LIGHTNING PROTECTION MEASURES A STUDY ON THE

BASIS OF IS/ IEC-62305 STANDARD

This is an attempt to understand the different methods described in IEC-62305 part-3 towards
protection against lightning.

IEC 62305/2010 part 1-4 are adapted as such by BIS without any change in the year 2016.
As per IEC 623051/2010, protection measures may be adopted in order to reduce the risk
according to the type of damage.

Surges may occur even if lightning does not strike in the immediate vicinity. In order to evaluate
whether or not lightning protection of a structure is needed, a risk assessment in accordance with
the procedures contained in IEC 62305-2 shall be made. The following risks shall be taken into
account;

R1 Risk of loss or permanent injury to human life

R2 Risk of loss of services to the public
R3 Risk of loss of cultural heritages
R4 Risk of loss of Economic value (structure, its contents and loss of activity)

LIGHTNING PROTECTION LEVELS

Four LPLs are introduced. For each LPL, a set of maximum and minimum lightning current
parameters is fixed (LPL I to IV)

The maximum values of lightning current parameters are used to design lightning protection
components (Eg. Cross section of conductors, thickness of metal sheets, current capability of SPDs
and Separation distance against dangerous sparking).

The minimum values of lightning current amplitude for the different LPL are used to derive the
Rolling Sphere Radius in order to define the Lightning Protection Zone (LPZ0B) which cannot be
reached by direct strike.

RELATION BETWEEN LPL AND CLASS OF LPS (SEE IEC- 62305-1)

LPL RISK LEVEL CLASS OF LPS

I VERY HIGH RISK I
II HIGH RISK II
III MODERATE RISK III
IV LOW RISK IV
(Table-1)
Level 1 affords the greatest level of protection and therefore the greatest expense, and Level IV
the least.
 CLASSIFICATION OF LPS

LPL I II III IV
Maximum
200 150 100 100
Current (KA)
Minimum
3 5 10 16
Current (KA)
LIGHTNING CURRENT FOR EACH LPL BASED ON 10/350S WAVEFORM

DESIGN OF THE LPS (EXTERNAL & INTERNAL)

The design of an LPS shall contain all the information necessary for correct and complete
installation.

EXTERNAL LPS

ISOLATED SYSTEM: An isolated external LPS should be considered when the thermal and explosive
effects at the point of strike may cause damage to the structure or to the contents. Typical
example includes structures with combustible covering, combustible walls and areas at risk of
explosion and fire.

NON-ISOLATED SYSTEM: A non-isolated system may be fitted where no such danger exists. In most
cases, the external LPS may be attached to the structure to be protected.

An external LPS consists of the following;

Air termination system

Down conductor system
Earth termination system

These individual elements of an LPS should be connected together using appropriate lightning
protection components. This will ensure that in the event of a lightning current discharge to the
structure, any potential damage to the structure protected will be minimized.

AIR TERMINATION SYSTEM

The role of an air termination system is to capture the lightning discharge current and dissipate it
harmlessly to earth via down conductor and earth termination system. Therefore, it is very
important to use a correctly designed Air-termination system.

Air termination systems can be composed of any combination of the following elements;

(a) Rods (including free standing masts)

(b) Meshed conductors that may lie in direct contact with the roof or be suspended above it.
 (c) Catenary wires (suspended wires)
For all types of air terminals, only the real physical dimensions of the metal air-termination
systems shall be used for determination of the volume protected.

The individual air-termination rods should be connected together at roof level to ensure current
divisions.

5.2.2 POSITIONING

(Method of designing Lightning Protection)

Air termination components installed on a structure shall be located at corners, exposed points
and edges in accordance with one or more of the following methods;

(i) The Protection Angle Method

(ii) The Rolling Sphere Method
(iii) The Mesh Method

The Rolling Sphere Method is suitable in all cases.

The Protection Angle Method is suitable for simple shaped buildings
The Mesh method is a suitable form of protection where plane surfaces are to be protected.

