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Lightning Protection Systems: why is it important?

Lightning strikes are common in many parts of the world and can cause significant damage to buildings, electrical equipment, and even people. As a result, lightning protection systems are becoming increasingly important in the modern world. Lightning protection is essential to any building or facility to protect it from the damaging effects of lightning events.

Our products, which are designed in congruence with international standards, help consumers recognize the dangers and solutions to any lightning protection and earthing requirements.

In this article, we'll explore the importance of lightning protection systems and why they're crucial.

What is a Lightning Protection System?

A lightning protection system is a series of devices that are designed to protect buildings and other structures from lightning strikes. These systems typically consist of lightning rods, conductors, and grounding equipment, which work together to safely channel the electrical current from a lightning strike away from the structure and into the ground. This way it allows the people and equipment within the structure to operate with minimal risk.

Why are Lightning Protection Systems Important?

Lightning strikes can cause a range of damage, from minor electrical disruptions to catastrophic fires and explosions. In addition, lightning strikes can pose a significant risk to the safety of nearby people and animals. Lightning protection systems are essential because they can help to prevent these types of damage and keep people safe.

One of the critical benefits of lightning protection systems is that they can prevent fires and explosions. When lightning strikes a building or other structure, it can create an electrical surge that can damage electrical equipment and start fires. Lightning protection systems can help prevent these types of incidents by providing a safe path for the electrical current.

When lightning strikes a building or other structure, the electrical current can travel through the ground, potentially harming anyone nearby. By providing a safe path for the electrical current to follow, lightning protection systems can help to keep people and animals safe from harm.

It's essential to use lightning protection systems to help prevent damage to electrical equipment and ensure the safety of its users.

In addition, using lightning protection systems can also help reduce the risk of downtime and lost productivity. Suppose lightning strikes a building or other structure and causes damage to electrical equipment. In that case, repairing or replacing the affected equipment can take significant time and resources. By implementing lightning protection systems, companies can help to minimize the risk of such incidents and keep their operations running smoothly.

Conclusion

With the origin of exposed electronic equipment’s in our day-to-day life in current times, the significance of proper lightning protection for building and other structures has become particularly essential.

To understand more about the Lightning Protection systems, please contact us at marketing@axis-india.com or visit our website at www.axis-india.com.

About The Author

Axis is the leading Indian Manufacturer & Exporter of a wide range of Electrical Components used in Electrical Installations and in the Equipment Building industry. Their main customer base consists of Distributors/Wholesalers of Electrical Products, Electrical Contractors & Installers, Equipment Manufacturers, Maintenance Companies and Government Authorities.

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How ground rods work: A blog about ground rods and their use in the electrical industry

Ground rods are an essential part of any electrical system. They serve as a safety measure to protect people and property from electric shock and fires caused by electrical faults.

In this blog post, we'll examine how ground rods work and their use in the electrical industry.

What are Ground Rods?

A ground rod is a metal rod driven into the earth, to provide a low resistance path to ground for electrical systems. The rod is usually made of copper or galvanized steel, which is corrosion-resistant and highly conductive. Ground rods are installed at the service entrance of a building, where the utility's power supply is connected to the building's electrical system.

How Ground Rods Work?

Ground rods work on the principle of electrical grounding. Electrical grounding creates a low impedance path to the earth for electrical current. Earth is a good conductor of electricity. Connecting an electrical system to the earth can safely redirect any electrical faults or surges away from the system and into the ground.

A lot of electrical energy is released when an electrical fault occurs in a system, such as a short circuit or lightning strike. This energy seeks the path of least resistance to ground, and without proper grounding, it can cause severe damage to the electrical system or even start a fire.

A ground rod provides a direct path for the electrical energy to flow into the earth. The rod is driven deep enough into the earth to ensure a low impedance path, meaning the resistance to electrical flow is meager. The electrical energy flows quickly and safely away from the electrical system and into the ground, protecting the electrical system and the people and property nearby.

