IEC 62561-2:2012

IEC 62561-2


®


Edition 1.0 2012-02



INTERNATIONAL



STANDARD



NORME
INTERNATIONALE


Lightning protection system components (LPSC) –
Part 2: Requirements for conductors and earth electrodes

Composants des systèmes de protection contre la foudre (CSPF) –
Partie 2: Exigences pour les conducteurs et les électrodes de terre


IEC 62561-2:2012-02(en-fr)

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IEC 62561-2



®



Edition 1.0 2012-02







INTERNATIONAL





STANDARD







NORME



INTERNATIONALE











Lightning protection system components (LPSC) –

Part 2: Requirements for conductors and earth electrodes




Composants des systèmes de protection contre la foudre (CSPF) –

Partie 2: Exigences pour les conducteurs et les électrodes de terre

















INTERNATIONAL

ELECTROTECHNICAL

COMMISSION


COMMISSION

ELECTROTECHNIQUE


INTERNATIONALE




ICS 29.020; 91.120.40 ISBN 978-2-8322-2982-8



Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.

Attention! Veuillez vous assurer que vous avez obtenu cette publication via un distributeur agréé.

® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
Marque déposée de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale

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– 2 – IEC 62561-2:2012 © IEC 2012


CONTENTS


FOREWORD. 4

INTRODUCTION . 6


1 Scope . 7

2 Normative references . 7

3 Terms and definitions . 8

4 Requirements . 9

4.1 General . 9

4.2 Documentation . 9
4.3 Air termination conductors, air termination rods, earth lead-in rods and down
conductors . 9
4.4 Earth electrodes . 11
4.4.1 General . 11
4.4.2 Earth rods . 11
4.4.3 Joints for earth rods . 11
4.4.4 Earth conductors and plates . 12
4.5 Marking . 12
5 Tests . 14
5.1 General conditions for tests . 14
5.2 Conductors, air termination rods and earth lead-in rods . 15
5.2.1 General . 15
5.2.2 Tests for thickness coating on conductors . 15
5.2.3 Bend and adhesion test for coated conductors . 15
5.2.4 Environmental test . 15
5.2.5 Tensile tests . 16
5.2.6 Electrical resistivity test . 16
5.3 Earth rods . 16
5.3.1 General . 16
5.3.2 Tests for thickness coating on earth rods . 17
5.3.3 Adhesion test . 17
5.3.4 Bend test . 18
5.3.5 Environmental test . 18
5.3.6 Tensile strength tests . 19
5.3.7 Test for yield/tensile ratio . 19

5.3.8 Electrical resistivity test . 20
5.4 Joints for earth rods . 20
5.4.1 General . 20
5.4.2 Compression tests by mechanical means . 20
5.4.3 Environmental – Electrical tests . 21
5.5 Marking test . 22
5.5.1 General conditions for tests . 22
5.5.2 Acceptance criteria . 22
6 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) . 22
7 Structure and content of the test report . 22
7.1 General . 22
7.2 Report identification . 23
7.3 Specimen description . 23

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IEC 62561-2:2012 © IEC 2012 – 3 –


7.4 Conductor . 23

7.5 Standards and references . 23

7.6 Test procedure . 23

7.7 Testing equipment, description . 23

7.8 Measuring instruments description . 23

7.9 Results and parameters recorded . 24

7.10 Statement of pass/fail . 24

Annex A (normative) Environmental test for conductors, air termination rods and earth

lead-in rods . 25

Annex B (normative) Requirements for the cross sectional area, mechanical and

electrical characteristics, tests to be applied . 26
Annex C (normative) Requirements for dimensions, mechanical and electrical
characteristics, tests to be applied . 27
Annex D (informative) Typical example calculation of conductor resistivity . 28
Annex E (informative) Typical example of calculation of the tensile strength of a
coated material . 29
Annex F (normative) Flow chart of tests for air termination conductors, air termination
rods, earth lead-in rods and down conductors . 30
Annex G (normative) Flow chart of tests for earth rods . 31
Annex H (normative) Flow chart of tests of joints for earth rods . 32
Bibliography . 33

Figure 1 – Coating measurements around the circumference of the rod . 17
Figure 2 – Typical test arrangement for adhesion test . 18
Figure 3 – Definitions of upper yield strength R (Mpa) and tensile strength R (Mpa) . 19
eH m
Figure 4 – Typical test arrangement for the compression test by mechanical means . 21

