Scientific Proceedings of RTU. Series 7. Telecommunications and Electronics, 2003, vol.

Lightning Protection of Electronic

Data Processing Systems
Kazimieras Maceika1
Abstract Generalized knowledge about contemporary
problems of lightning protection are presented. There
are described parameters of lightning as source of
interferences. Statistical data about overvoltages in lowvoltage supply and signal lines is provided. Lightning
protection zone concept is given. The surge immunity of
equipment measures and testing methods are proposed.
Construction, effect and applications of protective
components and devices are described.

1 Introduction
Large-area networking of computers and control
systems require lightning and overvoltages protection.
There is now worldwide agreement that the danger
radius around a point struck by lightning is about 2 km.
Within this domain electronic systems are affected by
conducted and radiated disturbances that may cause
destruction. The future lies in the computer -integrated
factory, business and administration and problem
becomes more and more important. An American study
[1] highlighted the seriousness of the situation: banks,
sales oriented enterprises, factories, insurance companies
can close if the computer network fails for two weeks.
Risk can be controlled by electromagnetic compatibility
measures. The best solution of the problem is Lightning
Protection Zone (LPZ) concept. Application of LPZ
concept requires:
- estimation of lightning impulse expose for devices,
equipment and systems,
- properties of lightning protection elements and
systems.
It is necessary coordination between lightning and
overvoltages standards, requirements for equipment and
systems surge immunity. Realization of the Lightning
Electromagnetic Impulse (LEMP) protection can be
provided according surge protection for electrical systems
of buildings, telecommunication and computer systems
standards. They are prepared for components and
protective devices: arresters for power engineering,
information technology, optoelectronic connections also.
Usage shielding measures, equipotential
bonding
networks, cable routing can help in solving protection
problems.

2 Lightning discharge
The information about lightning strokes was obtained
from measurements of the lightning currents at towers,
overhead lines, triggering stations. The electromagnetic
interferences caused by lightning discharge were

estimated also. At the beginning the lightning protection

levels were defined:
- the efficiency of the Lightning Protection Systems
(LPS),
- the radius of the rolling sphere, protection angle,
mash size of net on the roof, distances between down
conductors,
- the distance space between LPS and conductive
elements inside and outside the building,
- the characteristics of lightning currents,
- tests intervals of LPS.
There are four protection levels: I with efficiency of
protection 0,98, II 0,95, III 0,9 and IV 0,8. For the
first protection level the lightning currents are taken
with following parameters:
- 200 kA, - 10/350 s - for the first positive or
negative stroke to ground,
- 50 kA, 0,25/100 s - for subsequent stroke,
- 400 A, 0,5 s - long duration current.
Current waveform [1,2] can be taken from figure 1. It
can be used for simulating and calculations of lightning
effect and protective measures.

I,kA
200

100

350 s

Figure 1. Current waveform of the first stroke to ground.

Analytic equation of the current impulse is used [3]:

I (t ) = I m k (e t e t ).
Generally
overvoltage
are
registered
in
telecommunication cables. Analysis of these results
permits to separate several of basic shapes induced
voltages (Fig.2.). Fundamental information about values
of parameters characterizing overvoltages in
telecommunication lines are presented in table 1.

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3 Internal lightning protection zone

concept
General rule of protection, described in introduced
standards and recommendation, relies on creation the
zones inside analysed object, in of which is defined the
exposures of devices on activity:
- overvoltages/overcurrents in electrical low-voltage
power nets,
- overvoltages/overcurrents in signal transmission
lines,
- impulse electromagnetic field (action immediately
on devices and installations in each zones).

in comparison with admissible peak values of surges in

considered zone.
In accepted standards most threatened areas are marked
as zone 0A and 0B.
General rules in partition of object in zones and the distribution of protective elements are represented in Fig.3.
The number of necessary lightning protection zones
depends on the surge immunity of electronic and electric
equipment.
Correctly projected and installed lightning and overvoltages protection should limit jumps of potentials in object and to aim to travelling of potentials inside of object. The requirements for arresters are different depending on the specific interface between zones. There were:
- lightning current arrester between LPZ 0A and 1,
- overvoltages arresters between LPZ 1 and 2 as
between LPZ 2 and 3 and subsequent interfaces.

