IX International Symposium on
Lightning Protection
26th-30th November 2007 – Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
PRESENT SITUATION OF STRUCTURES LIGHTNING PROTECTION
STANDARDIZATION AND COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE VALID
BRAZILIAN STANDARD AND THE 62305 IEC SERIES
Leite, Duílio Moreira Modena, Jobson
Encontre Engenharia Giulietto Modena Engenharia Institute of Electrotechnics and Energy – University of
d_leite@terra.com.br mr_modena@terra.com.br
Rua Maestro Cardim, 560 – Cj. 26 – Bela Vista – São Paulo – S.P. - Brazil
Abstract: This work shows the present situation of the
Brazilian standardization of the structures lightning
protection and compares the Brazilian standard to the
IEC62305 issued in 2006. Presents the novelties of the
IEC series and the differences between the Brazilian
standard and the new scope of the international
standard.
1 INTRODUCTION
The valid Brazilian standard for lightning protection of
the structures is the NBR5419, 2nd edition that was issued
in 2005 [1], which is a very similar to the version issued
in 2001, having some corrections in the text and a
significant modification in the Annex E that deals with
steelwork continuity tests. This test verifies the electrical
continuity of the embedded steelwork in the concrete
columns and the possibility of using the steelwork as part
of protection system. The 2001 version, valid from
March/30th/2001 to August/29th/2005, replaced the 1993
version, and was based on the IEC 1024 (1990 version)
[2]; on the Guide A from the IEC1024-1-1(1991 version)
[3] and on the Guide B from the IEC61024-1-2(1998
version) [4]. This IEC series was replaced by the
IEC62305 series, issued in 2006, formed by: Part 1:
General principles [5], Part 2: Risk Management [6], Part
3: Physical damage to structures and life hazard [7], Part
4: Electrical and Electronic Systems within Structures [8].
The aim of this work is to describe the present situation of
the Brazilian standardization process and the comparison
to the present IEC62305 series.
2. PRESENT SITUATION OF THE BRAZILIAN
STANDARDIZATION ON LIGHTNING
PROTECTION
The studies commission of the COBEI (Brazilian
Committee for Electricity, Lighting and
Sueta, Hélio Eiji
São Paulo
sueta@iee.usp.br
Telecommunication), the CE-03:64.10 (Lightning
Protection), has been working on the revision of the
NBR5419 standard. This commission has studied the
IEC62305-1 standard during the year of 2006. The text
was translated to Portuguese and fully discussed by the
commission members. It is foreseen for the year of 2007
the study of the IEC62305-3 (Physical damage to
structures and life hazard). This way, the proposition of
this work is to collaborate with the commission pointing
out the main differences between the IEC series and the
valid Brazilian standard. The job carried out in 2006 has
focused on the Part 1 of the IEC standard that is referred
to the general principles on structures lightning protection
and its content against lightning. There are defined the
main terminology and concepts concerning this type of
protection. This part has also four informative annexes.
Related to IEC standard Part 3, the English text was
translated to the Portuguese and it is being analyzed in
details in monthly meetings of the commission. This part
is referred to the physical damage to structures, life hazard
and details the systems that forms the external protection
against lightning and the internal protection, where are
describe the lightning equipotential bonding measures.
3. THE IEC 62305 SERIES AND BRAZILIAN
STANDARDIZATION
3.1. IEC62305-1 novelties
With definitions, concepts and calculation parameters the
IEC62305-1 has in its text eight sections and four
informative annexes. Its text suggests many novelties for
the Brazilian standardization, from the presentation of the
fundaments and terminology for risk analysis on the Part
2, passing by protection zones against lightning, to current
pulses parameters. The main topics to be added to the new
NBR5419 text are:

• The increase of the number of definitions and
technical terms for more than fifty aims clearly to
help the understanding of users about the concepts
used in the whole text.
• The lightning currents are dealt in the Annexes A,
B, C and D:
o Parameters of Lightning Currents – Annex
A.
o Time functions of the lightning currents for
analysis purposes – Annex B.
o Information for lightning currents
simulations to be used in testing – Annex C.
o Test parameters simulating the effects of
lightning on LPS components – Annex D.
• The lightning effects are dealt in specific ways for
structures and service suppliers (cabling and
metallic piping incoming the buildings). Standard
Tables 1 and 2, describe, respectively, many
situations for both cases.
• It was created four different damaging situations,
taking into account the strike point on the structure
and three different situations considering the
impact point related to the electrical lines and
metallic piping considered.
Structures:
o S1: flashes on the structure.
o S2: flashes near the structure.
o S3: flashes to the service connected to the
structure (the electrical lines and the
metallic piping incoming the structure).
o S4: flashing near to the service connected to
the structure (the electrical lines and the
metallic piping incoming the structure).
Electrical lines and metallic piping:
o S1: flashes on the structure.
o S3: flashes to the service connected to the
structure (the electrical lines and the
metallic piping incoming the structure).
o S4: flashing near to the service connected to
the structure (the electrical lines and the
metallic piping incoming the structure).