How Ground Rods are installed?

Ground rods are installed during building construction or when upgrading an existing electrical system. The rod is typically driven into the ground using a pneumatic hammer or a manual driver. The rod should be installed where the soil is moist, as dry soil can increase the earth's resistance and reduce the grounding system's effectiveness.

Once the ground rod is installed, a copper wire is attached and connected to the electrical system's grounding conductor. This installation creates a direct path from the electrical system to the ground, providing a low-impedance way for any electrical faults or surges.

Conclusion

Ground rods are an essential part of any electrical system. They provide a safe and effective way to redirect electrical faults and surges away from the system and into the ground. Proper installation and maintenance of ground rods can ensure the safety of the electrical system and the people and property nearby.

To know more about other product specifications in this category, visit https://axis-india.com/contact-us/ today. If you have any questions or concerns about your electrical grounding system or the installation of ground rods, contact us for assistance. We will help ensure your system is properly grounded and protected from electrical hazards.

About The Author:

Axis is the leading Indian Manufacturer & Exporter of a wide range of Electrical Components used in Electrical Installations and in the Equipment Building industry. Their main customer base consists of Distributors/Wholesalers of Electrical Products, Electrical Contractors & Installers, Equipment Manufacturers, Maintenance Companies and Government Authorities.

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How copper-clad ground rod lugs work: A blog about copper-clad ground rods and their use in the electrical industry

As we advance to a higher level of development, our high-rise buildings get bigger and bigger. Residential and commercial buildings are better in terms of technology, strength and infrastructure. We use more appliances and instruments driven by electrical energy. A proficient grounding system is installed and attached to the electrical system to protect them from electrical surges and lightning strikes.

A copper-clad ground rod is installed is installed as the conducting element in the ground at a safe distance from the building premise. It is then connected to the electrical system following the latest industry standards. One of the prime elements that ensure the proper conduction of excess flow of electrical energy due to manufactured or natural reasons is the ground electrode or ground rod. The installation process requires copper cables, clamps, and lugs as essential components to connect with the electrical system of a premise.

How copper clad ground rods and cable lugs work?

Copper-clad ground or copper-bonded rods are chosen as a cost-effective option for residential buildings and commercial premises. They have a steel core and can resist corrosion perfectly. Moreover, the conduction is not compromised due to the copper cladding on the ground rods.

This type of ground rod is used in places where corrosion is less. Following the standard protocols, the installation is done closer to the premises in different locations to protect the buildings from lightning and voltage surge. In this process, rod clamps and cable lugs get used.

The ground rods need to be connected to the primary electrical system. Hence, copper cables are used for the lowest resistance to connect a ground rod with the main electrical panel. In this aspect, high-quality cable lugs are used to connect the cables with the electrical panel and the ground rod.

Generally, copper lugs are used as they offer high strength and more specific installation features. The lumen of these lugs can hold the copper cable terminal exceptionally. The lumen of the barrel portion is then crimped or fused with the cable terminal to avoid loose fitting. The palm portion is then connected to the electrical panel in specified places with nuts. The strength of this junction determines the functionality of the ground system.

The other end of the terminal is then connected to the copper clad ground rod or the electrode installed under the ground. Clamps are used to ensure that the cable and rod remain in their respective places. Copper cables, copper lugs and a copper-clad ground electrode get assembled and installed to form an efficient grounding system for a premise.

Importance of copper lugs, clamps and grounding rods

Almost all the elements installed to form a formidable grounding system are either made of copper or clad with the same feature. This element not only resists corrosion but also enhances the conductivity of the grounding system. To know more about these electrical components used in modern grounding systems, visit https://axis-india.com/contact-us/ for more information and assistance in finding the correct details.

About the author -

Axis is the leading Indian Manufacturer & Exporter of a wide range of Electrical Components used in Electrical Installations and in the Equipment Building industry. Their main customer base consists of Distributors/Wholesalers of Electrical Products, Electrical Contractors & Installers, Equipment Manufacturers, Maintenance Companies and Government Authorities.

