EN IEC 62561 Lightning Protection System Components (LPSC)

The standard “EN IEC 62561 Lightning protection system components (LPSC)”, which is based on a European standard and subsequently published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), consists of the following subsections published under the same title:

• The standard "EN IEC 62561-1 Part 1: Requirements for connection components" describes the requirements and test methods for metallic connection components that form part of a lightning protection system (LPS). These may typically include connectors, clamps, bonding and bridging components, expansion joints, and test connections. For the purposes of this standard, the following connection types are considered connection components: exothermic, soldering, welding, clamping, crimping, sewing, screwing, or bolting. Testing of components for an explosive atmosphere is not within the scope of this standard.

According to this standard, the classification is made as follows:

• According to the ability to withstand lightning current:
  • Class H: Heavy duty
  • Class N: Normal service

The selection of class H or N must be made by the manufacturer in accordance with the test parameters specified in the table given in the standard.

• According to installation location:
  • Outdoor
  • In closed areas
  • Buried in the ground
  • embedded in concrete
  • Embedded in thermally insulating materials

The manufacturer's declaration of installation location must determine whether the conditioning and aging test specified in this standard is required.

• According to the mechanical behavior of the connecting components:
  • Intended to withstand static mechanical stress
  • Not intended to withstand static mechanical stress

The manufacturer's declaration of ability to withstand static mechanical load should determine whether it is necessary to perform the static mechanical testing specified in this standard.

• Depending on whether a connection is permanent or not:
  • Permanent bonding such as exothermic process, soldering, welding, crimping, sewing
  • Non-permanent fastening such as screwing or bolting

• Metallic conductors (excluding natural conductors) forming part of air termination and down-conductor systems
• Metallic earth electrodes forming part of the earth termination system

• Earth termination systems of power plants
• Earth termination systems of telecommunication systems
• Auxiliary ground electrodes of voltage-operated ground fault circuit interrupters
• Rail ground electrodes of power and DC railways
• Soil measuring electrodes for laboratories
• Facilities with cathodic protection and residual current systems
• Service entrance poles for low-voltage overhead cables
• Insulated bypass flanges and insulated couplings of pipelines

Applications where tracking currents occur are not included.

Spark gaps designed for use in hazardous environments may require additional requirements for components. In CENELEC member countries, the testing requirements for components for explosive atmospheres are contained in the CLC/TS 50703-2 standard. Testing of components for an explosive atmosphere is not within the scope of this standard (these components are defined in the IEC 60079-10 series).

According to this standard, the classification is made in accordance with the table given in the standard as follows:

• According to the ability to withstand lightning current:
  • Class H: Heavy duty
  • Class N: Normal service
  • Class 1L: Light duty type
  • Class 2L: Light duty type
  • Class 3L: Light duty type
• According to the installation location of spark gaps:
  • Indoor installation
  • Outdoor installation

According to this standard, the classification is made as follows:

• According to the material of the conductor connector:
  • Metallic (e.g. hot dip galvanized steel, copper, aluminum, stainless steel)
  • Non-metallic (e.g. PVC, plastic)
  • Composite (a combination of metal and plastic).

If a metallic conductor connecting element is used to bond two metallic parts of the external lightning protection system, it becomes the connecting component and must comply with the test requirements according to standard IEC 62561-1.

• According to the fixing arrangement of the conductor in the conductor connector:
  • With screws
  • Without screws (e.g. clips, springs)
• According to the conductor compression scheme:
  • Conductor connectors designed to clamp the conductor
  • Conductor fasteners designed to compress the conductor but allow axial movement of the conductor

• The standard "EN IEC 62561-6 Part 6: Requirements for basic impulse computers (LSC)" describes the requirements and test methods for devices designed to count the number of lightning strikes based on the current flowing in a conductor. This conductor may be part of a lightning protection system (LPS) or connected to an SPD installation or other conductors not designed to conduct a significant portion of the lightning current. Designed for use in hazardous atmospheres Additional requirements for components may be required for lightning strike meters. In CENELEC member countries, the testing requirements for components for explosive atmospheres are contained in the CLC/TS 50703-2 standard.

According to this standard, the classification is made as follows:

• Lightning strike meters are classified according to the number of discharge currents:
  • Type I: For counting the number of pulse discharge currents
  • Type II: To count the number of nominal discharge currents
• Internal circuit lightning strike counters are classified according to their internal circuitry:
  • Lightning strike counters without electronic circuitry
  • Lightning strike counters with electronic circuitry
• Installation site lightning strike meters are classified according to the installation site:
  • Indoor lightning strike meters are designed for use in enclosures or inside buildings or shelters.
  • Outdoor lightning strike meters are designed for use without enclosures and outside of buildings or shelters.
  • Lightning strike counters designed for use in specific environments specified by the manufacturer.

The degree of protection (IP code) of the enclosure, as defined in IEC 60529, is particularly important for the intended location of a lightning strike counter, but integration with a lightning strike counter equipped with an SPD may not be possible. Lightning strike counters installed in outdoor enclosures or shelters are suitable for indoor use.

• The standard “EN IEC 62561-7 Part 7: Requirements for earthing reinforcing compounds” describes the requirements and test methods for earthing reinforcing compounds producing low resistance of earth termination systems.
• The standard "EN IEC 62561-8 Part 8: Requirements for components for insulated LPS" describes the requirements and test methods for insulating supports used with an air-termination system and down conductors to maintain adequate separation distances, and the requirements and test methods for insulating down conductors, including special connecting elements that can reduce the separation distance. Testing of insulating supports and insulating down conductor components for an explosive atmosphere is not within the scope of this standard. Requirements and tests for other types of components for insulated LPS are considered.
• The standard "EN IEC 62561-9 Part 9 Requirements for Earthing Reinforcements" describes the requirements and test methods for earthing reinforcers, which are materials used to improve the conductivity of the soil in earthing systems for lightning protection. Earthing reinforcers are particularly useful in areas where the natural soil has a high resistivity and is insufficient to safely dissipate lightning current. Material requirements for earthing reinforcers address, for example, chemical stability and compatibility with earthing electrodes. Electrical performance, such as resistivity and long-term conductivity, is also sought.

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