• Damages were divided in three groups:
o D1 – Injury to living people due to touch
and step voltages.
o D2 – physical damage (fire, explosion,
mechanical destruction, chemical products
release) due to lightning currents effects,
including sparking.
o D3 – failure of internal system due to
LEMP.
• The losses were divided in four groups:
o L1 : loss of human life
o L2 : loss of service to the public
o L3 : loss of cultural heritage
o L4 : loss of economic value (structure and
its contents, services and activities losses)
• All these data are correlated at the Tables 3 and 4
on the standard and it give base for risk analysis
calculation detailed in the IEC 62305-2.
• The concept of cost effectiveness of installing
protection measures was introduced at this part of
the standard.
• In the IEC62305-1 are, also, dealt the protection
measures to be adopted for risk reduction
according to the type of damage:
o To reduce the effects of touch and step
voltages;
o To reduce physical damages in the
structures and services;
o To reduce failure on electrical systems and
electro-electronic devices.
• Together with the basic protection criteria, the
Lightning Protection Classes concept is introduced,
that is directly attached to the concept lightning
protection against flashes, already known and
exposed in the NBR5419, it is also presented the
lightning protection zone, until this moment
existing exclusively in the international standards.
3.2. Comparing the IEC62305-3 to the
NBR5419/2005
Part 3 of the IEC62305 is the most similar to the Brazilian
standard NBR5419:2005. In this part are presented the
main concepts and measures for installing a lightning
protection system, both in the external parts where the
parameters for air-termination system, down conductors
and grounding are presented beyond materials and
components description and, in the internal protection, the
insulation and equipotential bonding measures. In this part
are, also, presented measures for maintenance, inspection
and live beings protection concerning touch and step
voltages.
Following, let us describe some differences between this
part of the IEC standard and the Brazilian standard:
• For existing buildings, the use of the steelwork as
part of the LPS, the IEC standard gives a limit
value of 0,2 for continuity tests of the steelwork
 (measurements between thr ring at the top of the
building and the grounding ring) and 1 is the
limit value in the NBR5419: 2005, where the
measurements are on the concrete embedded
steelwork columns (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Detail of the continuity measuring test of the
steelwork.
• The NBR5419 standard presents the Table 1,
referred to the air-termination system where,
depending on the protection level, is obtained:
the radius of the rolling sphere; the protection
angles according the Franklin method; the width
of the grid module for the Faraday method. The
IEC presents the Table 2 augmented with a figure
where curves define the protection angle as
function of the protection class and building
height. Concerning the radius of the rolling
sphere, there is no difference in the values shown
by the standards although, concerning the grids,
the dimensions can be very different for the
several protection levels: while, in the current
NBR5419, grids may reach 5 x 10 m (level I); 10
x 20 m (level II); 10 x 20 m (level III) and 20 x
40 m (level IV), in the IEC standard grids are
defined as 5 x 5 m (I); 10 x 10 m (II); 15 x 15 m
(III) and 20 x 20 m (IV). This way, grids
described in the IEC standard has smaller
dimensions than NBR standard, increasing
buildings protection but, also, increasing the
quantity of materials needed for this protection.
• There are, also, some small differences among
the average spacing of the non-natural down
conductors according to the protection level.
While NBR5419 presents the Table 2 with the
following spacing values: 10 m for level I; 15 m
for level II; 20 m for level III and 25 m for level
IV, the IEC standard presents as typical
distances: 10 m (I); 10 m (II); 15 m (III) and 20
(IV). Despite of these parameters on both
standards being very close, in many cases, the
number of down conductors for a same building
may be different. For Instance: in a building
classified as level III and having a 300m
perimeter, 15 down conductors are needed by the
NBR5419 and 20 down conductors by the IEC
standard.
• Some small differences can also be noted on the
minimum specified conductor sizes for the
materials to be used in the LPS. The NBR5419
presents the Table 3 with the minimum sizes for
copper, aluminum, galvanized steel (or concrete
embedded) to be used in the air termination,
down conductors and grounding sub-systems.
The IEC standard presents the materials in more
detailed through two tables, Table 6 (air
termination and down conductors) and Table 7
(grounding sub-system). In general manner, IEC
tables are more detailed than NBR, describing
several possible configurations (solid ribbons,
solid round rods, stranded cables) and several
materials (copper, tinned copper, aluminum, hot
galvanized and stainless steel). The minimum
size values in the IEC standard, generally, are
bigger than those specified in the NBR standard.
E.g.: for the air termination and down conductors
sub-systems, NBR standard specifies 35mm2 and
16mm2 copper cables sizes (structures up to 20m
height) and, in the IEC standards, 50mm2
minimum copper cable size for this case.
• Concerning Type A grounding design, IEC
standards show a little different figure than that
figure 2 shown in the NBR5419 standard, related
to the protection level II. While Brazilian
standard shows a minimum electrode length not
depending on the soil resistivity for levels from II
to IV, the IEC standard take into account the
independence only for the levels III and IV and a
specific straight line for the level II.
• NBR standard Tables Nº 6 and Nº 7 related to
minimum equipotential bonding cable sizes are
very similar to the IEC standard Tables Nº 8 and
Nº 9 with slight differences, such as: 16mm2 for
copper in the NBR standard against 14mm2 in
the IEC standard and 25mm² against 22mm² for
aluminum.