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How do Copper Cable Lugs Work? Here is what you need to know

One of the electrical industry's challenging responsibilities is creating a robust terminal or a junction between a cable and an electrical system. These junction points maintain the integrity and operability of an electrical system. A minor fault in them can cause tremendous damage. Hence, cable lugs get used to create proper connectivity even if the cables are in tension indoors and outdoors.

Design features of copper cable lugs

Made of copper and aluminium, the design features of the cable lugs ensure the connectivity and safety of the cable terminals and the electrical system. In most cases, copper cable lugs are chosen for better connectivity, strength and durability in the terminal junctions.

A cable lug design has a barrel and a palm. The entire structure is properly shaped using copper, the best metal conductor within the price range. The barrel section has a perfect lumen size that matches the specific diameter of the copper cables (size ranges from 1.5 to 1000 sq. mm in diameter) used in the modern electrical industry. It means the barrel part is made hollow to easily accommodate the end point or terminal of a copper cable.

The palm section is a flat semicircular or square projection above the barrel with a hole. This hole connects with a junction in an electrical system. When a cable terminal is inserted and crimped, the barrel will not leave space inside. Similarly, the palm section will provide ample strength to hold the junction in its place.

How does a copper cable lug work?

Now that we know the design and structure of a copper cable lug, we can easily understand how it works. A copper cable lug gets chosen according to the specifications, such as the cable diameter and the features of the junction of an electrical system.

A cable is then inserted into the barrel section of a cable lug. It is then crimped without leaving space inside to avoid electrical malfunctions. Once the terminal is ready, the palm is attached to the electrical system junction as per suitability or the directions given in the product specifications. Generally, the palm of a cable lug is screwed tightly with the electrical system. A spring clip or bolt is also used to connect a cable lug to an electrical system.

Based on the design specifications, there can be more than one palm hole in each copper cable lug. Match an electrical system's termination or connection features to get a vital junction.

Things to consider

Generally, copper is the prime choice for cable lugs to create a vital junction due to its exceptional strength and malleable properties. Based on the cable properties and electrical system junction features, a cable lug is chosen to create a better connection that will stand the test of time.

Axis is a leading manufacturer and supplier of Electrical Components to over 80+ Countries. To get a quote or to talk to our industry expert visit our contact us section. 

About The Author:

Axis is India’s leading Manufacturer- Exporter of wide range of components used in electrical installations & Equipment building industries. In a short span Axis has gained tremendous popularity amongst the quality conscious customers worldwide. The brand Axis has become synonymous with quality.

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How do copper terminal lugs work?

What keeps the terminals of a cable firmly joined with the electrical system? What happens when the wires are tense but do not detach from the wiring terminals? The cable terminals come into the picture. These elements are designed according to the requirements of the electrical components.

What are copper terminal lugs?

In this aspect, copper is the prime element chosen for its conduction and durability. The terminal lugs made of copper and sometimes with copper and aluminium are called copper terminal lugs. These lugs are designed so that the terminal of a cable can fit into them quickly and give the professionals an extra edge to create a vital junction. Let us talk about a copper terminal lug's design and work functions.

A copper terminal lug design has a barrel and a palm. The barrel is hollow, and its specifications are based on the standard copper cables used in the industry. A copper lug is designed so that the barrel can perfectly fit the cable inside to avoid electrical accidents.

The other part of a copper lug is the palm. It is the extended part of the barrel where a connection gets created with the junction of an electrical system. The barrel will fit the cable terminal inside, and the palm will get fixed with an electrical board with a screw.

The design of a copper lug is made so that the barrel is either crimped or welded to properly hold the wire terminal inside without leaving a gap. This technology creates a strong connection between the copper cable terminal and the junction point of an electrical system.

How does a copper terminal lug work?

If we focus on the copper lug design, we can clearly understand how it creates a solid terminal junction. The wire terminal is introduced in the barrel and crimped or welded. Once welded, the palm part of a copper terminal lug is screwed to the board of an electrical system to create a strong connection.

