BS EN 50536:2011+A1:2012

This standard BS EN 50536:2011+A1:2012 Protection against lightning. Thunderstorm warning systems is classified in these ICS categories:

• 91.120.40 Lightning protection
• 07.060 Geology. Meteorology. Hydrology

This European Standard provides the basic requirements of sensors and networks collecting accurate data of the relevant parameters informing in real-time about lightning tracking and range. It describes the application of the data collected by these sensors and networks in the form of warnings and historical data.

This European Standard applies to the use of information from thunderstorm warning systems (which are systems or equipment which provide real-time information) on atmospheric electrical activity in order to monitor for preventive means.

The scope of this document is providing:

• a general description of the available lightning and storm electrification hazard warning systems;

• a classification of thunderstorm detection devices and properties;

• guidelines for alarming methods;

• a procedure to determine the thunderstorm information usefulness;

• some examples of possible preventive actions (only for information).

A non-exhaustive list of activities to which this European Standard might apply is given below:

• people in open areas: maintenance people, labour, sports or other open-air activities, competitions, crowded events, agricultural activities, farms and fisheries;

• wind farms, larger solar power systems, power lines, etc.;

• occupational health and safety prevention;

• safeguard sensitive equipment: computer systems, electric or electronic systems, emergency systems, alarms and safety;

• prevention of losses in operations and industrial processes;

• prevention of serious accidents involving dangerous substances (e.g. flammable, radioactive, toxic, and explosive);

• prevention in determined environments or activities with special danger of electrostatic discharges (e.g. space and flight vehicle operations);

• operations in which the continuity of the basic services is needed to be guaranteed (e.g. telecommunications, the generation, transport and distribution of energy, sanitary services and emergency services);

• infrastructures: ports, airports, railroads, motorways and cableways;

• civil defence of the environment: forest fires, land slide and floods;

• managing traffic (e.g. airplanes) or wide networks (e.g. power lines, telecommunication lines) may also benefits from having early detection of thunderstorms.

The following aspects are outside of this European Standard:

1. lightning protection which is covered in their corresponding European standards and regulations;

2. other thunderstorm related phenomena such as rain, hail, wind, etc.;

3. satellite and radar thunderstorm detection techniques;

4. this European Standard does not address any details on lightning and/or storm electrification hazard preventive actions.