The lightning protection zone concept
described in international standard IEC 62305-4 (DINV VDE V 0185
Part 4) has proved to be practical and efficient. This concept
is based on the principle of gradually reducing surges to a safe
level before they reach the terminal device and cause damage. In
order to achieve this situation, a building's entire energy
network is split into lightning protection zones (LPZ =
Lightning Protection Zone). Installed at each transition from
one zone to another is a surge arrester for equipotential
bonding. hese arresters are graded according to the requirement
class in question.
A concept with a host of benefits
The key benefits of this concept are:
- Minimization of coupling in other line systems through
deflecting high-energy and dangerous lightning currents
precisely where the lines enter the building.
- Malfunction prevention with magnetic fields and converted
buildings.
- Cost-efficient, plan able individual protection concept
for new, extended and converted buildings.
OBO surge protectors are classified in
accordance with DIN EN 61643-11 into three type classes - Type
1, Type 2 and Type 3 (previously B,C and D). These standards
contain building regulations, requirements and tests for surge
arrestors used in AC networks with nominal voltages of up to
1,000 V and nominal frequencies of between 50 and 60 Hz. This
classification enables arresters to be matched to different
requirements with regard to location, protection level and
current-carrying capacity. The table on this page shows how the
devices are classified with regard to the valid IEC. EN and VDE test standards.. It also shows which OBO surge protectors are to
be installed in the energy supply network and their respective
function.
