International Telecommunication Union

Risk assessment for

structure
Roberto Pomponi
Telecom Italia, Italy
ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning protection
12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters, Geneva

Contents

ITU-T o Lightning as source of damages: risks

o

and risk components

Protection need: Tolerable Risk and
risk component evaluation;
Number of dangerous events;
Probability and Loss values;

Coordinated SPDs protection

Reference document: IEC 62305-2
Protection against lightning - Part 2:
Risk management (doc. 81/263/FDIS)

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

Lightning as source of damages

ITU-T

Risk
components

Direct to the
structure

Risks

RA Injury to
people
RB Physical
damage
RC Equipment
failure
R1: Risk of loss
R2: Risk of loss
R3: Risk of loss
R4: Risk of loss

Close to the
Direct to the
tlc line
tlc line
RM Equipment RU Injury to
RZ Equipment
people
failure
failure
RV Physical
damage
RW Equipment
failure
of human life = RA+RB+RU+RV+(RC+RW+RM+RZ)
of service = RB+RC+RV+RW+RM+RZ
of cultural heritage = RB+RV
of economic value = RB+RC+RV+RW+RM+RZ
Close to the
structure

Question: R2 = MAX(RB+RC)+MAX(RV+RW)+RM+RZ?

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

Lightning Protection Level, LPL

ITU-T

A set of lightning current parameters values which

defines lightning as source of damage
LPL
Current parameters

First short
stroke

Symbol

Unit

I
(99%)

II
(98%)

Peak current

kA

200

150

100

Short stroke
charge

Qshort

100

75

50

Specific energy

W/R

kJ/W

104

5.625

2.500

T1 / T2

s/s

Peak current

kA

50

37.5

25

Average
steepness

di/dt

kA/s

200

150

100

Time parameters

T1 / T2

s/s

Time parameters

Subsequent
strokes

dates

III
(95%)

IV
(90%)

10 / 350

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

0,25 / 100

Protection need

ITU-T
The protection is necessary when

R > RT
RT

Tolerable risk

RT = 10-3 value suggested by the IEC

62305-2 standard

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

Risk components: Basic equations

Rx = Nx Px Lx

ITU-T
Nx
Px
Lx

Number of dangerous events

Probability of damage
Consequent loss of the damage

Nx = Ng Ax
Ng
Ax

dates

Ground flash density [N/km2anno]

Collection area
Ad for direct strokes
AM for lightning close to the structure
AL for direct lightning to the service
SG 5 lightning
Technical Sessionnear
Lightning
Protection
Al ITU-T
for
the
service
12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

ITU-T

Dangerous events

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

Dangerous events for direct flashes,

Nd

ITU-T
Nd = Ng Ad
Ad collection area
of the structure

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

Dangerous events due to direct

flashes to the service, NL

ITU-T

N L N g A l C d 10 6
Al
Cd

Collection area [m2]

Location factor
C = 0.25 structure surrounded by higher structures or
trees
C = 0.5 structure surrounded by structures or trees of
the same high or smaller
C=1
isolated structure: no other structure in the
vicinity within a distance of 3H
C=2
isolated structure on a hilltop or a knoll

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

Collection area for direct flashes to a

one section service

ITU-T

Aerial line

A l 6 H [L c 3 (H a H b )]
Lc
H
Ha e Hb

3H H

3H

Length of the line section

High of the line
High of the structures connected at the ends of
the line section

Lightning stroke
To earth

Earth
(top view)

Buried line
A l 2 D [L c 3 (H a H b )]

D 0,5

Buried line: L
dates

1:3

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

Simplified D
equation
respect to K.47
10

Dangerous events due to flashes near

a structure, NM

ITU-T

N M N g (A M A d C d ) 10 6

250 m

Ad
AM
dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

11

Dangerous events due to flashes near

a one section service, Nl

ITU-T

N l N g A i C e C t 10 6
Ai
Ce

Collection area [m2]

Environmental factor
Ce = 1 for rural area
Ce = 0.5 suburban area (building with H < 10 m)
Ce = 0,1 urban area (building with 10 < H < 20 m)
Ce = 0 urban area (building with H > 20 m)

Ct
for power line when there is a transformer
Buried line
Aerial line
A i 1000 L c

dates

A i 25 L c

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

12

ITU-T

Probability factors

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

13

Probability PA of injury to living beings due

to a direct flash to a structure

ITU-T

The probability values PA of injury to living beings due

to step and touch voltage as function of the protective
measures:
Protective measures
No protective measure
Electrical insulation of exposed
down-conductor (e.g. at least 3 mm
cross-linked polyethylene)
Effective soil equipotenzialization
Warning notices