The value of the protection angle, rolling sphere radius and mesh size for each class of LPS are
given in table-2and fig-1. Detailed information on the positioning of the air-termination is given in
Annex A.
PROTECTION METHOD
Rolling Sphere radius
Class of LPS Mesh Size (m) Protection angle ()
(r) in meter
I - VERY HIGH RISK 20 5X5
II - HIGH RISK 30 10X10
See Fig-1 below
III - MODERATE RISK 45 15X15
IV - LOW RISK 60 20X20
 (Table 2)

NB: The class of LPS shall be selected on the basis of a risk assessment (see IEC 62305-2)

(FIG 1 )Protection Angle corresponding to class of LPS

Not applicable beyond the values marked with () only rolling sphere and mesh method
apply in these cases
h is the height of the air-termination above the reference plane of the area to be
protected.
The angle will not change for values of h below 2m

Flashes to the side of tall structures

Structures less than 60m tall Nil

Structures more than 60m tall May Occur (Risk is low)

CONSTRUCTION

LPS not isolated from the structure to be protected may be installed as follows;

If the roof is made of non-combustible material, the air termination conductors may be
positioned on the surface of the roof.
(Annex-A)

POSITION OF AIR-TERMINATION SYSTEM

A1- PROTECTION ANGLE METHOD (Suitable for Simple-shaped building)

The position of Air-Termination System is considered to be adequate if the structure to be

protected is fully situated within the protected volume provided by the air-termination system. For
determination of the volume protected; only the real physical dimension of metal Air-termination
System shall be considered. Typically, if the air rod is 5m tall, then the zone of protection offered
by this air rod would be based on 5m and the relevant class of LPS.
PROTECTIVE ANGLE BASED ON CLASS OF LPS
Air termination conductors and down conductors should be inter-connected by means of
conductors at the roof level to provide sufficient current distribution over the down conductors.
Conductors on roof and the connections of air termination rods may be fixed to the roof using
both conductive or non-conductive spacers and fixtures. The conductors may also be positioned on
the surface of a wall if the wall is made of non-combustible material. The fixing centers shall be
minimum 1.0m apart.

For each non-isolated LPS, the number of down conductors shall be not less than two. A down
conductor should be installed at each exposed corner of the structure, where this is possible.

A2 POSITIONING OF THE AIR TERMINATION SYSTEM UTILIZING THE ROLLING SPHERE METHOD
(Suitable for all complex shaped building)

Applying this method, the positioning of the Air-Termination system is adequate if no point of the
structure to be protected comes into contact with a sphere with radius r depending on the class
of LPS (see table) rolling around on top of the structure in all possible directions. In this way, the
sphere only touches the air termination system (see figure)

There are different radii of the Rolling Sphere that corresponds to the relevant class of LPS.

CLASS OF LPS RISK LEVEL ROLLING SPHERE RADIUS (m)

I VERY HIGH RISK 20
II HIGH RISK 30
III MODERATE 45
IV LOW RISK 60

(Maximum values of rolling sphere radius corresponding to the class of LPS.)

The risk assessment calculation to determine the Class of LPS is highlighted in IEC 62305 2. It is
virtually impossible to apply the procedures stated in the standard without software tools. A
computer aided solution makes it easier to design a lightning protection system for structures.

A3 POSITIONING OF THE AIR TERMINATION SYSTEM UTILIZING THE MESH METHOD (Suitable
for all flat surface building)

For the purpose of protecting flat surfaces, a mesh is considered to protect the whole surface
dependent upon all of the following conditions being fulfilled.

(a) Air Termination conductors are positioned;

(i) On roof edge lines
(ii) On roof over hangs
(iii) On roof ridge lines, if the slope of the roof exceeds 1/10

(b) The mesh dimensions of the air termination network are not greater than the values given
in table-2
(c) The network of the air termination system is constructed in such a way that the lightning
current will always encounter at least two distinct metal routes to earth termination.
(d) No metal installation protrudes outside the volume protected by Air Termination System.
(e) The air termination conductors follow as far as possible, the shortest and most direct route.

