DIN EN 50536:2011-11

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 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 and valuable information of the thunderstorm occurrence in real-time, making it possible to achieve information which can be extremely valuable in connection with preventative measures. It should be pointed out that lightning and thunderstorms, as any natural phenomenon, are subject to statistical uncertainty. This means that it is not possible to achieve 100 % precise information on when and where lightning will strike. This standard provides 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 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 the monitoring of atmospheric electrical activities allows for implementation of preventive measures. This document includes:- a general description of the available lightning and storm electrification hazard warning systems; - a classification of thunderstorm detection devices and their properties; - guidelines for alarming methods; - procedures to determine the thunderstorm information usefulness; - some examples of possible preventive actions. The responsible Committee is K 251 "Blitzschutzanlagen und Blitzschutzbauteile" ("Lightning protection systems and lightning protection components") of the DKE (German Commission for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies) at DIN and VDE.