• NBR standard Table Nº8 shows ki coefficient
values for different protection classes. In the
IEC, the equivalent table is the Nº10 table, where
ki coefficient values are slightly different: in the
IEC standard ki=0,08 and in the NBR standard
ki=0,1 for level I; in the IEC standard ki=0,06
 and in the NBR standard ki=0,075 for level II; in
the IEC standard ki=0,04 and in the NBR
standard ki=0,05 for levels III and IV.
• Annexes shown on both standards are totally
different. While the Brazilian standard shows the
normative annexes A (complementary
requirements for special structures like chimneys,
structures contenting flammable liquids or gases
and antennas), B (protection levels selection and
general risk evaluation), C (electro-geometrical
model application), D (optional use of the
specific concrete embedded steelwork) and E
(continuity test description); the IEC standard
shows five annexes, being normative the first two
annexes and the three others just informative.
IEC Annex A is related to the air termination
positioning; the Annex B shoes the minimum
size of the of the entering cable screen in order to
avoid dangerous sparking; the Annex C shows
the partitioning of lightning current amongst
down-conductors; the Annex D presents
additional information for LPS in case of
structures with a risk of explosion and the Annex
E is a detailed guideline for design, construction,
maintenance and inspection of lightning
protection systems. In the Annex E are presented
several drawings and details for several types of
LPS. Also presents details and explanative
drawings for: the rolling spheres and grid
methods; connections and equipotential bonding.
3.3. The IEC62305-2 risk management
IEC62305-Part 2 deals with risk management of structures
and services concerning lightning. This part modifies a lot
the NBR5419 Annex B by being much more comprising
and giving a different view on the risk management
matter. It analyses possible damages to occur to the
structures and the services, associated to failures to
electrical and electronic systems and, even, to the live
beings in the structure or nearby. In this analysis are
taking into account: sources of damages (flashes to a
structure, near a structure, to a service and near a service);
types of damages (injury to living beings, physical
damages and failure of electrical and electronic systems);
types of loss (loss of human life, of service to the public,
of cultural heritage and economic values). Based on this
standard, some computer software were developed and
already presented in international symposiums.
3.4. Electrical and electronic systems protection
within structures.
The Part 4 of IEC standard is referred to the electrical and
electronic systems protection within structures. It is based,
mainly, on the protection zones concept with aim of
reducing failure risks to the equipments caused by
lightning electromagnetic surges. The concepts used in
this standard are: equipotential bonding; magnetic
shielding; cables routing and the protection using surge
devices and its coordination.
4. CONCLUSIONS
The NBR5419 (2005 year version) is the standard that
establishes the requirements for structures lightning
protection in Brazil. This standard is under revision by the
commission CE-03:64.10 (lightning protection) of the
COBEI (Brazilian Committee for Electricity, Lighting and
Telecommunication). The studies of the commission are
based on the IEC62305 Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.
This IEC series, issued in 2006, brings many novelties
related to the Brazilian standard. This work presents some
of these novelties and compares some present parameters
of the Brazilian standard with its respective in the
international standard.
In a general way, the international standard specifies
parameters that are “more fasten” than others, such as
smaller Faraday grids dimensions, larger cables sizes and
smaller down conductors average spacing, what show
great security concern.
It is hoped that with the full revision of the NBR5419
standard, lightning protection systems of structures
become quality improved, beyond of the fact of
accomplish to the international standards.
5. REFERENCES
[1] ABNT- ASSOCIAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE NORMAS
TÉCNICAS – ABNT NBR 5419 – Versões de 2001 e 2005
– Proteção de estruturas contra descargas atmosféricas, in
portuguese.
[2] IEC - INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION. “IEC 1024-1 – Protection of structures
against lightning – Part 1: General principles”, 1990.
[3] IEC - INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION. “IEC 1024-1-1, Protection of structures
against lightning – Part 1: General principles – section 1:
Guide A – Selection of protection levels for lightning
protection systems”, 1991.
[4] IEC - INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION. “IEC 61024-1-2, Protection of structures
against lightning – Part 2: General principles – section 1:
Guide B – Design, installation, maintenance and inspection
of lightning protection systems”, 1998.
[5] IEC – INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION – IEC 62305 -1, First edition, 2006-01 –
Protection against lightning – Part 1: General principles.
[6] IEC – INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION – IEC 62305 -2, First edition, 2006-01 –
Protection against lightning – Part 2: Risk Management.
[7] IEC – INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION – IEC 62305 -3, First edition, 2006-01 –
Protection against lightning – Part 3: Physical damage to
structures and life hazard.
[8] IEC – INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION – IEC 62305 -4, First edition, 2006-01 –
Protection against lightning – Part 4: Electrical and
Electronic Systems within Structures.
6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to express their thanks the great
collaboration from the Studies Commission members for
the standards development and technical discussions.
Also, to the members of the created Studies Commission
Discussion Group that very much collaborates in the
discussions related to this standard.