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

PA
1
10-1
10-2
10-1

14

Probability PB of physical damage due to a

direct flash to a structure

ITU-T

The probability values PB of physical damage due to

direct flashes to the structure as function of the LPS
class:
Characteristics of the structure
Structure not protected with LPS
Structure protected with a LPS

Class of
LPS
No LPS
IV
III
II

I
PLS I air termination. Continuous metal down
conductors
Continuous metal LPS system
dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

PPSD
1
0,2
0,1
0,05
0,02
0,01
0,001
15

Probability PC of internal systems failure due

to a direct flash to a structure

ITU-T

The IEC 62305-2 assumes that:

An LPS or equivalent is installed
SPDs are installed at the entrance of the line into the
structure
Coordinated SPD protection is adopted
SPDs are designed as function of the selected LPL

PC PSPD f(LPL)
Higher current
withstand capability
dates

LPL
Nessun SPD
III IV
II
I

<I

PPSD
1
0.03
0.02
0,01
0.005 0,001

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

16

Probability PM of internal systems failure due

to flashes near the structure

ITU-T

The probability values PM depend of the adopted lightning

protection measure (LPM) according to a factor KMS:
NO SPDs: PM = PMS
SPDs: PM lower between PSPD and PMS

KMS = KS1 KS2 KS3KS4

KS1
KS2
KS3
KS4

dates

LPS o other shields at

LPZ0/LPZ1 boundary
internal shields
internal wiring: routing
and shielding
impulse withstand voltage
(resistibility)

KMS
0,4
0,15
0,07
0,035

0,021
0,016
0,014
0,013

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

PMS
1
0,9
0,5
0,1
0,01
0,005
0,001
0,0001
17

K.surge approach on KMS values

ITU-T

Surge Protection Level (SPL): Peak values and waveform of the

expected dangerous surge voltages or currents which could
appear in different points of the telecommunication networks
due to the lightning current as source of damage
N T U SPL
SPL
N T U R
NT

dates

USPL voltage corresponding the selected SPL,

UR reference voltage (lower than USPL) that

defines the minimum resistibility voltage level

of the equipment connected to the line or of

2
4.N g p i .di. cos .d .x.dx the line conductor insulation;
R o I
NT(U) total number of strikes that will induce a
voltage equal or greater than U.

SPL

Vio(K.surge)
[kV]

KMS(K.surge)

0,05

2,23

0,7

0,02

3,5

0,43

0,01

4,9

0,3

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

18

Protection measures
K S4

KS1= KS2 = 0,12w w = mesh dimension

Unshielded line

ITU-T

K S3

No routing precaution in order to avoid loops

(large buildings A = 50 m2) (a = d = 1 m)
Routing precautions in order to avoid large loops
(A = 10 m2) (d = 1 m; a = 0,15 m; same conduit)
Routing precaution in order to avoid loops (A =
0,5 m2) (d = 1 m; a = 0,015 m; same cable)

Shielded line:
shield resistance R [ /km]

1.5
Uw

A
1
ad
or
ln
50 0,69
d

1
0,2
0,02
Ks3 = 0,01Ks

5 < R 20
0,001
1<R5
0,0002
R 1 (R = 0,5)
0,0001
Shield connected to B.B. at both ends and equipment
connected to the same B .B.
K s1 ?
K s3 ?
dates

= transfer factor for cable trays and earth conductors

and = shielding factor of CBN as defined by Rec. K.56
ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection
12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

19

Probability PU of injury to living beings due

to touch voltage by a flashes to the service

ITU-T

The probability values PU depend on the service shield (RS), the

impulse withstand voltage, the typical protection measures and
the SPDs at the entrance of the structure:
NO SPDs: PU = PLD
for unshielded service PLD = 1
SPDs: PU lower between PSPD and PLD

Probability PLD
Uw
kV

5<RS20
(/km)

1<RS 5
(/km)

RS1
(/km)

1,5
2,5
4
6

1
0,95
0,9
0,8

0,8
0,6
0,3
0,1

0,4
0,2
0,04
0,02

This is also valid for the probability values PV and PW.

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

20

Probability PZ of internal systems failure due

to flashes near the service

ITU-T

Red
values
missed
in the
IEC
standard

The probability values PZ depend on the service shield (RS), the

impulse withstand voltage, the typical protection measures and
the SPDs at the entrance of the structure:
NO SPDs: PU = PLI
SPDs: PU lower between PSPD and PLI
Uw
No
Kse:
KSS: Shielding factor related to
Shielding
shield
the shield
(kV)
factor related
to the earth

5<RS20 1< RS 5
(/km) (/km)

RS 1
(/km)

1
2
1
0,3
0,08
0,04
1,5
1
0,5
0,15
0,04
0,02
2,5
0,4
0,2
0,06
0,02
0,008
4
0,2
0,1
0,03
0,008
0,004
6
0,1 to the0,05
0,004 is connected
0,002
Kse: shield
not bonded
same B.B. to 0,02
which equipment
Kss: shield bonded to the same B.B. to which equipment is connected

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

21

PX lower between PSPD and PLI?