Figure 2. Different shapes of lightning overvoltages in

telecommunication lines
Parameters Amplitude
Type of line
(V)

Overhead lines some kV

Rise time Time to half

(s)
value (s)
Figure 3. Lightning protection zones
0,1 - 20

20 - 200

Overhead cables 1500-2000 20-500

with pair lines

300 - 800

Overhead coaxial 800-1000

cables

100-300

500-1000

Inside building, each from separated zones

characterizes admissible values overvoltages and
overcurrents which reached devices working in given
zone. Below, the values, characterizing parameters of
impulse electric and magnetic fields and surges in power
and signal nets are presented.

Buried cables
with pair lines

500 - 600

50 - 100

1000-1500

Buried coaxial
cables

400 - 500

200-500

500-1500

Table

1.

Lightning created overvoltages

telecommunication lines.

Zone 0A

in

In object, which is divided on zones, at passage from

one zone to another the overvoltages, overcurrents and
impulse electromagnetic fields are limited to admissible
values in given zone.
Technical equipments in given zone should be chosen
in such manner, that their surge resistances were greater

Device and electronic systems working in this zone

are subjected on direct influence of impulse fields and
lightning currents with non-attenuated amplitudes.
Threatened are devices or systems working on free air.
The values of parameters which characterize lightning
currents in zone 0A are represented. The amplitudes of
overvoltages results from strength of insulators or isolation of cables and carry out from tens to hundreds kV.
The parameters characterizing impulse electromagnetic
field carry out:
- electric field intensities until
500 kV/m,
- magnetic field intensities until
10 kA/m.
Zone 0B
Devices are subjected on direct influence of
electromagnetic field, similarly as in zone 0A , but not to

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direct lightning strikes and the lightning induced surges.

The values of overvoltages in:
- electric low-voltage nets
- 10 kV,
- signal transmission lines
- 6 kV.
Surge current coming to the zone 0B are characterized
by rise time 8 s time to half values 20 s.
Zone l
Electric and electronic equipments working in zone 1
are protected before:
- impulse electromagnetic fields by single screen,
which most often is created by LPS or
reinforcing rods of a building,
- overvoltages in every low-voltage power and signal
lines by lightning current arresters. The transient
voltages in zone 1 should be limited to levels below:
- 6 kV in power networks,
- 4 kV in signal lines.
The shape of surge current in this zone is analogous
how in zone 0B.
The values of electric and magnetic fields intensity were
properly some kV/m and several hundred A/m. Creation
the following zones requires the system of overvoltage
arresters, which protect before voltage/current surges
and introductions the additional screens :
- reinforced concrete walls of rooms inside of object,
- solid screens of rooms,
- metal housing of the devices.
In real objects with complex and sensitive electronic
systems practically were used two-or three- steps of
overvoltage protection system. Proposed values basic
parameters characterizing overvoltages in each zone
are presented in table 2.

Parameter

Zone

Zone 2

Basically new in lightning protection standards are

methods for the assessment the risk of damage due
to lightning and overvoltages. Field measuring stations
register the radiated electromagnetic interference
fields of lightning discharges, lightning currents with
their extreme values are simulated in the laboratory
and influence on information technology equipment is
investigated. A lightning protection system is settled
[1,2]. The International Electrotechnical Commission
produces standards on the following:

Zone 3 Zone 4

4 kV

Overvoltages in signal lines

2kV 1 1 kV

Magnetic field

5 Standards and normative

- electromagnetic interference of lightning discharge

and its statistical distribution,

Overvoltages in supply nets

Electric field

four protection levels. Internal lightning protection

includes all additional measures to avoid
electromagnetic interferences in protected volume.
Lightning protection equipotential bonding is part of
the internal protection, which reduces the potential
differences caused by lightning current. It is realized
by bonding the conductors of the external lightning
protection system with the metal frame of the
structure, installations and with the power and
information technology equipment in the volume to
protect. Bonding measures include bonding lines and
arresters. A difference is made between lightning
current arresters (tested by surge currents of wave
shape 10/350 s) and surge arresters (tested by surge
currents of wave shape 8/20 s). Arresters for power
engineering are based on a spark gap. Surge arresters
for low-voltage overhead lines are constructed as a
series connection of spark gap and voltage dependent
resistor designed for surge current 8/20 s with 5 kA
peak value.

