Lightning Protection Inspection & Annual Certification
A lightning protection inspection is a periodic check of the whole system — air terminals, conductors, joints, earthing and bonding — against its original design and BS EN 62305, finished with a written report and a dated certificate. Earthing Equipment Supplies Southern Ltd carries out annual inspections and recertification for commercial, industrial, healthcare, heritage and residential buildings across Reading, London and the South of England.
Every visit includes the electrical readings described on our lightning protection testing page. The inspection adds what readings alone cannot show: the condition of every component, changes to the building since the last visit, and whether the system still matches what was designed. The result is the certificate your insurer, building manager or landlord asks for.
What a Lightning Protection Inspection Covers
The engineer works from the roof down to the earth electrodes and records each finding with a photograph, so the report can be compared year on year.
Records and Drawings Review
Previous certificates, as-fitted drawings, the risk assessment and the protection class the system was designed to. Where records are missing, we survey the system and create a baseline.
Air Termination
Air rods, roof tape and roof conductors checked for displacement, corrosion, storm damage and coverage, including any plant added to the roof since the last inspection.
Down Conductors and Fixings
Routing, spacing, fixing bands, joints and test clamps, plus signs of mechanical damage, vandalism or theft of copper.
Earth Termination
Electrode chambers and connections inspected, with earth resistance readings recorded against previous results to show any deterioration over time.
Bonding to New Metalwork
Aerials, air handling units, chillers, solar arrays and pipework installed since the last visit, checked for bonding or adequate separation distance.
Surge Protection Devices
Condition and status indicators of installed SPDs, with failed units flagged for replacement in the report.
How the measurements are taken is explained on our lightning conductor testing page.
When a Lightning Protection System Needs Inspecting
Initial Inspection
After a new installation, or when you take over a building with an existing system. It creates the baseline every later inspection is compared against.
Periodic Annual Inspection
The routine inspection that keeps your certificate current and shows deterioration before it becomes a failure.
After a Strike or Storm Damage
Same-day attendance across Reading and Berkshire and next-day across Greater London, because strike damage is often hidden underground or inside connections.
After Building Work or a Change of Use
New roof plant, extensions, solar panels or changes to the building’s contents can alter the protection the system needs to provide.
Lightning Protection Inspection Frequency: How Often Is It Needed?
In UK practice, annual inspection is the norm, and it is the interval most insurers and ATLAS members work to. BS EN 62305-3 sets maximum intervals that depend on the protection class and how the building is used, so if your risk assessment or insurance schedule asks for shorter intervals, follow those.
| Situation | Recommended inspection |
|---|---|
| Standard commercial, public and residential systems | Every 12 months (we book at 11 months to vary the season) |
| Coastal, industrial, biogas and ATEX sites | Every 6 months |
| Hospitals, schools, data centres and other critical sites | As set by the risk assessment and insurer, often 6 to 12 months |
| After a lightning strike | As soon as possible |
| After building work or new roof plant | Before the next scheduled visit |
| New installation or change of contractor | Initial inspection at handover or takeover |
Standards and Responsibilities for Building Owners
BS EN 62305-3 covers the inspection and maintenance of lightning protection systems and is the benchmark UK inspectors and insurers work to. Regulation 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (HSE guidance) requires electrical systems to be maintained so as to prevent danger. No UK regulation names one inspection date for every building, so in practice the interval comes from the standard, your insurer and your lease.
A missing or out-of-date certificate can lead to:
- Questions from your insurer at renewal or claim
- Delays in a sale, lease or refinancing
- Difficulty showing the duty holder has maintained the system
- Deterioration going unnoticed until the system is needed
As full members of the Association of Technical Lightning & Access Specialists (ATLAS), we inspect to BS EN 62305 and record our findings in a format insurers and building managers recognise.
Annual Lightning Protection Certification and Recertification
The certificate is the written record that the system was inspected, what was found and when the next inspection is due. We issue it with the report within 5 working days of the visit.
