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Lightning protection inspection and testing record
An inspection and earth test record for a lightning protection system. Record the test instrument, the protection level from the system records and whether there has been a lightning strike. Check the air terminations, down conductors, joints and test clamps, bonding, surge protection devices and records, with a detail box for each defect. Add each earth electrode's resistance against its previous reading, and record the result, repairs and next inspection. Every question is listed below, and you can fill the live form in on this page.
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How often should lightning protection be tested?
BS EN 62305-3 covers the inspection and maintenance of lightning protection systems, including air terminations, down conductors and earth terminations. GOV.UK guidance for schools says the standard recommends that all lightning protection systems are inspected and tested at least annually, with a qualified engineer checking that joints and bonds are not corroded and still have electrical continuity.
Last updated . Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 17 October 2026 against BSI: BS EN 62305-3, protection against lightning: physical damage to structures and life hazard, GOV.UK: good estate management for schools, health and safety (lightning protection) and BSI: BS 6651:1999, protection of structures against lightning (withdrawn).
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Every question in the lightning protection template
A lightning protection inspection and test record: system and protection level, air terminations, down conductors, bonds and joints, each earth electrode's resistance, surge protection, damage and repairs. 3 sections and 58 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.
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This is a starting point, not a fixed form. Once it is in your SiteSurvey account you can reword any question, add or remove questions, sections and answer options, and add your own logo, so it fits the way your team works and the jobs you do.
Details you only enter once
Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.
- Project: the project name
- Client: the project's customer
- Site: the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site address: the site address, from the space or the project
System
- ProjectShort answerFills in from the project name
- ClientShort answerFills in from the project's customer
- Site*Short answerFills in from the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site addressShort answerFills in from the site address, from the space or the project
- Test date*Date
- TimeTime
- Engineer*Short answer
- Earth tester and calibration dateShort answer
- Lightning protection level (from the system records)Choose one
- I
- II
- III
- IV
- Not known (older BS 6651 system)
- Has the building had a lightning strike since the last inspection?Yes or No
- CheckRecord when the strike happened and any damage seen, so the affected parts can be checked.Shown when “Has the building had a lightning strike since the last inspection?” is Yes
- When, and what damage was seenShort answerShown when “Has the building had a lightning strike since the last inspection?” is Yes
- GuidanceBS EN 62305-3 covers the inspection and maintenance of lightning protection systems. GOV.UK guidance for schools says it recommends inspection and testing at least annually, with joints and bonds checked for corrosion and electrical continuity. BS 6651, the earlier standard, was withdrawn in 2008. BS EN 62305-3, Annex E (Table E.2), gives the maximum intervals by lightning protection level: levels I and II, visual inspection every year and complete inspection every 2 years; levels III and IV, visual inspection every 2 years and complete inspection every 4 years. Critical systems need a complete inspection every year. Inspect after any lightning strike.
- Walk Cam: roof and elevationsWalk Cam video with voice-to-text
Optional. Film a guided walk-through on the SiteSurvey app.
- Weather captureAnswer
Record estimated current conditions and add what you observe on site.
Visual inspection
- Air terminations and roof conductorsChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Air terminations and roof conductors” is “Defect”
- Down conductors and fixingsChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Down conductors and fixings” is “Defect”
- Joints, bonds and test clampsChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Joints, bonds and test clamps” is “Defect”
- Bonding to roof plant and metalworkChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Bonding to roof plant and metalwork” is “Defect”
- Surge protection devicesChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Surge protection devices” is “Defect”
- Drawings and test records availableChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answerShown when “Drawings and test records available” is “Defect”
- PhotosPhotos
- Visual items with a defectWorked out by the form
Earth electrodes
- Resistance limit for each test point (ohms)Number
From the system design, the records or the test specification. BS EN 62305-3 recommends a low earthing resistance, below 10 ohms where possible, measured at low frequency.
- Earth electrodesRepeat for each electrode. Each one asks:
- Test point*Short answer
- Test point positionShort answer
Mark current location at the test clamp or inspection pit, so the next test finds the same point.
- Resistance (ohms)*Number
- Previous reading (ohms)Number
- Change since the last test (ohms)Worked out by the formShown when “Resistance (ohms)” is answered and “Previous reading (ohms)” is answered
- Against the limitWorked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- ResultChoose one
- Pass
- Fail
- NotesShort answerShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Photo of the test pointPhotos
- Test points recordedWorked out by the form
- Above the limitWorked out by the form
- Higher than last timeWorked out by the form
- Highest reading (ohms)Worked out by the form
- Electrodes failedWorked out by the form
- CheckOne or more test points read above the limit you entered. Check the clamp and the electrode, and record the repair or further testing below.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Overall result*Choose one
- Satisfactory
- Repairs needed
- Repairs neededNotesShown when “Overall result” is “Repairs needed”
- Defects foundRepeat for each defect. Each one asks:
- Component*Choose one
- Air termination
- Roof conductor
- Down conductor
- Joint, bond or test clamp
- Earth electrode
- Bonding to plant or metalwork
- Surge protection device
- Records
- Other
- DefectNotes
- PriorityChoose one
- Urgent
- High
- Medium
- Low
- Who will put it rightShort answer
- Due byDate
- PhotosPhotos
- Defects recordedWorked out by the form
- UrgentWorked out by the form
- Next inspection dueDate
- Days to the next inspectionWorked out by the formShown when “Test date” is answered and “Next inspection due” is answered
- CheckThe next inspection date is before the test date. Check the date.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- CheckThe next inspection is further away than the BS EN 62305-3 maximum for a complete inspection at this protection level. Check the date.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Site contact nameShort answer
- Site contact signatureSignature
- Completed by*Short answer
- SignatureSignature
See it filled in
A completed lightning protection report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.
Lightning protection FAQs
What is tested?
The resistance of each earth electrode, measured at the test points, compared with the previous readings. A sharp rise is worth investigating.
What is checked visually?
Air terminations and roof conductors, down conductors and fixings, joints, bonds and test clamps, bonding to roof plant and metalwork, surge protection devices, and that drawings and records exist.
What about older systems?
Many older systems were designed to BS 6651, which BSI withdrew in August 2008. Record the protection level if the records give it, or note it as an older system.
Which standard is current?
BSI lists BS EN 62305-3:2011 as current, under review, and BS EN IEC 62305-3:2024 is now available. Agree with your engineer which edition the system is inspected against.
What if there has been a strike?
Record when it happened and any damage seen, so the engineer can check the affected parts.
Who uses this?
Lightning protection engineers, steeplejacks, facilities managers and church and heritage building managers.
Related
Related templates
Templates that go with the lightning protection form
Site record for a periodic inspection: installation details, extent and limitations, supply and earthing, boards, schedule of circuits and test results, coded observations with photos, and the overall assessment.
A roof anchor, eyebolt and safety line inspection: each anchor device with its type and location, visual and fixing checks, test where required, label, pass or withdrawn, and the next examination date.
Planned maintenance visit: records seen, asset by asset tasks, water temperatures, work done and next visit.
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