IEC standards for lightning protection

IEC 62305-1:2010 provides general principles to be followed for protection of structures against lightning, including their installations and contents, as well as persons. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 2006, and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• 1) It no longer covers protection of services connected to structures.
• 2) Isolated interfaces are introduced as protection measures to reduce failure of electric and electronic systems.
• 3) First negative impulse current is introduced as a new lightning parameter for calculation purposes.
• 4) Expected surge overcurrents due to lightning flashes have been more accurately specified for low voltage power systems and for telecommunication systems.

This bilingual version (2013-01) corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in 2010-12.

IEC 62305-2:2010 is applicable to risk assessment for a structure due to lightning flashes to earth. Its purpose is to provide a procedure for the evaluation of such a risk. Once an upper tolerable limit for the risk has been selected, this procedure allows the selection of appropriate protection measures to be adopted to reduce the risk to or below the tolerable limit. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 2006, and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• 1) Risk assessment for services connected to structures is excluded from the scope.
• 2) Injuries of living beings caused by electric shock inside the structure are considered.
• 3) Tolerable risk of loss of cultural heritage is lowered from 10-3 to 10-4. The value of tolerable risk of loss of economic value (RT = 10-3) is introduced, to be used when data for cost/benefit analysis are not available.
• 4) Extended damage to surroundings structures or to the environment is considered.
• 5) Improved equations are provided for evaluation of
  – collection areas relevant to flashes nearby a structure,
  – collection areas relevant to flashes to and nearby a line,
  – probabilities that a flash can cause damage,
  – loss factors even in structures with risk of explosion,
  – risk relevant to a zone of a structure,
  – cost of loss.
• 6) Tables are provided to select the relative amount of loss in all cases.
• 7) Impulse withstand voltage level of equipments was extended down to 1 kV.
  This bilingual version corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in 2010-12.

IEC 62305-3:2010 provides the requirements for protection of a structure against physical damage by means of a lightning protection system (LPS), and for protection against injury to living beings due to touch and step voltages in the vicinity of an LPS (see IEC 62305-1). This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 2006, and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• 1) Minimum thicknesses of metal sheets or metal pipes given in Table 3 for air-termination systems are assumed as not able to prevent hot-spot problems.
• 2) Steel with electro-deposited copper is introduced as material suitable for LPS.
• 3) Some cross-sectional areas of LPS conductors were slightly modified.
• 4) For bonding purposes, isolating spark gaps are used for metal installations and SPD for internal systems.
• 5) Two methods simplified and detailed are provided for evaluation of separation distance.
• 6) Protection measures against injuries of living beings due to electric shock are considered also inside the structure.
• 7) Improved information for LPS in the case of structures with a risk of explosion are given in Annex D (normative).
  This bilingual version (2012-06) corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in 2010-12.

IEC 62305-4:2010 provides information for the design, installation, inspection, maintenance and testing of electrical and electronic system protection (SPM) to reduce the risk of permanent failures due to lightning electromagnetic impulse (LEMP) within a structure. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 2006, and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• 1) Isolating interfaces capable of reducing conducted surges on lines entering the structure are introduced.
• 2) Minimum cross-sections for bonding components are slightly modified.
• 3) First negative impulse current is introduced for calculation purposes as electromagnetic source of harm to the internal systems.
• 4) Selection of SPD with regard to voltage protection level is improved to take into account oscillation and induction phenomena in the circuit downstream of SPD.
• 5) Annex C dealing with SPD coordination is withdrawn and referred back to SC 37A.
• 6) A new informative Annex D is introduced giving information on factors to be considered in the selection of SPDs.
  This bilingual version (2012-06) corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in 2010-12.