What the Certificate and Report Contain
System description and location, inspection date, test readings, photographs, defects graded Urgent, Important or Advisory, and the next inspection due date.
Overdue or Expired Certificates
A lapsed certificate does not mean starting again, but a system left for several years often needs remedial work first. We inspect, report what is required and recertify once it is done.
Recertification After Repair
Once defects are corrected, the affected items are re-inspected and your record is updated, so the file shows the failure and the fix.
Systems With No Records
New owner, new tenant or an installer who no longer trades: we survey the system, document it and set the baseline for future annual certificates.
Lightning Protection Inspection and Testing: What Is the Difference?
The two are carried out on the same visit, but they answer different questions.
| Inspection | Testing | |
|---|---|---|
| Question answered | Is the whole system complete, in good condition and still matching its design? | Do the electrical measurements meet the required values? |
| What is examined | Records, air terminals, conductors, joints, fixings, bonding to new metalwork, SPD condition | Continuity of each conductor path, earth electrode resistance (target below 10Ω), bonding resistance |
| Result | Condition report, graded recommendations and dated certificate | Measured values recorded against previous readings |
How Our Inspection Process Works
Book and Review Records
We ask for previous certificates and drawings and agree site access. Booking 11 months after the last visit keeps the seasons varied.
Inspect on Site
Our engineer works from roof level to the earth electrodes with calibrated instruments, photographing each finding.
Report and Certificate
You receive the report, graded recommendations and certificate within 5 working days, with your next due date stated.
Remedial Work and Re-inspection
Defects are quoted separately. After repairs, we re-inspect the work and update your record.
Lightning Protection Inspection Costs
The fee covers the inspection, electrical readings, photographic report and certificate. Remedial work is quoted separately and in writing before anything starts.
Single Inspection Visit
- Simple residential (1–2 conductors) £200 – £275
- Standard residential (3–4 conductors) £275 – £350
- Small commercial £295 – £450
- Large commercial £450 – £800
- Industrial facilities £800 – £1,500+
Contracts and Additional Visits
- Multi-site annual contract (5+ sites) From £4,000/yr
- Priority scheduling and annual reminders Included
- Recertification of an overdue system Quoted after survey
- Re-inspection after remedial work Quoted on request
- Post-strike inspection Same-day Reading
All prices exclude VAT. Final price depends on the number of conductors, building height and site location, and is confirmed in writing before the visit.
Why Choose Earthing Equipment Supplies for Lightning Protection Inspection?
We have inspected and tested lightning protection systems for commercial, industrial, healthcare and heritage clients across Reading, London and the South of England for over 25 years.
Independent, Qualified Inspection
Our reporting is independent: you are never obliged to use us for the remedial work our report identifies.
- NVQ Level 2/3 qualified lightning protection engineers
- CSCS registered operatives
- Calibrated test equipment traceable to national standards
- Full ATLAS members
- 2,000+ system inspections completed
- Systems installed by other companies inspected and certified
- Same-day response in Reading and Berkshire, next-day in London
- Automatic reminder before your next inspection is due
ATLAS Membership
Full membership of the Association of Technical Lightning & Access Specialists, the trade body for lightning protection contractors in the UK.
£10M Public Liability Insurance
Every visit is covered by £10 million public liability and professional indemnity insurance. Documentation is available before work begins.
Programmes for Large Estates
The electrical supervisor of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has used us for around four years to complete annual lightning protection work across high- and low-rise buildings in the Trust.
Clear Reporting
Photographs, readings compared with previous years, graded recommendations and a stated next due date in every report.
Lightning Protection Inspection — Frequently Asked Questions
What is a lightning protection inspection?
A lightning protection inspection is a periodic check of the complete system for condition, completeness and compliance with BS EN 62305. The engineer reviews previous records and drawings, inspects the air terminals, conductors, joints, earth connections, bonding and surge protection, takes electrical readings and records everything in a written report. If the system meets the standard, a dated certificate is issued with the next inspection due date.