5kV/m

- methods to estimate the risk of determining the

protection levels,

2,5 kV 1 1,5 kV

50V/m

- measures to discharge the lightning current and

screening electromagnetic fields,

0,5 kV
5V/m

- measures to discharge conducted lightning

interference,

1OO A/m 1 A/m 0,l A/m

Table 2. Surges in different lightning zones.

.
It is proposal to introduced additional protective zones.
In these zones the values of parameters characterizing impulse disturbances are fixed between interested sides for
examples between producers and users.

4 Protection measures
The lightning protection system consists of external
and internal lightning protection. External protection
has air termination system, the down conductors and
the earthing systems. It is well described in [1] for

protective
concepts
requirements and tests.

and

components,

Lightning discharges are relatively rear and very

short duration , but they are dangerous for the control
systems of nuclear power stations, alarm systems and
military installations, telecommunications and
electronic data processing systems. In the case of
lightning discharge there must be no error signals and
protection means are necessary. Table 3 shows
internationally agreed lightning protection standards,
proposed zonal protection concept.

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Standard IEC 61204

Protection of structures against lightning
Part 1. General principles
IEC 61204-1

complement one another. According European

Member State law on the electromagnetic
compatibility of devices ( Council Directive
89/336/EEC of 1989 ) the equipment must have a
sufficient immunity also against lightning
interferences.

1990

6 Conclusions
Section 1. Selection of protection
levels for lightning protection 1993
Section 2. Design, installation,
maintenance and inspection of
lightning protection systems 1998

Standard IEC 61312

Protection against LEMP
Part 1. General principles
IEC 61312-1

1995

Part 2. Shielding of structures, bonding

inside structures and earthning
IEC 61312-2

1999

Part 3. Requirements of surge

protective devices
IEC 81/121/D

1999

Standard IEC 61663

Lightning protection telecommunication
lines
Part 1. Fiber optic instalations
IEC 61663-1

1999

Part 2. Subscriber lines using metallic

conductors
IEC 81/128/CD

2000

Table 3. Standards proposed by Technical

Committee of the IEC

1. The parameters of lightning current impulse:

peak value, front time, time to half are specified in
standards having one meaning. It is shown that
shapes
of
lightning
overvoltages
in
telecommunication lines are a very different.
2. Use of many kinds of electronic systems:
computers, telecommunication facilities, control
systems in the protected volume caused that building
must be subdivided into lightning protection zones.
The different protection zones OA, OB, 1 and etc are
described and defined having one meaning.
3. There were not possible in paper to introduce a
great number of protection measures: arresters of
various classes, nonlinear resistors, metal oxide
varistors, Zener diodes and decoupling elements.
Applications and systems of these protective
elements are taken in literature.
4. System of standards is completed for EMCoriented lightning protection measures and sufficient
immunity
of
equipment
against
lightning
interferences.

References
[1] P. Hasse, : Overvoltage protection of low voltage
systems, The Institution of Electrical Engineers,
London, 2000.
[2] A.W. Sowa, Coordination between lightning
protection concept and EMC requirements,
Conference
EMD2002,
Proceedings
of
conference, 2002, Palanga, pp. 9 14.
[3] K. Aniserowicz, Application of discrete Fourier
transform to analysis of overvoltages in
transmission
lines,
VIII
international
conference Overvoltages in power-, electronicand computer engineering, Proceedings,
Bialystok, 1997, pp. 5 -12.
1

The standards were supplemented by Technical

Reports: IEC 61662 Assessment of risk damage
due to lightning, IEC 61819 Test parameters
simulating the effects of LPS components. The
protective measures and methods are for external and
internal protection, shielding, surge limitation, which

Department of Radioengineering, Vilnius Gediminas

technical university, Naugarduko str. 41, LT-2006, Vilnius,
LITHUANIA.
E-mail: kmaceika@el.vtu.lt

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