Lightning protection: how often, and why insurers care

Updated 29 July 2026 · 4 min read

The short version: a lightning protection system should be inspected roughly every four years, and always after a strike or after any work on the roof. Czech law does not force this on an owner-occupied house — the interval comes from the standard ČSN EN 62305 — but insurers routinely decline lightning claims where there is no valid inspection report. Lightning damage is among the most expensive a house can suffer.

Lightning protection is the classic invisible system. It works silently for years, you never think about it, and then it decides whether a summer storm costs you nothing or costs you the entire contents of your house.

How often

Houses built since roughly 2009 follow the standard ČSN EN 62305. The interval depends on the protection class of the installation and is generally between two and four years, with four years being typical for a family house. It is not a statutory obligation for a dwelling you occupy yourself — it is a technical standard and an insurance expectation.

When an inspection is needed outside the cycle

After every strike on or near the building. A conductor can be damaged in a way that is invisible from the ground while no longer protecting anything.
After any work on the roof — new covering, insulation, solar panels, a satellite dish or an aerial. All of these can interrupt the system or introduce a new path for a strike.
After adding solar PV, which is worth singling out: panels are metal on the highest part of the building and change the situation materially.

The cheapest photograph you will take

After a storm, walk around the house and photograph the down conductors and their fixings, with the date. If a claim follows later, dated photographs of a system in good order are worth a great deal — and they take a minute.

Damage from a strike — destroyed electronics, a burnt-out installation, a roof fire — is among the costliest a Czech house can suffer. Insurers commonly decline or reduce such claims where no valid inspection report exists. One report every four years is a very small price for that protection.

Who may carry it out

A certified inspection technician for electrical installations. Lightning protection is treated as part of the electrical world, not as roofing, so the same register applies — see how to verify a Czech tradesperson.

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General information about Czech rules as of 2026, not legal advice. Requirements depend on your specific property and can change. Where it matters, follow the applicable regulations and consult a qualified professional.