ITU-T

I think that it is correct, but the following information

is missed:
When an SPD, which has been installed in a
transition point of an unshielded line with a selected
PSPD, is installed in the same point of a shielded
line, its PSPD will be lower than the previous one

SPD between conductor and shield

PSPD < PSPD

Tlc or signal conductor

SPD between conductor and

earth of an unshielded line

SPD1

SPD1

Equipment

Line shield

Earth

0,25 I p

0,25 100
1,25 kA
1 20

PSPD = 0,05
K.surge:
n m
Direct
Shielded I I f n (m R s R c ) 1,25 1 (20 2 135) 437,5 kA
p
flash to line
0,25 R s
0,25 2
PSPD = 0,002
line
ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection
Unshielded line I f

dates

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

22

ITU-T
Selection and installation of
coordinated SPDs
protection
(Annex D of IEC 62305-4 standard)

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

23

Selection SPDs with regard to voltage

protection level

ITU-T

Equipment is protected when:

Up(f) Uw
Effective protection level, Up(f)
For voltage-limiting type SPD

U p(f) U p U1 U1'
For voltage-switching type SPD:
Greater value between

Up(f) = Up
dates

L1

U1

SPD

Up

L1

U1

Up(f)

EBB

U p(f) U1 U1'
ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection
12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

24

Coordinated SPDs: clause 7 of IEC

62305-4

ITU-T o SPD shall be located at the line entrance of the structure at

least
o Additional SPD may be required when

The distance between the location of the SPD and equipment

to be protected is too long (greater than the protection
distance):

Protection distance: maximum distance along the circuit from the

equipment at which the SPD still protects the equipment

UP(f) is greater than the impulse withstand voltage U W of the

equipment to be protected
o The selection and the installation of coordinated SPDs shall

comply with:

IEC 61643-12 e IEC 60364-5-53 (for power systems));

IEC 61643-21 e 61643-22 (for tlc and signalling systems).
o Some basic information for the selection and installation of

coordinated SPDs are given in the Annex D

dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

25

Selection and installation of

coordinated SPDs

ITU-T

o At the line entrance into the structure (e.g. at the

main distribution box, MB):

SPD tested with impulse current Iimp (waveform 10/350
s)
SPD tested with nominal current In when the risk of
failure of SPDs due to direct flashes (S1 and S4) can be
disregarded
o Close to the equipment to be protected (e.g. at the

secondary distribution box (SB) or at socket outlet,

SA)
SPD tested with the nominal current I n or combination
waveform generation
o The value of Iimp or In depends on the selected LPL

(Annex E of IEC IEC 62305-1 standard : Surges due to

lightning at different installation points)
dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

26

Oscillation protection distance, lpo

ITU-T

lpo

In

Iimp
L1

U1

SPD

Up

L1

lpo may be disregarded:

Up(f)

Eq.

Up(f) 0.5 Uw
d 10 m

U1

B.B.

In the other cases:

l po
dates

U w U p(f)
k

k = 25 V/m

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

27

Induction protection distance, lpi

ITU-T

l pi

U w U p(f)
h

h = 300KS1 KS2 KS3 flashes near the structure

h = 30000KS0 KS2 KS3 flashes to the structure (worst case)
KS0

KS1

dates

shielding of the structure, LPS or other shields on the

structure:
LPS: Ks0 = Kc
Kc = 1 (1 down conductor)
Kc = 0.3+1/2n
(n down conductors)
mesh: Ks0 = 0.06w0.5
LPS o other shields at LPZ0/LPZ1 boundary

KS2

internal shields

KS3

internal wiring: routing and shielding

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection
12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

28

Induced loop missed in the IEC

standard
S1

ITU-T

LPS
Customers building
S
MET

A
A1

S2

I
A2

The voltage induced in the Loop A2

is not considered
dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

29

Conclusions

ITU-T

o IEC 62305-2 standard gives an exhaustive risk

assessment for structures, its contents and connected

services
This standard should be used for protection need evaluation
of the exchange or customers buildings and remote site

o Critical points:
Risk evaluation for loss of service
Protection factor PM due to flashes near the structure

o Necessary clarification and/or improvement:

Protection factor values PZ due flashes near the service are
missed for 1 kV equipment resistibility
PSPD values for SPDs installed on shielded cables
Ks3 values and and factors of Recommendation K.56
Induction loop between two equipment inside the structure
is missed
dates

ITU-T SG 5 Technical Session Lightning Protection

12 December 2005, ITU Headquarters Geneva

30