Air termination conductors and down conductors should be inter-connected by means of

conductors at the roof level to provide sufficient current distribution over the down conductors.
Conductors on roof and the connections of air termination rods may be fixed to the roof using
both conductive or non-conductive spacers and fixtures. The conductors may also be positioned on
the surface of a wall if the wall is made of non-combustible material. The fixing centers shall be
minimum 1.0m apart.

For each non-isolated LPS, the number of down conductors shall be not less than two. A down
conductor should be installed at each exposed corner of the structure, where this is possible.

Table 4: Typical preferred value of the distance between each conductors according to class of LPS

CLASS OF LPS TYPICAL DISTANCE m

I 10
II 10
III 15
IV 20

For non-isolated LPS, down conductors are mounted directly onto the building (without separation
distance) if the wall is made of flame resistant or normally inflammable material, the down
conductors may be installed directly on or in the wall.

Metal frame work of a steel structure or the interconnected reinforcing steel of the structure can
be used as down conductor. Reinforcement of existing structure cannot be used as natural down
conductor unless the reinforcement is safely interconnected. Separate external down conductors
must be installed.

High Voltage-resistant insulated down conductor

Such cables are used as down conductors where separation distance cannot be maintained in new
and existing building to prevent dangerous flashover between the parts of external LPS and
conductive parts of external LPS and conductive parts inside the structure (electrical/electronic
equipment, pipes, ventilation ducts) requires only for isolated LPS.

MATERIAL, MINIMUM CROSS SECTIONAL AREA/DIMENSIONS OF AIR

TERMINATION CONDUCTORS,EARTH LEAD-IN RODS, DOWN CONDUCTORS, EARTH
ELECTRODES

AIR TERMINATION EARTH ELECTRODE

AIR
CONDUCTORS,EARTH
MATERIAL TERMINATION
LEAD-IN RODS AND EARTH
RODS DIA (mm) EARTH ROD
DOWN CONDUCTORS CONDUCTOR
DIA (mm)
(Sq.mm)
COPPER,TIN
50 Sq.mm 14.97 15 50
PLATED COPPER
50 (SOLID
COPPER ROUND)
50 Sq.mm 14.97 14
BONDED STEEL 90 (SOLID
TAPE)
78 (SOLID
STAINLESS ROUND)
50 Sq.mm 14.97 15
STEEL 100 (SOLID
TAPE)
78 (SOLID
HOT DIPPED 14 (ROD) ROUND)
50 Sq.mm 14.97
GALVANIZED 25 (PIPE) 90 (SOLID
TAPE)
ALUMINIUM CANNOT BE CANNOT BE
50 Sq.mm 14.97
ALLOY USED USED

NON-CONVENTIONAL AIR TERMINATION SYSTEM (EARLY STREAMER

EMISSION)

A lot of techno-commercial discussions has raged over past few years regarding the validity of the
claims made by the proponents of such systems. This topic was discussed extensively with in the
technical working groups that compiled IEC 62305. The result was to stick on with this standard.
Typically, Annex A(normative) which discusses the positioning of the air termination rods (finials)
states unequivocally that the volume or zone of protection afforded by the air termination system
shall be determined only by the real physical dimension of the air termination system. If the air
termination rod is 5m tall then the only claim for the zone of protection afforded by this air
termination would be based on 5m and the relevant class of LPS and not any enhanced
dimensions claimed by some non-conventional air termination rods.
There is no other standard being contemplated to run in parallel with this standard IEC 62305.

SAMPLE CALCULATION

CONSIDER A BUILDING WITH A FLAT ROOF OF DIMENSION 30mx20m. ASSUMING IT IN AN AREA

SITUATED AT LPS-III AND IF AIR-TERMINATION RODS OF 2m LENGTH IS ASSUMED TO BE
INSTALLED, THE LAYOUT OF THE POSITIONING OF THE AIR-TERMINATION RODS IS AS FOLLOWS;

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

No. of 2m long Air-termination rods required = 9 nos.

No. of down conductors 25x3mm copper bonded strip = 8 nos.
Interconnection of all these rods using 25x3mm or 20x3mm copper bonded strips

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