How to protect the electric installation of a
convenience store
against the effects of lightning?
Customer needs
A store that distributes category 3 foodstuff
(frozen foodstuff), as in the classification of
buildings open to the public, must comply
with fire regulations. It requires alarm
equipment of type 3, including stand-alone
siren alarms, manual trip units and remote
control for stopping the device.
This convenience store with a surface of
500 m2 has a sales floor with freezers and
a cash register with a cash/credit card
terminal; it has a storage and stock room,
and an office equipped with computer
equipment (PC, printer, fax) for stock
management and order processing.
Environment
•• Located in the suburbs of a city, this establishment may be
subjected to atmospheric voltage surges due to indirect lightning
strokes
•• The local lightning density is moderate (0.5 < Ng < 1.6)
•• It is supplied by a low voltage three-phase + neutral underground
line
•• It has a TN-S earthing system
•• The equipment to be protected is moderately expensive
(≤ 40,000 Euros) and has:
•• a high impulse withstand voltage (Uchoc y 4 kV) for motors,
compressors in the refrigerators and freezers (freezer
benches), current sockets, heating and lighting,
•• a reduced impulse withstand voltage (Uchoc y 1.5 kV) for alarm
and access control devices as well as computer equipment
(cash register, credit card device, PC),
•• telecommunication devices also require protection against
lightning
•• Since the building is not fitted out with a lightning conductor, the
design and engineering office conducted a voltage surge risk
study in order to determine suitable surge arrester protection.
FA16A3EN schneider-electric.com 2

How to protect the electric installation of a

convenience store
against the effects of lightning?

Proposed solution
•• Schneider surge arrester choice software helped to determine
the exact value for the surge arrester on the incoming end of the
installation and for the associated disconnection circuit-breaker
•• Since sensitive equipment (Uchoc < 1.5 kV) is located more than
10 m from incoming protection, the software helped to determine
the value of secondary surge arresters to be placed nearest loads

To ensure better continuity of supply for the freezer zones:

•• Residual current circuit breaker with overvoltage protection RCBO,
of the A-SI type are to be implemented in order to prevent any
nuisance tripping due to the rise in the earth’s votlage when a
lightning surge passes
To ensure protection against atmospheric voltage urges:
•• a surge arrester located in the MSB is to be foreseen,
•• install a secondary surge arrester in each switchboard 1 and
2 that supplies sensitive equipment located over 10 m from the
incoming surge arrester,
•• install a surge arrester on the telecommunication network to
protect supplied devices such as fire alarms, modems, telephones,
faxes.

Customer benefits
•• Reinforced safety of persons and equipment
•• Protection against nuisance tripping
•• Conform to regulations
•• Simplicity.

Recommendations
Wiring recommendations
•• Make sure that building frames and earths are equipotentially bonded
•• Reduce loop surfaces of supply cables.

Installation recommendations
•• Install a surge arrester with an Imax = 40 kA (8/20) and a
disconnection circuit-breaker iC60 with a rating of 40 A
•• Install secondary surge arresters with an Imax = 8 kA (8/20) and
associated disconnection circuit-breakers iC60 with a rating of 10 A.

Role of surge arrester protection Warning

•• Run off the lightning current to the gournd, guaranteeing a level of
protection Up that is compatible with the electric equipment to be
protected
•• Limit the rise in the earth’s voltage and the induced magnetic field.
If the store is equipped with the lightning
conductor, you need to install Type 1 + 2 surge
arrester PRD1 12.5 (Iimp = 12.5 kA, Imax = 50 kA)
in MCB and a disconnection circuit breaker
NG125, 80 A.
FA16A3EN schneider-electric.com 3

How to protect the electric installation of a

convenience store
against the effects of lightning?

Solution diagram

MV/LV transformer
160 kVA

MSB

iC60
40 A

iPRD
40 kA

Switchboard 1 Switchboard 2

iDPN Vigi iDPN Vigi

iC60 A-SI type A-SI type iC60
10 A 10 A

iPRD iPRD
8 kA 8 kA

heating lighting freezer refrigerator fire alarm

detection
syst.

storage current computer cash

lighting sockets equip. register
FA16A3EN schneider-electric.com 4

How to protect the electric installation of a

convenience store
against the effects of lightning?

Standards
•• International installation standard IEC 60364-4-443 and 5-443 (09/2015)
•• Electrical installation of buildings NF C 15 100 of 2002
•• SPD are mandatory:
•• in case of overheadlines and if lightning density is Ng u 2.5
•• in case of presence of lightning rod (risk of direct impact).

Products used
Product Description Unity Cat. no.
iPFK/iPRD40 Type 2 surge protection device 40 kA 1 -
iK60N/iC60N Miniature circuit breaker 40 A 1 -
iK60N/iC60N Miniature circuit breaker 10 A 2 -
iPRD8 Type 3 surge protection device 8 kA 2 -
iDPN Vigi A-SI type Super-imunised residual current breaker 2 -

Note: number of poles of MCB should be the same as SPD.

iPF K 40 iPRD40/ iK60/iC60 iPRD8 iDPN Vigi iPRC series

iPRD40r A-SI type

or

Communication
networks protection

More information:
For information concerning the protection of your electrical installation against lightning, please check our website or contact your
local Schneider Electric office.

35, rue Joseph Monier - CS 30323

F-92506 Rueil-Malmaison - FRANCE
Tél : + 33 (0) 1 41 29 70 00
Fax : + 33 (0) 1 41 29 71 00
www.schneider-electric.com

Document Number FA16A3EN © 2017 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.