The effects of lightning strikes must be classified in a technical manner, as defined in ABNT NBR 5419-1. The standard establishes four main types of damage that can occur in a building or installation when a lightning strike directly or indirectly affects the structure, connected lines, or people present on site. This damage mapping is […]
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The effects of lightning strikes must be classified in a technical manner, as defined in ABNT NBR 5419-1. The standard establishes four main types of damage that can occur in a building or installation when a lightning strike directly or indirectly affects the structure, connected lines, or people present on site.
This damage mapping is the starting point for justifying the engagement of a LPS and SPM project, equipotential bonding, and other protective measures. Before selecting a solution, it is necessary to understand what can be affected and with what severity.
In this article, we address the damage caused by lightning strikes, as defined in NBR 5419-1:2015. Understanding this damage is essential for technically justifying the adoption of protective measures such as LPS, SPDs, equipotential bonding, and electrical isolation. The standard classifies damage into four main categories, ranging from loss of human life to material losses and interruption of public services.
Each type of damage is associated with specific risks and requires appropriate treatment in the technical design.
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Damage Classification According to NBR 5419-1
The standard defines four main categories:
D1 – Loss of Human Life
Related to electric shocks and thermal effects caused by the discharge current.
This occurs, for example, when people touch surfaces energized by step voltage or touch voltage. It also includes burns, direct shocks, and indirect effects on people exposed during a discharge.
Direct application: Environments with public circulation, hospital areas, schools, shopping centers, and public spaces.
D2 – Loss of Public Service
Refers to the interruption or failure of essential services, such as power, water, telecommunications, and IT.
Includes failures in data centers, control panels, PLCs, servers, or industrial automation systems. The damage can be localized or systemic, affecting a single sector or an entire network.
Direct application: Substations, critical operational units, operations centers, and supervisory networks.
D3 – Loss of Cultural Heritage
Concerns the destruction or deterioration of assets with historical, cultural, or artistic value.
Protection aims to preserve the physical integrity of documents, listed buildings, public collections, museums, and religious institutions. The risk stems from both direct contact and indirect fire or structural collapse.
Direct application: Churches, universities, public archives, theaters, galleries, libraries, and protected heritage sites.
D4 – Loss of Material Assets
Encompasses physical and financial damage to structures, machinery, equipment, and productive systems.
This is the most common type of damage and the one that most commonly motivates the installation of an LPS in industrial, commercial, and residential facilities. It is directly linked to equipment burnout, production downtime, and loss of infrastructure.
Direct application: Industrial plants, power facilities, corporate buildings, logistics centers, warehouses, shopping malls, and high-end residences.
Summary
The correct identification of damage caused by lightning strikes is fundamental to any risk analysis and protection design. NBR 5419-1 clearly defines the possible impacts and guides the designer in determining the type of protection to be adopted.
In our upcoming content, we will show in which situations LPS installation is mandatory, based on the risk assessment defined by NBR 5419. The adoption of a protection system does not depend on opinion or preference: it is a technical requirement grounded in normative criteria.
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Take the opportunity to explore other technical content already published on our website and social media. We are building a complete series on lightning protection based on NBR 5419, turning standards into applied knowledge. Follow the series and deepen your understanding of LPS, risk assessment, LPZ zones, equipotential bonding, and much more.
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