IEC/TR 60479-4

Effects of current on human beings and livestock - Part 4: Effects of lightning strokes on human beings and livestock

Summarizes the basic parameters for lightning and their variability insofar as they apply to human beings and livestock. The possible direct and indirect interactions of strikes with bodies of living beings are indicated. The resulting effects caused by lightning currents for the organism are described.  The intention is to show the differences of effects on human beings and livestock due to lightning strokes versus those effects of electric shocks derived from electrical systems.

Effets du courant sur le corps humain et sur les animaux - Partie 4: Effets de la foudre sur le corps humain et sur les animaux

Résume les paramètres essentiels de la foudre et leur variabilité relative à la direction des coups, à leur durée, à la raideur du courant (changement de raideur du courant) et à leur intensité. Les interactions directes et indirectes probables entre la foudre et le corps humain sont indiquées. Les effets résultants dus au courant de foudre pour l'organisme sont décrits.  L'objet de ce rapport est de montrer les différences existant entre les effets dus à la foudre sur le corps humain et sur celui des animaux en comparaison avec les effets des chocs électriques habituels.

Vplivi električnega toka na ljudi in živali – 4. del: Vplivi udarov strele na ljudi in živali

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• ICS: 13.200 - Accident and disaster control
• ICS: 29.020 - Electrical engineering in general
• Technical Committee: TC 64 - Electrical installations and protection against electric shock
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 14-Jul-2004
• Ref Project: SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006 - Effects of current on human beings and livestock - Part 4: Effects of lightning strokes on human beings and livestock

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006
01-september-2006
9SOLYLHOHNWULþQHJDWRNDQDOMXGLLQåLYDOL±GHO9SOLYLXGDURYVWUHOHQDOMXGLLQ
åLYDOL
Effects of current on human beings and livestock - Part 4: Effects of lightning strokes on
human beings and livestock
Effets du courant sur le corps humain et sur les animaux - Partie 4: Effets de la foudre
sur le corps humain et sur les animaux
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: IEC/TR 60479-4
ICS:
13.200 3UHSUHþHYDQMHQHVUHþLQ Accident and disaster control
NDWDVWURI
SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006 en
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------

SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------

SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006
RAPPORT CEI
TECHNIQUE IEC
TR 60479-4
TECHNICAL
Première édition
REPORT
First edition
2004-07
Effets du courant sur le corps humain
et sur les animaux –
Partie 4:
Effets de la foudre sur le corps humain
et sur les animaux
Effects of current on human beings
and livestock –
Part 4:
Effects of lightning strokes
on human beings and livestock
© IEC 2004 Droits de reproduction réservés ⎯ Copyright - all rights reserved
Aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite ni No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any
utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie et les photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de l'éditeur. the publisher.
International Electrotechnical Commission, 3, rue de Varembé, PO Box 131, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Telephone: [phone] Telefax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web: www.iec.ch
CODE PRIX
Q
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
PRICE CODE
International Electrotechnical Commission
ɆɟɠɞɭɧɚɪɨɞɧɚɹɗɥɟɤɬɪɨɬɟɯɧɢɱɟɫɤɚɹɄɨɦɢɫɫɢɹ
Pour prix, voir catalogue en vigueur
For price, see current catalogue

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------

SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006
TR 60479-4 © IEC:2004 – 3 –
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.5
INTRODUCTION.9
1 Scope and object.11
2 Normative references .11
3 Terms and definitions .11
3.1 Definitions of technical terms.11
3.2 Definitions of interactions .15
3.3 Definitions of effects on organisms.15
4 Physics of lightning .17
5 Interaction of strokes with human beings and livestock.17
5.1 Description of direct strike.17
5.2 Description of touch voltage .19
5.3 Description of side flash .19
5.4 Description of step-voltage .19
5.5 Description of flashover.19
6 Effects of lightning strokes on the body of human beings and livestock .19
6.1 Physiological effects.21
6.2 Pathophysiological effects .21
6.3 Thermal effects .21
6.4 Comparison between effects of electric shock and effects of lightning strokes.21
Annex A (informative) Figures.23
Bibliography.35

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------

SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006
TR 60479-4 © IEC:2004 – 5 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
EFFECTS OF CURRENT ON HUMAN BEINGS
AND LIVESTOCK –
Part 4: Effects of lightning strokes
on human beings and livestock
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
The main task of IEC technical committees is to prepare International Standards. However, a
technical committee may propose the publication of a Technical Report when it has collected
data of a different kind from that which is normally published as an International Standard, for
example "state of the art".
IEC 60479-4, is a technical report and has been prepared by technical committee 64:
Electrical installations and protection against electric shock.

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------

SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006
TR 60479-4 © IEC:2004 – 7 –
The text of this technical report is based on the following documents:
Enquiry draft Report on voting
64/1382/DTR 64/1396/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this technical report can be found in the
report on voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
IEC 60479 consists of the following parts under the general title Effects of current on human
beings and livestock
Part 1: General aspects
Part 2: Special aspects:
Chapter 4: Effects of alternating current with frequencies above 100 Hz
Chapter 5: Effects of special waveforms of current
Chapter 6: Effects of unidirectional single impulse currents of short duration
Part 3: Effects of currents passing through the bodies of livestock
Part 4: Effects of lightning strokes on human beings and livestock
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in
the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------

SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006
TR 60479-4 © IEC:2004 – 9 –
INTRODUCTION
IEC 60479 parts 1 to 3, deals with the effect of electric shock derived from electrical systems
on the bodies of human beings and livestock. This part, which is a technical report, describes
the influence and effect of natural electricity in the form of lightning strokes during
thunderstorms. Lightning current can consist of several uni-polar and/or bi-polar impulses with
different peak values and durations; Chapter 6 of IEC 60479-2 does not cover these effects.
The interaction of a lightning stroke with the victim’s body is quite different from the usual
experience with electric shock derived from electrical systems. The pathway often includes
the head in lightning accidents. This implies a probable inclusion of the brain stem, which
includes the respiratory centre, in contrast with pathways of shock current arising from
electrical systems. In particular it must be pointed out that differences exist between
accidents caused by a direct flash compared with those interactions which are caused by step
voltages. Even very short single impulses of lightning can cause cardio-pulmonary arrest
1
[5] , [6], [12] and [13].
The intense electric interactions with living organisms are very dangerous but, surprisingly in
many cases, not always lethal. It is accepted that 70 % or more lightning accidents involving
humans are not fatal (see [1] and [9]. Corresponding reliable data for livestock are not known.
There is a large variation in outcome due to different environments, different activities of
people and knowledge of first aid and quality of medical care [1] and [5].
It has been necessary, therefore, to create a separate document concerning the special
effects of lightning strokes. The physical behaviour of lightning is shown as a basis. The
interaction with a living body is then described, followed by the consequences for the life of
the victim.
———————
1
Figures in square brackets refer to the bibilography.

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------

SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006
TR 60479-4 © IEC:2004 – 11 –
EFFECTS OF CURRENT ON HUMAN BEINGS
AND LIVESTOCK –
Part 4: Effects of lightning strokes
on human beings and livestock
1 Scope and object
This technical report summarizes the basic parameters for lightning and their variability
insofar as they apply to human beings and livestock. The possible direct and indirect
interactions of strikes with bodies of living beings are indicated. The resulting effects caused
by lightning currents for the organism are described.
The intention is to show the differences of effects on human beings and livestock due to
lightning strokes versus those effects of electric shocks derived from electrical systems.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60479-1:1994, Effects of current on human beings and livestock – Part 1: General
aspects
IEC 61024-1:1997, Protection of structures against lightning
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the definitions given in IEC 60479-1 in addition to the
following definitions, apply.
3.1 Definitions of technical terms
3.1.1
lightning flash
atmospheric discharge consisting of one or more strokes
3.1.2
lightning stroke
single electrical discharge in a lightning flash
3.1.3
lightning channel
conducting path of the lightning current

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------

SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006
TR 60479-4 © IEC:2004 – 13 –
3.1.4
stepped and connecting leader
pre-discharge with low current and with low light emission, which opens the lightning channel
as it grows
3.1.5
main stroke, return stroke
bright lightened part with strong current discharge, which is initiated at that moment when the
stepped and connecting leader comes into contact with the earth
3.1.6
downward flash
lightning flash initiated by a downward leader from a cloud to earth
3.1.7
upward flash
lightning flash initiated by an upward leader from earth to cloud. That part of a stroke when
the leader grows from earth to cloud
3.1.8
continuing current
mean current of the long lasting component of the lightning current
3.1.9
peak value
maximum value of the lightning current. This value ranges from 4 kA to 250 kA for the majority
of positive and negative lightning strokes [7]
3.1.10
flash charge
time integral of the lightning current for the entire lightning duration. This value ranges from
0,2 C to 350 C for the majority of positive and negative lightning strokes [7]
3.1.11
impulse charge, short stroke charge
time integral of the lightning current for the impulse part of the lightning duration. This value
ranges from 0,22 C to 150 C for the majority of positive and negative lightning strokes [7]
3.1.12
specific energy
energy dissipated by the lightning current in a unit resistance. It is the integral of the square
3
of the lightning current for the duration of the lightning. This value ranges from 6 × 10 J/Ω to
7
1,5 × 10 J/Ω for the majority of positive and negative lightning strokes [7]
3.1.13
average steepness
average rate of change of current calculated over 10 % to 90 % of peak amplitude of the wave
front [7]. This value ranges from 0,2 kA/µs to 99 kA/µs for the majority of positive and
negative lightning strokes
3.1.14
stroke duration
range of 6,15 µs to 2 000 µs for the majority of positive and negative lightning strokes [7]
3.1.15
stroke interval
time interval between the beginnings of successive strokes

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------

SIST-TP IEC/TR 60479-4:2006
TR 60479-4 © IEC:2004 – 15 –
3.1.16
total flash duration
time range of 0,1 ms to 1 100 ms for the majority of positive and negative lightning strokes [7]
NOTE Experience show that the statistical distribution of the parameters in this subclause can be assumed to
have a logarithmic normal distribution.
3.2 Definitions of interactions
3.2.1
direct stroke
interaction whereby the tip of the stepped and connecting leader attaches directly to the living
being (see Figure A.2)
3.2.2
contact voltage
potential difference between accessible points when touched simultaneously by a living being
(see Figure A.3)
NOTE In some texts, this has been erroneously referred to as “contact potential” or “touch voltage”.
3.2.3
side flash
electric arc between two objects, at least one of which is subject to lightning (see Figure A.4
and A.5c)
3.2.4
step voltage
voltage on the earth’s surface between two points
NOTE The possible resulting currents are shown in Figures A.5a and A.5c.
[IEV 195-05-12, modified]
3.2.5
flashover
an electric arc over the surface of the body carrying a significant proportion of the current. It
may occur with the other combinations above (see Figure A.2)
3.3 Definitions of effects on organisms
3.3.1
physiolog
...