Identify which system the drawings show (integral, catenary, mast, or a mix), then trace air terminals and roof conductors on the roof plan, down conductors on the elevations, and ground rods, ground ring, and test wells on the site or grounding plan against the articles the specification retains. Check roof attachment against the roofing details and confirm the test point and third-party inspection requirements are reflected in the project.
Assemble the review package
Gather the lightning protection roof plan and details, the building elevations, the site plan showing masts, poles, fences, and covered walkways, the grounding plan, the roofing plans and coping details, the electrical one-line showing surge protective devices at the service, and the issued Section 26 41 00 with Section 26 20 00. For work on an existing facility, also gather the existing lightning protection drawings and the tie-in points.
WBDG publishes UFGS 26 41 00: Lightning Protection System as a public guide-specification reference (accessed October 18, 2026). Use your project’s issued specification and amendments for the actual comparison; the guide specification does not automatically govern your project. The checklist below is an original suggested review workflow, not a reproduction of the UFGS requirements.
Eight checks to run against the issued set
Use one record per location or system. The CSV contains the same eight prompts plus fields for source revisions, observed evidence, the review owner, the decision, and closure references.
| Check | Sources to compare | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| System type | Lightning Protection Systems article + roof plan + site plan | Do the drawings show the same system type the specification retains (integral, catenary, mast, or a combination), and are tie-in points shown where an existing system is extended? |
| Air terminals and roof conductors | Air Terminals on Integral Systems and Roof Conductors articles + roof plan | Are the location and height of each air terminal shown, with roof conductors routed to down conductors? |
| Roof attachment | Roof-Mounted Components article + roofing details | Do the details avoid attaching to the roof coping, and does the specification require the roofing manufacturer’s warranty certification the article describes? |
| Down conductors | Down Conductors article + elevations | Are down conductors located on the elevations with the paths to ground the section requires, protection shown where they are exposed to damage, and none concealed where visual inspection would be lost? |
| Ground rods, ring, and test wells | Ground Connections and Installation of Grounding Electrodes (Ground Rods) articles + grounding plan | Are ground rods, any ground ring electrode, and a test well at each down conductor termination shown, with their placement relative to the foundation and drip line? |
| Catenary and mast systems | Catenary Lightning Protection System and Mast Lightning Protection System articles + site plan | Where masts or a catenary are used, are mast locations drawn and is the rolling sphere proof of protection required before masts are sized or ordered? |
| Fences, walkways, and other structures | Fences and Personnel Ramps and Covered Passageways articles + site plan | Are fence and gate bonding details drawn where fences come near the system, and are covered passageways outside the zone of protection addressed? |
| Electrical grounding, surge, and testing | System Requirements and Lightning Protection Systems Testing articles + one-line | Is the surge protection the system relies on specified in Section 26 20 00 and shown at the service, and does the project carry the test point sketch and third-party inspection the section requires? |
Worked example: roof conductors fastened to the coping
Illustrative example: the lightning protection roof plan runs the perimeter conductor along the parapet with clips detailed on the top of the metal coping. Section 26 41 00 does not allow connections or attachments to the coping system, and the roofing details show no alternative fastening for the conductor.
Ask the electrical engineer and the architect to relocate the conductor and fastening off the coping, with a detail the roofing manufacturer will accept, then update the roof plan and the roofing details together. Recheck air terminal bases and any adhesive fasteners on the same roof against the roof-mounted components article.
Avoid a false conflict
A lightning protection roof plan can look complete and still leave the grounding, test wells, and bonding to the specification. Check the site and grounding plans as closely as the roof.
When requirements disagree, follow the project’s document-control and clarification process. Do not assume that drawings always override specifications, or the reverse. Identify the exact sources and request an authorized decision.
Close the issue across the affected documents
Record the location or tag, drawing and specification references, issue dates, observed difference, and the decision needed. Assign an owner and keep the item open until the response identifies the governing requirement. Check the revised drawings and specification references together; a response email alone may leave the issued package inconsistent.
For the overall process, use the guide to drawing and specification conflicts. Mark an inapplicable checklist row with a reason, and distinguish a verified correction from a question that still needs design information.
Where Groundbook fits
Groundbook’s drawing and specification review helps investigate potential disagreements in the documents you supply. Include the relevant specification sections and drawing references, then verify the cited evidence with the responsible reviewers before acting on a finding.