It is made sure that there is no gap between the cable terminal and the barrel. Hence, specific copper terminal lugs are chosen based on the cable diameter. The lumen size of the barrel must match the cable diameter, and so should the palm dimensions with the junction with the electrical system.

Final words

Copper is the prime choice of the electrical industry to ensure the best connection between cable terminals and junctions of a board. Hence, copper terminals are chosen for such purposes.

A copper terminal lug creates a strong connection between a cable terminal and an electrical system of a residential or commercial premise. The specifications are matched well before installation to ensure the best and most durable connection.

About the author:

 Axis Electricals is a leading manufacturer and exporter of high-quality electrical components including ABC Accessories, cable lugs, grounding rods, lightning protection, and other ranges.

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How Does an Insulation Piercing Connector Work?

An insulation piercing connector is one of the main components of an AB cable system, and it can accept a proper tap connection. This particular connection will further distribute a good line in the street lighting and all the domestic utility connections. This design enables the system to seal all the connections against water penetration properly. Thus, the connector is then turned into a waterproof connector. With these connectors, you can orchestrate a semi-permanent and metal-to-metal contact between the insulation piercing connector and the wire conductor. Several factors tend to affect the dependability and performance of the connectors, such as contact type, tip design, and connection method.

Functioning of An Insulation Piercing Connector

Insulation piercing connectors have four main applications, which we will name and explain one by one.

1.       Street Light Connections

For this application, the IPCs are used to tap the AB cable and then connect it properly to the service line, which will aid in powering the streetlights and other applications.

2.       Tap off/Multi-Tap Connection to Households

Another one of the main applications of the IPCs is to make sure that the AB cables are properly tapped so that the power can be restored in households. With the help of a multiport insulation piercing connector, it is possible to set up a one-tap connection from the mainline to bring connections to different homes.

3.       Distribution Box Charging Connection

In this case, the Insulation Piercing Connector will tap the main AB cable line to properly charge the Low Voltage Distribution Boxes connected to various applications like street lights, residential connections, and much more.

4.       Jumper Connection

The Insulation Piercing Connectors can also be used with similar cable sizes on each side to facilitate a connection or any other high-angle turn properly.

Important Applications of IPCs

Following are some of the applications of insulation piercing connectors:

·         Insulated HV and LV lines with proper interconnectors can provide efficient insulation and robust strength for different terminal ports and adjacent options.

·         IPCs can also create and establish a connection between the service cables and the LV network.

·         The IPCs invaluable when it comes to creating low-voltage insulation household wire T connections, creating power distribution system T connections, ordinary cable field branch and street lam distribution systems, line connections, and so much more.

Benefits of Using Insulation Piercing Connectors

·         You can adequately fasten them with the proper pole structures.

·         The connection that is established by the insulation piercing connector will be completely dependable, and the construction is pretty robust as well.

·         The connections are incredibly long-lasting and durable for the AB cable systems.

·         There is no need for proper conductor insulation stripping in the first place

·         Based on the size of the connector, you can also use them for certain non-tension lines with a voltage above 600 volts.

·         There is no need to use post-installation tape, making the installation smoother.

Wrapping Up,

The reasons mentioned above make Insulation Piercing Connectors an invaluable part of the electrical industry. The ability of the component to create a solid and lasting connection in the AB cable system is reliable.  

 About the author:

 Axis Electricals is a leading manufacturer and exporter of high-quality electrical components including ABC Accessories, cable lugs, grounding rods, lightning protection, and other ranges.

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Know The Need for Copper Lugs in The Electrical Industry

The use of copper lugs has been paramount in the electrical industry. The electricians, mechanics and engineers rely highly on the copper lugs to accomplish technical tasks. These provide practical solutions and surpass the use of aluminium wires. One has more freedom to set the cables using the copper lugs as the metal is a good conductor.

