The UK committee advises users that the BS EN IEC 62305 third edition series should be implemented in full as it would not be safe to implement parts 1, 3 and 4 of the third edition without having done a risk assessment in accordance with BS EN IEC 62305-2:2024.
What is BS EN IEC 62305-4:2024 - Protection against lightning electrical and electronic systems within structures about?
The final standard in a four-part international series on lightning protection measures, BS EN IEC 62305-4:2024 details measures that protect electrical and electronic systems in structures. The other standards in the series are:
- BS EN IEC 62305-1 General principles
- BS EN IEC 62305-2 Risk management
- BS EN IEC 62305-3 Physical damage to structures and life hazard
Who is BS EN IEC 62305-4:2024 - Protection against lightning electrical and electronic systems within structures for?
BS EN IEC 62305-4:2024 is essential for anyone directly or indirectly involved in lightning protection, most likely in the built environment, health and safety, risk management, and electrical engineering sectors.
Specific users will include:
- architects involved in the design and construction of large and critical buildings, including the retrofit installation of equipment in existing buildings having lightning protection;
- surveyors involved in design and construction of large and critical buildings including the retrofit installation of equipment in existing buildings having lightning protection;
- engineers involved in the design and manufacture of lightning protection components;
- builders involved in construction of large and critical buildings;
- facility managers involved in maintenance of large and critical buildings;
- electrical engineers in specialist earthing companies;
- high voltage engineers; and
- consultants and specification engineers.
What does BS EN IEC 62305-4:2024 - Protection against lightning electrical and electronic systems within structures cover?
BS EN IEC 62305-4:2024 provides requirements for the design, installation, inspection, maintenance, and testing of surge protection measures (SPM) for electrical and electronic systems to reduce the risk of permanent failures due to lightning electromagnetic impulse (LEMP) within a structure.
Why should you use the standards in the BS EN IEC 62305 series?
Efficacy: lightning discharges are an unpreventable and hazardous weather phenomenon. Protection measures are essential and the measures in the BS EN IEC 62305 series of standards are proven to be effective at reducing risk.
Assurance: the BS EN IEC 62305 series of standards give assurance that a building design provides adequate protection against lighting. It gives assurance that retrofitted equipment is sufficiently separated from lightning conductors and lightning bonded equipment, or if this isn’t possible, that appropriate bonding is performed. And it gives assurance that an appropriate maintenance cycle is adopted.
Knowledge: the BS EN IEC 62305 series of standards provide a robust, up-to-date understanding of the specific requirements of lightning earthing and, especially in Part 1, the electrical characteristics of lightning positive and negative strokes.
Empowerment: the BS EN IEC 62305 series of standards give users sufficient knowledge of lightning protection to understand the outcome of a lightning risk assessment and write specifications for installation and maintenance contracts.
What has changed?
BS EN IEC 62305-4:2024 includes the following significant technical changes:
- addition of new informative Annex E and Annex F on the determination of current sharing using modelling and current sharing in PV installations respectively;
- addition of a new informative Annex G on methods of testing of system level behaviour;
- addition of a new informative Annex H on induced voltages in SPD-protected installations.