Mothers, children, firefighters, and those in both formal and informal housing were all victims of last year’s deadly Knysna fires. A separate image of a lone, partially-blinded horse walking along the N2 trying to get home summed up the devastation for many.[1]

These are just some of the reminders that return to the collective mindset when we think, nearly 18 months later, about the devastation caused by the Knysna fires of South Africa’s winter of 2017 - fires that were most probably caused by the deadly combination of a lightning strike, tinder-dry vegetation and blustering berg winds[2].

This is according to a recently released report from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The commentary provides great detail about last year’s deadly fires, which killed at least seven people and hundreds of animals, and which has been billed by the CSIR as “one of the worst fire disasters” in South Africa’s history.

The insurance bill for the Knysna fires was enormous. With around 600 homes destroyed, and more than 10, 000 people displaced, initial estimates for damage to property came in at between R4 and R6 billion[3]. It is a reminder of the need to protect your property – and with it the lives of your loved ones and animals – from the hugely destructive potential of a lightning strike.

Hano Oelofse, technical director at lightning and surge protection company DEHN Africa, says, “South Africa is a country with a high lightning ground flash density. Vast areas of our terrain are prone to the high possibility of a lightning strike at different times of the year, potentially affecting residents in both densely populated areas as well as more rural areas.

“A recent fire in the Pilanesberg National Park in September this year, which was apparently caused by human error[4], reminds us just how flammable dry grass really is. It is also just over 10 years ago now that the Pilanesberg was previously in the news because of a fire that, shockingly, burned most of the luxury KwaMaritane resort to the ground[5]. When we think that, like KwaMaritane, many of South Africa’s tourist lodges in our beautiful game parks are roofed with thatch in order to blend in better, for both aesthetic and environmental reasons, the need to protect both residential thatched homes as well as game lodges from the dangers of fire and lightning is very clear.”

Oelofse explains that the nature of lightning protection for thatched roofs has changed with improvements in technology. “DEHN Africa provides lightning protection system (LPS) components for use specifically on thatched roofs,” he clarifies, “and our high-voltage-resistant insulated (HVI) lightning protection system, which is compact and neat, removes the need to have a 30+ metre lightning rod installed to protect your thatched roof.

“It is far less visible to the naked eye than a mast, and therefore more visually pleasing for both the homeowner in an urban area, as well as the general environmental aspect in a game park. At the same time, however, the HVI system provides arguably even better protection from a lightning strike than a thirty-metre mast, and it is accepted by leading insurance companies.”

Oelofse says DEHN's LPS components for use specifically on thatched roofs are recommended for the following reasons:

The lightning current-carrying core of these conductors is coated with insulating material in such a way that the required separation distance to other conductive structural features or electric lines and pipes is easily maintained. There are no further measures required.

Flexibility and safety at the highest level are offered.

Appearance and design is becoming increasingly important for modern buildings.

HVI® conductors can be installed behind the façade, while HVI® conductors with grey sheathing can even be painted the same colour as the building.

For the client (home-owner and architect) this means optimal adjustment to the architecture of the building and completely new design possibilities.

Installation takes place directly next to conductive structural parts or electric lines or pipes.

Additionally, these LPS components for use specifically on thatched roofs are easy to mount – with the modular components and the use of special tools, such as the HVI®-Strip, mounting is safe, quick and easy.

The LPS components are also flexible when retrofitting, and subsequent installation on the roof is possible without adapting the lightning protection system.

“With the arrival of summer once more, which brings with it South Africa’s main lightning season across vast tracts of our country, it’s time to think again about lightning protection for your property. DEHN Africa has been involved in a number of installations for lighting protection systems for thatched roofs, and in this regard, we will be launching a new and exciting initiative in the near future. Nobody can prevent lightning, one of nature’s most exciting yet deadly phenomena, from occurring, but with today’s technology there is much that we can do to make even thatch roofing safe from its awesome yet deadly power,” concludes Oelofse.