More importantly, the copper lugs can help link electrical devices and create a smooth circuit. With their help, the mechanics can terminate the battery ends or welding cables to connect them to an electrical device. These can control high currents and do not get catch fire.

Also, these can be soldered or crimped with an electrical appliance. If things go haywire, the cables and copper lugs can be corrected quickly.

Features of the copper lugs

Can connect different devices smoothly

There is no scope for things to fall apart if the electricians use the copper lugs. These lugs uniformly distribute the electric current and are the best for high-voltage connections.

Moreover, one can put the copper lugs in the power cables effortlessly. These are often hidden below the ground and might have a different wiring system. As these lugs are incredibly safe and do not cause fire hazards, you can use them in the fuse sockets, switches, electrical gadgets and power circuits.

The design of the copper lugs always works to its advantage. These have two ends: one end of the copper lug takes the cable by soldering, welding, or crimping, and the other end of the copper lug is secured to a matching termination or connection point by a bolt or a screw.

Widely used in fields

 The copper lugs are used in the power distribution cabinets of the shipyards and machine appliances. These are also used in the mechanical equipment factories such as metal processing and production systems.

Offer easy and safe installation

 Copper Cable Lugs offer easy installation and long-term dependability. AXIS Copper Lugs are made of high-grade ETP Copper material and tinned for corrosion protection. These copper lugs are excellent for outdoor applications or in a sea atmosphere with a lower coefficient of thermal expansion. Copper Lugs have a low fire risk and are safer for use per their design. Also, cable termination and repair or removal become an effortless procedure.

Wrapping up

In summary, copper lugs are an indispensable component of the electrical industry. These facilitate the process of connecting different electrical devices. As copper is a good conductor, there is no scope for fire hazards. It is essential to lay out the wires and cables to insert the copper lugs carefully for a smooth electric circuit without interruption.

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Does Ingress Protection mean your Enclosure is Safe?

What is IP rating?

IP rating or IEC 60529 grades the resistance of an enclosure against dust, water or other contaminants. It provides a list of the degree of protection offered by mechanical and electrical casings or enclosures. Electric equipment malfunctions or gets damaged when water or dust enters it. To avoid such situations, the equipment enclosures should be resistant to such ingression. This can be ensured by the IP ratings of the equipment as they give a more specific understanding of the protection offered. It also defines the tests to be performed to verify that the enclosure (product) meets these requirements. IP ratings are of prime importance throughout various industries like mechanical, electrical, electronics, instrumentation, automobile, etc.

The IP code is composed of the two letters IP which means ingress protection, followed by two numerals:

1) The first numeral refers to the protection against solid objects and is rated on a scale from 0 (no protection) to 6 (no ingress of dust).

2) The second numeral rates the protection against liquids and uses a scale from 0 (no protection) to 9 (high-pressure hot water from different angles).

 The two digits indicate adherence to the conditions listed in the table below. The digit 0 is used when no protection is provided. A digit is replaced with the letter X when no sufficient data is available to assign a protection level. The device is considered to be less capable in such cases.

 DIN 40050-9 extended the IEC 60529 rating system with an IP69K rating. IP69K stands for high-pressure, high-temperature wash-down applications. It was originally developed for road vehicles, especially those that need regular intensive cleaning. It is also useful in areas like food processing machinery and car wash systems.

 What does Ingress Protection Rating mean?

First Digit – The first digit stands for protection from solid material mainly dust. The value can range from 0 to 6. As the value increases, the ability of the product to withstand solid foreign objects or dust from entering the enclosure increases.

 For example, a product that has a rating of IP20 can withstand solid foreign objects up to 12mm or greater in size. An object with a rating of IP6X has protection from dust ingress. The “X” is used to represent an area where the product has not been tested for ingress protection.

 Second Digit – The second digit represents protection from liquid ingress. It has values ranging from 1 to 9. As the value of the second digit increases, protection from liquid ingress increases.

