Gazebos are great relaxing places, particularly when it is hot outside.
They provide great shade where you can unwind with a book or even drink beers with friends.
They are also great because they can protect against light rain and moderate winds.
Taking shelter under a metal gazebo when it is stormy, however, can pose a dangerous situation with risk of splashes of lightning.
For this reason, it is important to ground the gazebo to mitigate the risk of being electrocuted by lightning strike.
What to Expect? If you have a metal gazebo, and you are unsure whether your metal gazebo should be grounded; then this post is for you. By the end of this article, you should understand the importance of grounding your metal gazebo, and how to ground it.
Do Metal Gazebos Conduct Lightning?
Gazebos can be made from a variety of materials, such as wood and vinyl. However, most people prefer metal because it is incredibly durable.
While metal can be a durable material, it poses the risk of significant injury if people are underneath them during a thunderstorm.
So YES – Metal gazebos conduct lightning. Naturally, metals are excellent electrical conductors, and since lightning consists of electrical currents, metallic objects will pick up the currents and then subsequently conduct electricity from point A to point B.
There is a common myth that metal attracts lightning – it does not.
Attraction and conduction should not be confused as the same thing. In short, metals create a pathway for electricity to be conducted through.
Once a metal gazebo is struck by lightning, it will conduct the electric currents to the nearest available thing that is a good conductor of electricity.
Humans are mostly made up of water which is an excellent conductor of electricity.
So, if you are under and near a metal gazebo when there is lightning, you will be electrocuted because the electric currents will be conducted to you from the metal gazebo. This could result in electrocution or even death.
Importance Of Grounding A Metal Gazebo
As we previously established, metallic gazebos will absorb electrical currents and can injure people through conduction.
Grounding will reduce the chances of this happening because it will give the electrical currents from the lightning a low-resistance route to flow straight to the earth.
Following this, grounding will actually take the currents away from nearby individuals who would have originally absorbed the currents resulting in a potentially harmful situation.
Lightning can injure a person standing near a gazebo through an effect called a side flash.
This happens when lightning strikes a tall metallic object, the gazebo in this example, and the current jumps from the object to people standing in close proximity.
The more current, the higher chance for it to be fatal.
Key Takeaway – grounding deep into the earth collects most of the electrical current and decreases the chances of the electrical current injuring persons surrounding the object.
How Do You Ground a Metal Gazebo?
In simple terms, “grounding” means transferring energy from a building to the earth.
The material to use for grounding should be a good conductor of electriciy.
So, the first step to grounding a metal gazebo is to find the best material to transfer electric currents from the structure to the ground.
Step 1: Find the Best Material for Grounding
There are various materials you can use to ground a metal gazebo.
Copper is the easiest material. Copper rods are preferred among people because they are better conductors than other metals.
They are also effective at protecting humans and properties from electrical shocks.
There should be at least two ways for lightning to travel through the gazebo’s legs. The further down the rod in the soil, the more efficient it is.
So, the rod should be at least 6 inches deep in the soil. It should also be 4 by 4 feet so that it is secure.
Step 2: Drill the Holes
Typically, gazebos are built on a wooden or cement surface.
It of course would be easier to attach the rods correctly if the gazebo is located on bare earth.
However, in the event it is wood or cement, you would need to drill holes in the bottom of the legs of the gazebo so that the rods can go through.
I would recommend a hole saw you can find available at your nearby hardware store. Just be sure to drill deep enough for the hole you create.
Step 3: Clamp the Rods
You want to make sure your rods are really, really secure in the ground.
So, you should attach them to the gazebo legs once you have driven the rods down into the ground.
Also – you want the rods to continuously electrically connect to the metal gazebo, meaning there should be no separation between the two conductors.
The rods normally come with clamps inside the rod package.
Some rod packages may not come with clamps inside (which should not be a concern), but you should be able to purchase clamps at hardware stores.
The clamps can be installed up and down the sides of the gazebo legs, insert the rod through the clamps while keeping them loose, and then when you have adjusted and secured the rods to your liking, you can tighten the clamps.
Step 4: Drive the Rods into The Ground
Before you clamp the rods in place drive the rods into the ground at least 6 inches deep.
The more you can bury it the more earth is around the rod.
This prevents lightning electricity from traveling along the surface and harming you and anyone else in close proximity to the rod as a result of the lightning strike.
The deeper you are, also means the rod will be more substantial.
Should I Ground a Metal Gazebo If It Is Attached to Another Structure?
Most of the time, a gazebo is constructed to stand alone in the middle of a courtyard.
Some time it is attached to another structure, for example a house or other gazebo.
Grounding a metal gazebo attached to another structure depends on what the other structure is.
For instance – if the metal gazebo is attached to a house, then it will not need grounding because the house is a path for electrical currents from lightning.
For example, if the other structure is standalone and is not grounded, it would be a good idea to ground it.
Important note when grounding a gauzy: Grounding a metal gazebo does not make it 100% full-proof. It will be safer than one that is not grounded but it is not wise to shelter under one during a thunderstorm.
Yes, it does protect people against lightning strikes, but sometimes some of the electricity may still follow via other paths. The best way to stay safe during a thunderstorm is by staying indoors.
Final Thoughts
Gazebos are fantastic places for relaxing outdoors. Gazebos gives you shade on hot days, and provides cover while it rains lightly. But a metal gazebo is not safe when lightning storms happen.
Thunderstorms are accompanied by lightning, which can easily hit any metal objects. Because a metal gazebo is made from metals, it may be able to transmit lightning strike that may cause harm to an individual around the metal gazebo.
That is why it is a smart idea to ground a metal gazebo. Grounding allows electric currents to flow to the earth and reducing the risk of an injury through electric shock if a metal gazebo was struck by lightning.
Copper rods are best to be used for grounding. Copper rods should be buried in deep into the ground to work most effectively.
If your not very confident that you will do a good job, then it may be best to find a professional to do it for you.