IEC TR 60479-4:2011

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

IEC/TR 60479-4:2011 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 domestiques - Partie 4: Effets de la foudre

La CEI/TR 60479-4:2011 résume les paramètres essentiels de la foudre et leur variabilité dans la mesure où ils s'appliquent aux corps humains et aux animaux domestiques. Les interactions directes et indirectes probables entre la foudre et le corps des êtres vivants 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 domestiques en comparaison avec les effets des chocs électriques en provenance des installations électriques.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 11-Oct-2011
• ICS: 13.200 - Accident and disaster control
• ICS: 29.020 - Electrical engineering in general
• ICS: 31.220.10 - Plug-and-socket devices. Connectors
• Technical Committee: TC 64 - Electrical installations and protection against electric shock
• Drafting Committee: MT 4 - TC 64/MT 4
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Start Date: 13-Apr-2018
• Completion Date: 26-Feb-2020

Relations

• Revised: IEC TR 60479-4:2020 - Effects of current on human beings and livestock - Part 4: Effects of lightning strokes
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC TR 60479-4:2004 - Effects of current on human beings and livestock - Part 4: Effects of lightning strokes on human beings and livestock
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC/TR 60479-4 ®
Edition 2.0 2011-0
TECHNICAL
REPORT
RAPPORT
TECHNIQUE
colour
inside
Effects of current on human beings and livestock –
Part 4: Effects of lightning strokes

Effets du courant sur le corps humain et sur les animaux domestiques –
Partie 4: Effets de la foudre
IEC/TR 60479-4:2011
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by

any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either IEC or

IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite
ni utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie
et les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de la CEI ou du Comité national de la CEI du pays du demandeur.

Si vous avez des questions sur le copyright de la CEI ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette

publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Central Office
3, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.
 Catalogue of IEC publications: www.iec.ch/searchpub
The IEC on-line Catalogue enables you to search by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical committee,…).
It also gives information on projects, withdrawn and replaced publications.
 IEC Just Published: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published details twice a month all new publications released. Available
on-line and also by email.
 Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and electrical terms containing more than 20 000 terms and definitions
in English and French, with equivalent terms in additional languages. Also known as the International Electrotechnical
Vocabulary online.
 Customer Service Centre: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need further assistance, please visit the Customer Service
Centre FAQ or contact us:
Email: [e-mail]
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
A propos de la CEI
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (CEI) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

A propos des publications CEI
Le contenu technique des publications de la CEI est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez
l’édition la plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.
 Catalogue des publications de la CEI: www.iec.ch/searchpub/cur_fut-f.htm
Le Catalogue en-ligne de la CEI vous permet d’effectuer des recherches en utilisant différents critères (numéro de référence,
texte, comité d’études,…). Il donne aussi des informations sur les projets et les publications retirées ou remplacées.
 Just Published CEI: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications de la CEI. Just Published détaille deux fois par mois les nouvelles
publications parues. Disponible en-ligne et aussi par email.
 Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
Le premier dictionnaire en ligne au monde de termes électroniques et électriques. Il contient plus de 20 000 termes et
définitions en anglais et en français, ainsi que les termes équivalents dans les langues additionnelles. Egalement appelé
Vocabulaire Electrotechnique International en ligne.
 Service Clients: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv/custserv_entry-f.htm
Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur cette publication ou si vous avez des questions, visitez le FAQ du
Service clients ou contactez-nous:
Email: [e-mail]
Tél.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
IEC/TR 60479-4 ®
Edition 2.0 2011-0
TECHNICAL
REPORT
RAPPORT
TECHNIQUE
colour
inside
Effects of current on human beings and livestock –
Part 4: Effects of lightning strokes

Effets du courant sur le corps humain et sur les animaux domestiques –
Partie 4: Effets de la foudre
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX S
ICS 13.200; 29.020 ISBN 978-2-88912-694-1

– 2 – TR 60479-4  IEC:2011
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3

INTRODUCTION . 5

1 Scope and object . 6

2 Normative references . 6

3 Terms and definitions . 6

4 Physics of lightning . 9

5 Interaction of strokes with human beings and livestock . 10

5.1 General . 10
5.2 Description of direct strike . 10
5.3 Description of contact voltage . 11
5.4 Description of side flash . 12
5.5 Description of step-voltage . 13
5.6 Description of streamer shock . 15
5.7 Description of flashover . 16
6 Effects of lightning strokes on the body of human beings and livestock . 16
6.1 General . 16
6.2 Physiological effects . 16
6.3 Pathophysiological effects . 17
6.4 Thermal effects . 17
6.5 Comparison between effects of electric shock derived from electrical
systems and lightning . 17
6.6 Percentage occurrence . 17
Bibliography . 20

Figure 1 – Categorization of lightning [4] . 10
Figure 2 – Direct stroke . 11
Figure 3 – Contact voltage . 12
Figure 4 – Side flash . 13
Figure 5 – Step voltage . 14
Figure 6 – Step voltage on quadrupeds . 14
Figure 7 – Step voltage with side flash . 15

Figure 8 – Upward streamer current . 16

Table 1 – Causes of lightning death and most typical reported consequent disorders
[11-16], [20] . 18
Table 2 – Differences between low voltage and high voltage injuries from electrical
systems, and lightning injuries [1], [11-16], [20] . 19

TR 60479-4 © IEC:2011 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
EFFECTS OF CURRENT ON HUMAN BEINGS AND LIVESTOCK –

Part 4: Effects of lightning strokes

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 itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
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/TR 60479-4, which is a technical report, has been prepared by technical committee
No.64: Electrical installations and protection against electric shock.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 2004 and constitutes a
technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
– the report has been completed with additional information on the influences and effects of
natural electricity in the form of lightning strokes during thunderstorms;
– the definitions and technical terms have been updated;

– 4 – TR 60479-4 © IEC:2011
– the explanation of the basic physical mechanisms for the dynamics of lightning where

specified;
– the references to the relevant literature and the list of bibliography are updated;

– figures showing the current path during different interactions of lightning with the victim’s

body are updated.
The text of this technical report is based on the following documents:

Enquiry draft Report on voting

64/1772/DTR 64/1804/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this techn
...