 For example, a product with an IPX4 rating can withstand vertical water splashing at an angle up to 600. As the chart indicates, there are specific angles, pressures, and volume requirements that must be followed during testing. Here since the first digit is indicated as X, we can say that it is not certified for foreign body ingress protection.

 Extra Letters – Sometimes, there might be an extra letter at the end of the IP code, these are optional letters. This is the supplementary letter, and it can be used to denote the supplementary information from the product standard. The letter can provide additional information related to the protection of the device from:

 Letters and Meanings

 F- Oil resistant

 H – High voltage device

 M- Device monitoring during water test

 S- Device standing still during water test

 W – Weather conditions

 Electrical IP Rating:

IP ratings for electrical applications follow the same universal codes similar to all other types of enclosures, for ease of understanding and standardisation. However, it is more important with electrical IP ratings to strictly consider the potential exposure types and protection needed for all electrical or electronic components or systems. This is because any ingress from either particulates or moisture of any kind can result in greater damage or increased hazards.

 Conclusion:

There are various types of IP-rated products available on the market now. The IP rating requires stringent testing procedures, which ensures standardization between all the different testing facilities around the world. The standardisation of IP codes enables users to gain a clear understanding of each product’s abilities and limitations in different environments. It makes the selection easy with the IP rating indicated on the product. One must always be careful in checking the IP ratings for less obvious sources of moisture or foreign bodies, such as condensation, steam, accumulating dust, and corrosion or chemical attack if the product is to be used in challenging industrial environments.

 Thank you for reading the blog, Axis is a leading manufacturer and supplier of Electrical Components to over 80+ Countries. Talk to our industry expert by visiting our contact us section. You can also watch our videos by our experts – click here.

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How does an Overhead Line Fault Passage Indicator work?

Being outdoors, electrical networks are subject to the ravages of nature throughout the year. From lightning, heavy rain, dust or even just local wildlife, these electrical networks become susceptible to faults forming over time.

When these faults occur, outages can take place which can affect large populations of end customers or industrial areas, causing dissatisfaction and revenue losses for the local utility. In our conversations with Utilities and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) firms, in the absence of a fault indicator, the standard practice involves several technicians walking or driving along the length of the line to find the exact location of the fault. In the case of a line such as an Aerial Bundled Cable (AB Cable) where the cables are bunched together, this practice becomes even more difficult as the technicians need to lower the line to find the fault. Additionally, if the fault occurs at night or in highly forested or hilly areas, this endeavour becomes increasingly difficult.

These revenue losses for Utilities and the extra cost of O&M for fault detection have led to the development of products to aid utilities or maintenance firms to quickly detect faults in their network. A Fault Indicator is a device placed underground or on overground electrical lines to provide utilities with either a visual or remote indication and location of a fault. These Fault Indicators are also referred to as Fault Passage Indicators (FPI), help the utility attain early information on the location of the fault, and take immediate action.

What is an Overhead Line Fault Passage Indicator?

An Overhead Line Fault Passage Indicator detects and indicates faults that occur in an electrical distribution network. It monitors the system 24×7 for fault occurrence and reduces downtime time by quickly identifying the fault location. A Fault Passage Indicator is installed under live conditions with the help of a hot stick and an adapter.

How does a Fault Passage Indicator work?

One Fault Passage Indicator is usually clipped onto each phase of the circuit allowing the utility or O&M firm to monitor current and faults in each phase. By placing the FPI’s at regular intervals along the line, the device can identify faults in the downstream section from its point of installation by monitoring the electromagnetic field surrounding the conductor. During the fault condition, the magnetic field around the conductor increases rapidly as a high current will flow through that path for a fraction of time (di/dt) & then suddenly breaks to zero as circuit breaker trips, this condition is sensed by the FPI & gives the alarm physically on-site & remotely to SCADA centre.

In the case of a non-communicable type, the FPI will give alarm physically on-site by blinking the RED Ultra bright LED & in the case of a communicable type the FPI gives alarm physically on-site as well as send the data to the SCADA centre through DCU over GSM/GPRS.

