HOW THE BURJ KHALIFA IS DUBAI'S LIGHTNING ROD

Here is how the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, is Dubai's lightning rod.

Presenter and engineer, Richard Hammond, takes us on a rather unique journey to Dubai. His trip is not exactly to sample its exquisite luxuries, but rather to visit arguably the most impressive site viewing spot in the entire world, the absolute highest point of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building on Earth.

Now, tall buildings and lightning storms are not exactly friends. Lightning charges always try to find the fastest route down to the ground, so that makes tall buildings a threat in storms unless some clever engineering is applied.

The Burj Khalifa was designed to carry a positively charged lightning strike from a connecting point at the tallest spot right through the outer framework of the building, which, like an enormous Faraday Cage, protects everyone inside. This is made possible by a small device on the highest part of the tower, which detects the positively charged electro-static activity.

But, like most technology, regardless of how simple and basic, it has to be maintained. Richard Hammond gets the once in a lifetime opportunity to climb to the highest point of the tallest tower in the world, to help with a maintenance check on the mighty Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Take a look at the video below by YouTube channel, Discovery UK, titled, How The Burj Khalifa Is Dubai's Lightning Rod | Richard Hammon's Big Ideas.