Cloud to Ground Ltd was appointed to deliver the lightning protection element of a major roofing replacement project at Preston College, working alongside the experienced roofing team at K. Pendlebury & Sons and IKO, the commercial roofing materials manufacturer.
With the college experiencing historic water ingress issues, K. Pendlebury & Sons and IKO were engaged to undertake a detailed assessment of the existing roofing system. The survey identified that the ageing liquid waterproofing system had reached the end of its serviceable life and that a complete roofing replacement and upgrade was required.
The roofing works were designed to meet the relevant requirements of Part L of the UK Building Regulations and BS 6229, the UK Code of Practice covering the design, specification, construction and maintenance of flat and curved roofs using continuously supported flexible waterproof coverings.
As part of the wider roofing project, the existing lightning protection system was also assessed. Originally installed to BS 6651:1999, the ageing installation had suffered significant deterioration, with damaged, distorted and fractured conductors, as well as loose and broken components in several locations.
Rather than simply replacing individual damaged sections, and reinstalling the aged conductors, as requested, Cloud to Ground Ltd worked closely with the K. Pendlebury & Sons to develop a solution that would complement the new roof installation while delivering a high-quality, reliable lightning protection system.
Our ATLAS-accredited lightning protection designers and NVQ-qualified engineers carried out a detailed assessment of the existing installation and designed a new air termination arrangement. The existing, damaged roof conductors were removed and replaced with new, colour-coordinated PVC-coated lightning conductors, roofing material compatible clips to ensure the material and future warranty was protected, providing both a robust technical solution and a clean, professionally finished appearance across the newly installed roof.
Working Together for a Quality Finish
Close coordination between the roofing and lightning protection teams was essential to the success of the project. With a new high-quality roofing system being installed, it was important that the lightning protection installation complemented the workmanship of the K. Pendlebury & Sons rather than compromising the finished roof.
Cloud to Ground Ltd worked alongside K. Pendlebury & Sons throughout the project, carefully coordinating conductor routes, fixings and installation details with the new roofing system. This collaborative approach ensured that the finished installation was both technically effective and aesthetically sympathetic to the completed roof.
Working within a live educational environment also brought additional considerations. Our teams coordinated closely with the college and roofing contractors to ensure the works were carried out safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption to students, teaching staff and the college’s day-to-day activities.
The project included the installation of a new roof-level air termination system, providing electrical continuity between the existing down conductors and the Type A earthing system. Following completion, the installation was tested and verified to confirm the integrity and effectiveness of the lightning protection system.
The Result
The completed project has provided Preston College with a modernised roofing system and a fully renewed lightning protection air termination installation, working together as part of one coordinated solution.
The quality of the roofing works, combined with the specialist installation and attention to detail provided by Cloud to Ground Ltd, has resulted in a professional finished roof with a reliable lightning protection system designed to provide long-term protection for the college, its buildings and the people who use them every day.
A great example of specialist contractors working together to deliver quality workmanship, safe installation and a finished project built to perform for years to come.