The illustration below provides a basic topology of a communicable system.

The FPI product ultimately aims to reduce the time and effort taken by maintenance technicians to find faults by providing visual and/or remote cues.

When a fault occurs, the fault indicators in front of the fault point will flash an LED to indicate the fault, the ones behind the fault point will not indicate the fault. The operator can easily identify the fault position (between the flashing and non-flashing indicators) by tracking the flashed indicators. It can help the operator to find out the fault point quickly. Permanent fault, transient fault and battery low voltage alarm can be indicated and distinguished separately by 3 different ultra-bright blinking LEDs. Two different alternating ultra-bright blinking LEDs indicate an Earth-fault. The parameters such as trip current, reset time, blinking interval, etc. are also read and adjusted over the wireless bidirectional network.

Features:

Axis Overhead Line Fault Passage Indicator detects an earth-fault using the signal injection method with the assistance of a device called signal source. The signal source provides improved accuracy in earth-fault detection. The Axis Overhead Line Fault Passage Indicator is designed as per IEEE 495-2007 international standard. An earth-fault and short-circuit fault indicator consists of three indicators, one for each phase and one for Data Concentrator Unit (DCU) for uploading data to System Server.

Overhead Line Remote Fault Indicators are usually used to monitor short-circuit faults and earth-faults. Three ultra-bright blinking LEDs indicate a fault in the network. The information about the fault and the current values can be uploaded to the Server System by utilizing available 2G/3G/4G networks.

 Advantage:

The main aim of an Overhead Line Fault Passage Indicator is to reduce the physical efforts needed to identify the faults & that occur in distribution networks. There is a significant reduction in the time, effort and manpower required for identifying faults.

 AXIS Lightning Protection Systems are designed to protect structures and systems against Lightning damage. Axis tests its lightning protection products in accordance with Major international standards such as IEC, BS EN, and UL& IS. Contact Now!

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IEC 62305 & IEC 62561 International Standards for Lightning Protection System Design and Product Testing

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The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) prepares and publishes International Standards, such as IEC 62305, for all electrical, electronic and related technologies and is the leading international organization in its field. The IEC technical committee is comprised of representatives from the standard bodies of various countries with each country getting one vote. The process of creating and issuing the IEC standards are thus an international effort with votes given to every member. The adoption of the relevant IEC standards are usually voluntary for countries and the content of the standards is usually introduced as improvements to that country’s existing standards.

In this article, we will be referring separately to design and component standards for Lightning Protection and Earthing. The Light Protection Design engineer or installer will use the design standard to design the complete lightning protection system including placement of the components. The lightning protection component manufacturer will use the component standards to ensure product compliance and quality.

IEC 62305 – Designing for Protection Against Lightning

IEC 62305 – Protection Against Lightning, is the apex level document that informs the standards for lightning protection around the world. It is a design standard that comprises of four documents that provide the lightning protection designers with the rules and regulations they require to design an LPS. The IEC 62305 standard covers the regulations required for the protection of equipment and structures from the effects of both direct and indirect lightning strikes. The diagram below which is taken directly from the IEC 62305 document, clearly shows the relationship between the 4 parts of the standard. Part 1 is a general introduction to the threat of lightning, part 2 delves into the calculation of lightning risk, part 3 describes the design of the Lightning Protection System (LPS) and Part 4 describes the design of the Surge Protection Measures (SPM).

IEC 62305, does not consider the following cases under the scope of the standard:

·         Railway Systems

·         Vehicles, ships, aircraft, offshore installations

·         Underground high-pressure pipelines

·         Pipe, power and telecommunication lines placed outside the structure

IEC 62305-1: General Principles

Part 1 of the standard is a general introduction to the entire standard in addition to the properties of lightning and the factors used to simulate the effects of lightning strikes. The basics of procedures and principles of protection that are used in the rest of the standard are also explained in IEC 62305 Part 1.