IEC 61643-12:2020 describes the principles for the selection, operation, location and coordination of SPDs to be connected to 50/60 Hz AC power circuits, and equipment rated up to 1 000 V RMS. These devices contain at least one non-linear component and are intended to limit surge voltages and divert surge currents.
NOTE 1 Additional requirements for special applications are also applicable, If required.
NOTE 2 IEC 60364 and IEC 62305-4 are also applicable.
NOTE 3 This standard deal only with SPDs and not with surge protection components (SPC) integrated inside equipment.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2008. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
NOTE The following differing practice of a less permanent nature exists in the USA: In the USA, SPDs tested to Class I tests are not required. This exception applies to the entire document. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• a) Scope: Deleted reference to 1 500 V dc
• b) Added or revised some definitions
• c) Added new clause 4 on Need for protection
• d) Added new information on disconnecting devices
• e) Revised Characteristics of SPD
• f) Revised List of parameters for SPD selection
• g) Added new information on Measured Limiting Voltage
• h) Added or revised some Annexes

IEC 61643-22:2015 describes the principles for the selection, operation, location and coordination of SPDs connected to telecommunication and signalling networks with nominal system voltages up to 1 000 V r.m.s. a.c. and 1 500 V d.c. This standard also addresses SPDs that incorporate protection for signalling lines and power lines in the same enclosure (so called multiservice SPDs). This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2004. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• – Update the use of multiservice SPDs (Article 8);
• – Comparison between SPD classification of IEC 61643-11 and IEC 61643-21 (7.3.3);
• – Consideration of new transmission systems as PoE (Annex F);
• – EMC requirements of SPDs (Annex G);
• – Maintenance cycles of SPDs (Annex I). Keywords: SPD, surge protective devices

IEC 60364-5-53:2019+A1:2020 Deals with general requirements for isolation, switching and control and with the requirements for selection and erection of the devices provided to fulfil such functions. This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 2001, Amendment 1:2002 and Amendment 2:2015. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• a) revision of all clauses except 531 and 534;
• b) introduction of a new Clause 537 Monitoring;
• c) Clause 530 contains all normative references and all terms and definitions.
  This consolidated version consists of the fourth edition (2019) and its amendment 1 (2020). Therefore, no need to order amendment in addition to this publication.

IEC 60664-1:2020 deals with insulation coordination for equipment having a rated voltage up to AC 1 000 V or DC 1 500 V connected to low-voltage supply systems. This document applies to frequencies up to 30 kHz. It applies to equipment for use up to 2 000 m above sea level and provides guidance for use at higher altitudes. It provides requirements for technical committees to determine clearances, creepage distances and criteria for solid insulation. It includes methods of electrical testing with respect to insulation coordination. The minimum clearances specified in this document do not apply where ionized gases are present. Special requirements for such situations can be specified at the discretion of the relevant technical committee. This document does not deal with distances:

• – through liquid insulation;
• – through gases other than air;
• – through compressed air.

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
update of the Scope, Clauses 2 and 3,
addition of 1 500 V DC into tables,
new structure for Clauses 4 and 5,
addition of Annex G with a flowchart for clearances,
addition of Annex H with a flowchart for creepage distances,
update of distances altitude correction in a new Table F.10.
It has the status of a basic safety publication in accordance with IEC Guide 104.
The contents of the corrigendum of October 2020 have been included in this copy.

IEC 61000-4-5:2014+A1:2017 relates to the immunity requirements, test methods, and range of recommended test levels for equipment with regard to unidirectional surges caused by over-voltages from switching and lightning transients. Several test levels are defined which relate to different environment and installation conditions. These requirements are developed for and are applicable to electrical and electronic equipment. The object of this standard is to establish a common reference for evaluating the immunity of electrical and electronic equipment when subjected to surges. The test method documented describes a consistent method to assess the immunity of an equipment or system against a defined phenomenon. This standard defines a range of:

• – test levels;
• – test equipment;
• – test setups; and
• – test procedures. The task of the described laboratory test is to find the reaction of the equipment under test (EUT) under specified operational conditions to surge voltages caused by switching and lightning effects. It is not intended to test the capability of the EUT’s insulation to withstand high-voltage stress. Direct injections of lightning currents, i.e. direct lightning strikes, are not considered in this standard. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2005, and constitutes a technical revision which includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
• – a new Annex E on mathematical modelling of surge waveforms;
• – a new Annex F on measurement uncertainty;
• – a new Annex G on method of calibration of impulse measuring systems; and
• – a new Annex H on coupling/decoupling surges to lines rated above 200 A. Moreover while surge test for ports connected to outside telecommunication lines was addressed in 6.2 of the second edition (IEC 61000-4-5:2005), in this third edition (IEC 61000-4-5:2014) the normative Annex A is fully dedicated to this topic. In particular it gives the specifications of the 10/700 µs combined wave generator. This consolidated version consists of the third edition (2014) and its amendment 1 (2017). Therefore, no need to order amendment in addition to this publication.

IEC 60364-5-53:2019+A1:2020 Deals with general requirements for isolation, switching and control and with the requirements for selection and erection of the devices provided to fulfil such functions. This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 2001, Amendment 1:2002 and Amendment 2:2015. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• a) revision of all clauses except 531 and 534;
• b) introduction of a new Clause 537 Monitoring;
• c) Clause 530 contains all normative references and all terms and definitions.
  This consolidated version consists of the fourth edition (2019) and its amendment 1 (2020). Therefore, no need to order amendment in addition to this publication.

IEC 60664-1:2020 deals with insulation coordination for equipment having a rated voltage up to AC 1 000 V or DC 1 500 V connected to low-voltage supply systems. This document applies to frequencies up to 30 kHz. It applies to equipment for use up to 2 000 m above sea level and provides guidance for use at higher altitudes. It provides requirements for technical committees to determine clearances, creepage distances and criteria for solid insulation. It includes methods of electrical testing with respect to insulation coordination. The minimum clearances specified in this document do not apply where ionized gases are present. Special requirements for such situations can be specified at the discretion of the relevant technical committee. This document does not deal with distances:

• – through liquid insulation;
• – through gases other than air;
• – through compressed air.

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
update of the Scope, Clauses 2 and 3,
addition of 1 500 V DC into tables,
new structure for Clauses 4 and 5,
addition of Annex G with a flowchart for clearances,
addition of Annex H with a flowchart for creepage distances,
update of distances altitude correction in a new Table F.10.
It has the status of a basic safety publication in accordance with IEC Guide 104.
The contents of the corrigendum of October 2020 have been included in this copy.

IEC 61000-4-5:2014+A1:2017 relates to the immunity requirements, test methods, and range of recommended test levels for equipment with regard to unidirectional surges caused by over-voltages from switching and lightning transients. Several test levels are defined which relate to different environment and installation conditions. These requirements are developed for and are applicable to electrical and electronic equipment. The object of this standard is to establish a common reference for evaluating the immunity of electrical and electronic equipment when subjected to surges. The test method documented describes a consistent method to assess the immunity of an equipment or system against a defined phenomenon. This standard defines a range of:

• – test levels;
• – test equipment;
• – test setups; and
• – test procedures. The task of the described laboratory test is to find the reaction of the equipment under test (EUT) under specified operational conditions to surge voltages caused by switching and lightning effects. It is not intended to test the capability of the EUT’s insulation to withstand high-voltage stress. Direct injections of lightning currents, i.e. direct lightning strikes, are not considered in this standard. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2005, and constitutes a technical revision which includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
• – a new Annex E on mathematical modelling of surge waveforms;
• – a new Annex F on measurement uncertainty;
• – a new Annex G on method of calibration of impulse measuring systems; and
• – a new Annex H on coupling/decoupling surges to lines rated above 200 A. Moreover while surge test for ports connected to outside telecommunication lines was addressed in 6.2 of the second edition (IEC 61000-4-5:2005), in this third edition (IEC 61000-4-5:2014) the normative Annex A is fully dedicated to this topic. In particular it gives the specifications of the 10/700 µs combined wave generator. This consolidated version consists of the third edition (2014) and its amendment 1 (2017). Therefore, no need to order amendment in addition to this publication.