning current and reduce the risk of it passing through parts of the building where it could cause damage.
However, simply having a lightning conductor installed does not necessarily mean that a building remains adequately protected.
A lightning protection system needs to be appropriately designed, correctly installed and maintained in suitable condition.
Is your existing lightning protection system still effective?
An existing lightning protection system should not simply be assumed to remain effective indefinitely.
Systems are exposed to the weather throughout their working life, meaning components can deteriorate through corrosion, accidental damage and general wear and tear.
Building works can also affect an existing system. Roofing works, extensions, new plant, alterations and refurbishment may require conductors or other components to be moved, modified or replaced.
Regular inspection and testing can help identify issues such as:
Damaged or corroded conductors
Loose or missing fixings
Damaged test joints
Problems with earth connections
Issues with bonding arrangements
Changes to the building that may have affected the system
BS EN 62305 provides the recognised framework for lightning protection and takes a risk-based approach to determining appropriate protection measures for individual buildings.
Where defects are identified, remedial works can often address individual problems without requiring the entire system to be replaced.
Is climate change changing the risk?
Summer 2026 has been exceptional. The Met Office has confirmed that summer 2026 was provisionally the UK's warmest summer on record, with a mean temperature of 16.5°C. The organisation's climate attribution analysis found that human-induced climate change made a summer of this type around 130 times more likely than it would have been in a climate unaffected by human emissions.
The record-breaking heat was accompanied by periods of intense rainfall and thunderstorms, illustrating the range of weather conditions buildings and infrastructure may need to withstand.
This does not mean that every individual storm or lightning event can be directly attributed to climate change. However, the broader trend towards warmer UK summers provides an important reason for building owners and facilities managers to consider whether existing protection and critical building systems remain suitable.
Don't wait for the next storm
The events of 2026 have shown how quickly severe weather and lightning can affect buildings, businesses and critical infrastructure.
A lightning protection system is designed to provide protection when it is needed most, but only if it has been properly designed, installed and maintained.
For commercial, industrial and heritage properties, regular inspection and testing can help identify deterioration, damage or changes to the building that may affect the existing system.
Addressing issues early can also help avoid more extensive remedial work following a lightning strike or during future building alterations.
Spotlight Construction's Lightning Protection Services
At Spotlight Construction, we provide specialist lightning protection services for commercial, industrial and heritage properties.
Our services include:
Lightning protection inspections and testing
Maintenance
Remedial works
New lightning protection installations
Associated specialist access and building works
We take a practical approach to each project, assessing the existing system and the requirements of the building before recommending an appropriate solution.
Whether you require a routine inspection, remedial works or a new lightning protection installation, our team can help.
Is your building protected?
If you're responsible for a commercial, industrial or heritage property and are unsure whether your lightning protection system remains suitable, contact Spotlight Construction to discuss an inspection or assessment.