>In as much as analyzing the mode of failure, the orignal
>failure was from a close proximity lighting strike,

This is probably where the pneumatic idea could probably help, as well as 
with keeping moisture out of the electronics. Use a suitable diaphragm 
mechanism under the pad with the pipes from multiple pads going to a central 
electronics points where the pressure sensors are all in one box. Using a 
metal box would give suitable shielding and remove the cabling runs that 
allow ground spike potentials to get induced.

OTOH from what you said it sounds like all the electronics is in one box, so 
maybe all you need is a network where it plugs into the box with telecoms 
type spark gaps and series resistors and all the other bits for such 
protection. May involve a re-calibration of the electronics against the load 
cells, but may be the minimum modification route and the filter network 
could probably be built into the load cell connector at the electronics end 
(what do you mean they use RJ45 ...). 

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