Table 1 – Material, configuration and cross sectional area of air termination
conductors, air termination rods, earth lead-in rods and down conductors . 10
Table 2 – Mechanical and electrical characteristics of air termination conductors, air
termination rods, earth lead-in rods and down conductors . 11
Table 3 – Material, configuration and cross sectional area of earth electrodes . 13
Table 4 – Mechanical and electrical characteristics of earth electrodes . 14
Table B.1 – Summary of requirements for various elements tested according to Table 1

and Table 2 . 26
Table C.1 – Summary of requirements for various elements tested according to Table 3
and Table 4 . 27

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– 4 – IEC 62561-2:2012 © IEC 2012


INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION


____________




LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM COMPONENTS (LPSC) –



Part 2: Requirements for conductors and earth electrodes



FOREWORD


1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
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Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
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3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

International Standard IEC 62561-2 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 81:
Lightning protection.
This bilingual version (2015-10) corresponds to the English version, published in 2012-02.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
81/417/FDIS 81/423/RVD

Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
The French version of this standard has not been voted upon.

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IEC 62561-2:2012 © IEC 2012 – 5 –


This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.


The content of this document is taken from the European Standard EN 50164-2.


A list of all the parts in the IEC 62561 series, published under the general title Lightning

protection system components (LPSC), can be found on the IEC website.


The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until

the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data

related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be


• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.

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– 6 – IEC 62561-2:2012 © IEC 2012


INTRODUCTION


This part of IEC 62561 deals with the requirements and tests for lightning protection system

components (LPSC) used for the installation of a lightning protection system (LPS) designed

and implemented according to the IEC 62305 series of standards.

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IEC 62561-2:2012 © IEC 2012 – 7 –


LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM COMPONENTS (LPSC) –



Part 2: Requirements for conductors and earth electrodes








1 Scope


This part of IEC 62561 specifies the requirements and tests for:

– metallic conductors (other than “natural” conductors) that form part of the air termination
system and down conductors;
– metallic earth electrodes that form part of the earth termination system.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60068-2-52:1996, Environmental testing – Part 2-52: Tests – Test Kb: Salt mist, cyclic
(sodium chloride solution)
IEC 60228, Conductors of insulated cables
IEC 62305-3, Protection against lightning – Part 3: Physical damage to structures and life
hazard
IEC 62305-4, Protection against lightning – Part 4: Electrical and electronic systems within
structures
IEC 62561-1, Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 1: Requirements for
connection components
ISO 1460, Metallic coatings – Hot dip galvanized coatings on ferrous materials – Gravimetric
determination of the mass per unit area
ISO 1461, Hot dip galvanized coatings on fabricated iron and steel articles – Specifications
and test methods
ISO 2178, Non-magnetic coatings on magnetic substrates – Measurement of coating
thickness – Magnetic method
ISO 6892-1:2009, Metallic materials – Tensile testing – Part 1: Method of test at room
temperature
ISO 6957:1988, Copper alloys – Ammonia test for stress corrosion resistance
ISO 6988:1985, Metallic and other non-organic coatings – Sulphur dioxide test with general
condensation of moisture

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– 8 – IEC 62561-2:2012 © IEC 2012


3 Terms and definitions


For the purpose of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.


3.1

air termination system

part of an external LPS using metallic elements such as rods, mesh conductors or catenary

wires intended to intercept lightning flashes


3.2

air termination rod

air termination conductor
part of the air termination system for intercepting and conducting direct lightning flashes to
the structure
3.3
down conductor
part of an external lightning protection system which is intended to conduct lightning current
from the air termination system to the earth termination system
3.4
earth termination system
part of an external lightning protection system which is intended to conduct and disperse
lightning current to the earth
3.5
earth electrode
part or group of parts of the earth termination system which provides direct electrical contact
with and disperses the lightning current to the earth
Note 1 to entry Typical examples are earth rod, earth conductor and earth plate.
3.6
earth rod
an earth electrode consisting of a metal rod driven into the ground
[IEC 60050-604:1987, 604-04-09]
3.7
earth conductor
earth electrode consisting of a conductor buried in the ground

3.8
earth plate
an earth electrode consisting of a metal plate buried in the ground
[IEC 60050-604:1987, 604-04-10]
3.9
joint for earth rod
part of the earth termination system that facilitates the coupling of one section of an earth rod
to another for the purpose of deep driving
3.10
driving head
tool used in those applications where it is necessary to drive the earth rod

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IEC 62561-2:2012 © IEC 2012 – 9 –


3.11

earth lead-in rod

rod installed between the down conductor/test joint and the earth electrode


Note 1 to entry Earth lead-in rods are used to improve mechanical stability.


