DIN EN 50536/A1:2013-02

Natural atmospheric electric activity and in particular cloud-to-ground lightning poses a serious threat to living beings and property. Every year severe injuries and even deaths of humans are caused as a direct or indirect result of lightning. This natural phenomenon is also one of the causes of fires. During the last decades, technical systems and systems devoted to real-time monitoring of natural atmospheric electric activity and lightning have experienced an extraordinary development. These systems can provide high quality information in real-time of the thunderstorm occurrence, making it possible to achieve information which can be extremely valuable if coordinated with a detailed plan of action. The European Standard DIN EN 50536 (VDE 0185-236) contains the technical requirements for 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. The use of information from thunderstorm warning systems and monitoring atmospheric electrical activities allows for preventative means. The Amendment of this standard has been regarded necessary to clarify that the application of thunderstorm warning systems and the evaluation of information are useful and do not represent a normative requirement. Additionally the amendment gives clear reference to European Standards. The responsible committee is K 251 "Blitzschutzanlagen und Blitzschutzbauteile" ("Lightning protection installations and lightening protection components") of the DKE (German Commission for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies) at DIN and VDE.