IEC 62305-2: Risk management

Part 2 of the standard is the key to the correct implementation of Part 3 and Part 4 of the standard. IEC 62305-2 is concerned with the Risk Assessment of a structure due to lightning flashes and to determine whether it requires a lightning protection system. This part of the standard provides the complete framework for Risk Assessment based on four types of losses namely ‘Loss of human life or permanent injuries’, ‘Loss of service to the public’, ‘Loss of cultural heritage’ and ‘Economic loss��. Protection measures can be determined based on this Risk Assessment and a residual risk is established. This residual risk is reduced using protection measures until it is below the tolerable risk. We can use this method to determine the class of LPS based which are in compliance with IEC 62305-3 and 62305-4.  As summarised in IEC 62305-2, “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.”

Axis has used the guidelines of IEC 62305 Part 2 to design a Risk Assessment Software that allows you to easily calculate and assess the risks to determine the Class of LPS for your structure. This software uses parameters unique to your structure to help you determine the best and most efficient protection system. The risk assessment software is part of a bundle that always allows customers to also easily calculate earth rod length requirements, separation distance for lightning arrestors, Surge Protection Device (SPD) selection and more! Please contact us for more information on our software suite.

IEC 62305-3: Physical damage to structures and life hazard

Part 3 deals with the protection of people and structures from physical damage and injury due to touch and step voltages caused due to direct lightning strikes. The standard states that the “main and most effective measure of protection of structures from physical damage is considered to be the lightning protection system (LPS)” which consists of external lightning protection (air termination system, down conductor system and earth termination system) and internal lightning protection (equipotential bonding and separation distance). IEC 62305-3 provides the guidelines to help “LPS designers and installers, architects and builders” to correctly design, install and maintain the external and internal lightning protection systems to protect people from touch and step voltages.

IEC 62305-4: Electrical and electronic systems within structures

Part 4 was introduced due to the ever-increasing cost of failures of electrical and electronic systems in our digital world. IEC 62305-4 provides the details for the design, installation, inspection, maintenance and testing of Surge Protection Measures (SPM) to protect electrical and electronic systems from the effects of Lightning Electromagnetic Impulses (LEMP).

Part 4 also introduces the idea of Lightning Protection Zones (LPZ). The central idea is to limit current and voltage surges, induced by lightning or otherwise, from damaging a structure or its contents (people or equipment) by dividing the structure into a risk zones. These zones are nested within each other, with the most sensitive zones being the innermost. A risk assessment according to IEC 62305-2 is performed for each zone to select the most appropriate protection at the optimum cost for that zone. By using standard appropriate lightning protection systems, such as lightning arrestors and SPD’s, the effects of lightning hitting the outer zone, directly or indirectly, are meant to be reduced before they can affect people or sensitive equipment in the inner zones.

Axis can help you with the entire process from Step 1 of Risk Assessment to Lightning Protection System Design and all the way through the supply of internationally approved products. Our engineers will be on the field with you to make sure that they provide the most precise protection for your structure! Contact us for more information.

IEC 62561 – Lightning Protection System Components (LPSC)

The IEC 62561 series describes the requirements and tests for the various lightning protection system components (LPSC). It summarises the test requirements for the components of a lightning protection system (LPS) that is designed and implemented as per IEC 62305. The various components of the LPS include:

·         Connection components such as lightning conductor clamps, bonding & earthing clamps, bridging components, pipe clamps, equipotential bonding bars

·         Conductors and Earth Electrodes (link to the Earth Electrodes blog)

·         Isolating Spark Gaps

·         Conductor Fasteners

·         Earth Pits

·         Lightning Strike Counters

·         Earth Enhancing Compounds

You should only procure products certified according to international or national standards for your lightning protection requirements to ensure that the products perform according to the requirements of the design of the lightning protection system. Axis has supplied the entire range of products for Lightning Protection for over 25 years to hundreds of projects across the world. View our catalogue for our Lightning Protection Products

For more information, please contact us at

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