4 Requirements


4.1 General


Conductors and earth electrodes shall be so designed and constructed that in normal use

their performance is reliable and without danger to persons and surrounding equipment.
The choice of a material depends on its ability to match the particular application
requirements.
A summary of the requirements and their corresponding tests are given in Annex F, Annex G
and Annex H.
4.2 Documentation
The manufacturer or supplier of the conductors and earth electrodes shall provide adequate
information in their literature to ensure that the installer of the conductors and earth
electrodes can select and install the materials in a suitable and safe manner, in accordance
with IEC 62305-3 and IEC 62305-4.
Compliance is checked by inspection.
4.3 Air termination conductors, air termination rods, earth lead-in rods and down
conductors
The material, configuration and cross sectional area of the conductors and rods shall be in
accordance with Table 1. Their mechanical and electrical characteristics shall be in
accordance with Table 2.
Other materials may be used if they possess equivalent mechanical and electrical
characteristics and corrosion resistance properties for the intended application.
Other configurations may be used if the relevant dimensions are met.
Coated conductors and rods shall be corrosion resistant and the coating shall exhibit good

adherence to the base material.
Compliance is checked by the tests described in 5.2.2, 5.2.3 and 5.2.4.
NOTE A summary of the requirements for the cross sectional area, mechanical and electrical characteristics as
well as tests is given in Annex B.

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– 10 – IEC 62561-2:2012 © IEC 2012


Table 1 – Material, configuration and cross sectional area of air termination conductors,
air termination rods, earth lead-in rods and down conductors


a
Cross sectional area

Material Configuration Recommended dimensions

2
mm

Copper, Solid tape 2 mm thickness
≥ 50

b
d
Tin plated copper
Solid round ≥ 50 8 mm diameter

d, g f
Stranded 1,7 mm diameter of each strand
≥ 50


Solid round 15 mm diameter
≥ 176

Aluminium Solid tape ≥ 70 3 mm thickness

Solid round ≥ 50 8 mm diameter
g
Stranded 1,63 mm diameter of each strand
≥ 50
Copper coated
Solid round ≥ 50 8 mm diameter
e
aluminium alloy
Aluminium alloy Solid tape 2,5 mm thickness
≥ 50
Solid round ≥ 50 8 mm diameter
g
Stranded 1,7 mm diameter of each strand
≥ 50

Solid round 15 mm diameter
≥ 176
Hot dipped galvanized Solid tape ≥ 50 2,5 mm thickness
steel
Solid round ≥ 50 8 mm diameter
g
Stranded 1,7 mm diameter of each strand
≥ 50

Solid round ≥ 176 15 mm diameter
e
Copper coated steel Solid round ≥ 50 8 mm diameter
Solid tape 2,5 mm thickness
≥ 50

c
Stainless steel Solid tape 2 mm thickness
≥ 50

Solid round ≥ 50 8 mm diameter
g
Stranded 1,7 mm diameter of each strand
≥ 70

Solid round 15 mm diameter
≥ 176

NOTE For the application of the conductors, see IEC 62305-3.
a
Manufacturing tolerance: –3 %.
b
Hot dipped or electroplated; minimum thickness coating of 1 mm. Tin plating is for aesthetic reasons only.
c
Chromium ≥ 16 %; nickel ≥ 8 %; carbon ≤ 0,08 %.
d 2 2
50 mm (8 mm diameter) may be reduced to 25 mm (6 mm diameter) in certain applications where mechanical

strength is not an essential requirement.
e
Minimum 70 mm radial copper coating of 99,9 % copper content.
f
In some countries 1,14 mm diameter of each strand may be used.
g
The cross sectional area of stranded conductors is determined by the resistance of the conductor according to
IEC 60228.

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IEC 62561-2:2012 © IEC 2012 – 11 –




Table 2 – Mechanical and electrical characteristics of air termination conductors, air

termination rods, earth lead-in rods and down conductors

Maximum electrical

Tensile strength
resistivity
Material

2
N/mm
mΩm


Copper 0,019 200 to 450

Aluminium 0,03
≤ 150

Aluminium alloy 0,036 120 to 280

Steel 0,15 290 to 510
Stainless steel 0,80 400 to 770

4.4 Earth electrodes
4.4.1 General
The cross sectional area of earth electrodes, its material and its configuration sha
...