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Lightning Protection for Substations: NFPA 780 vs. IEC 62305
February 20, 2024
Lightning Protection
A comparison of the two primary lightning protection standards — NFPA 780 and IEC 62305 — and guidance on which standard to apply for substation lightning protection design.
Lightning protection for electrical substations is governed by two major international standards: NFPA 780, 'Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems,' and IEC 62305, 'Protection Against Lightning.'
NFPA 780 is the predominant standard in North America, while IEC 62305 is widely used in Europe, Asia, and other international markets. Both standards provide a risk-based approach to lightning protection design, but they differ in their methodologies, terminology, and specific requirements.