4. SPF maintenance

It is a common misconception that, once installed, an SPF requires no maintenance. If routine maintenance of an SPF is negligible, or even non-existent, defective parts should be replaced, whether due to excessive lightning strikes, corrosion, work in the SPF's environment (e.g. roof sealing, ground work) or any other cause such as wind or vibration.

An annual visit is a good practice to view all SPF components and decide whether or not to replace them if they are damaged. This visit also enables us to observe any modifications to the protected structure, which may have changed. It is not uncommon to see antenna masts installed since the last visit, extending beyond the lightning conductor (when the antenna is not directly attached to the lightning conductor), or a building extension that is no longer covered.

The periodic visual inspection...