How often should a lightning protection system be inspected?
Most systems are inspected every 12 months, and we recommend booking at 11 months so that visits fall in different seasons. Coastal, industrial, biogas and ATEX sites are normally inspected every 6 months. An extra inspection is advisable after a lightning strike, storm damage or building work that affects the roof or services. BS EN 62305-3 sets maximum intervals that depend on protection class and building use, so follow the interval in your risk assessment or insurance schedule if it is shorter.
What is the difference between lightning protection inspection and testing?
Testing measures electrical performance, such as continuity and earth resistance. Inspection looks at the physical condition of the whole system, whether it is complete, what has changed in the building and whether it still matches its design, and uses the test readings as evidence. Our visits include both, so you receive one report and one certificate. The measurement methods are described on our lightning protection testing page.
How does annual lightning protection certification work?
After the inspection you receive a written report with photographs, graded recommendations and a certificate showing the inspection date, the results and the next due date. Both are issued within 5 working days of the visit. If a system does not meet the standard on the day, the report records it and a re-inspection after repairs closes the item out, so your records show the system restored.
What is lightning protection recertification and when is it needed?
Recertification means re-inspecting a system and issuing a fresh certificate when the previous one has expired, can no longer be found, or no longer reflects the system because of repairs or alterations. It is common after a change of owner, tenant, insurer or maintenance contractor. A system that has been overdue for several years often needs remedial work first, so we inspect, report what is required and certify once the work is complete.
What happens if my system fails the inspection?
The report lists each defect with a photograph and a priority grade of Urgent, Important or Advisory. Remedial work is quoted separately in writing and you are under no obligation to use us for it, because our reporting is independent. If you do choose our lightning protection repair and upgrading team, we re-inspect the repaired items afterwards and update your certificate.
How much does a lightning protection inspection cost?
Inspection with readings, report and certificate starts from £200 for a simple system and rises with the number of conductors, building height and site complexity. Typical ranges are £275 to £350 for a standard residential system, £295 to £450 for a small commercial building, £450 to £800 for large commercial premises and £800 to £1,500 or more for industrial sites. Prices exclude VAT. Multi-site annual contracts start from £4,000 per year for five or more sites.
Can you inspect a system installed by another company?
Yes. We inspect and certify systems regardless of who installed them. If the original drawings and previous certificates are missing, we survey the system, record its condition and layout, and use that as the baseline for future annual inspections.
Do I need an inspection after a lightning strike or building work?
Yes. A strike can damage underground earth electrodes, burn out surge protection devices internally and loosen connections without any visible sign. Building work such as new roof plant, extensions or solar panels can also leave metalwork unbonded or outside the protected zone. We offer same-day inspection across Reading and Berkshire and next-day inspection across Greater London.
Is lightning protection inspection a legal requirement?
No UK regulation sets one fixed inspection date for every building. Regulation 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires electrical systems to be maintained so as to prevent danger, BS EN 62305 is the recognised benchmark for lightning protection, and most insurers and commercial leases ask for a current certificate. Requirements can be stricter for high-risk premises, so check your policy and risk assessment. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Will the inspection disrupt my building?
Very little. Most of the work is external, on the roof and around the earth electrodes, and we agree access and timing with you beforehand. A typical visit takes between 3 and 6 hours depending on the size and complexity of the system.
Related Lightning Protection Services
Book Your Annual Lightning Protection Inspection
Whether you manage one building or a portfolio, we can set up an inspection programme that keeps your certificates current and your insurer satisfied. Call 0118 976 0239 or request a free written quote online.
This page is general guidance and not legal or insurance advice. Inspection requirements depend on your building, its protection class, your insurer and your lease; please confirm them against your risk assessment and policy. Last reviewed 5 October 2026.
