Lightning conductors (overhead ground wires) are typically made of iron, whereas lightning rods are made of copper (or sometimes silver). A lightning rod points skyward, while the lightning conductor connects the rod to a buried grounding grid. During thunderstorm seasons, lightning travels from the sky through the rod and conductor into the buried grid, thereby dissipating the strike and protecting buildings or equipment.
These components are widely used on structures such as buildings, transformer utility poles, equipment rooms, and transmission towers.
Lightning conductors fall into two main categories based on cross-sectional shape: round and flat. They are further classified by the combination of cladding and base metals-such as lead-clad steel, lead-clad copper, and copper-clad steel.
Lightning rods are installed on high-rise buildings, chimneys, or oil storage tanks and are connected to the grounding system via down-conductors (often lightning conductors). A rod assembly consists of the rod itself and the mounting hardware. The rod tip is typically made of stainless steel, while the rod body utilizes a copper-clad steel round bar or a steel pipe as the base material.
A lightning protection strip (or band) refers to a conductor installed along areas most vulnerable to lightning strikes, such as roof ridges, gables, ventilation ducts, and the edges of flat roofs. For large roof areas, a lightning protection mesh (grid) is used instead. These systems protect the building's exterior surface from lightning damage. Galvanized round steel or flat steel is recommended for meshes and strips; round steel is preferred, with a minimum diameter of 8 mm, while flat steel should be at least 12 mm wide and 4 mm thick. Lightning conductors are also used for the lightning protection of long-distance high-voltage power lines; galvanized steel strands with a cross-sectional area exceeding 35 mm² are recommended for overhead lightning conductors and meshes.