IEC 62561-2:2025

Overview

IEC 62561-2:2025 is the 2025 third edition of the International Electrotechnical Commission standard for lightning protection system components (LPSC), Part 2: Requirements for conductors and earth electrodes. It specifies mandatory requirements and test methods for metallic conductors (excluding natural conductors) that form part of air‑termination and down‑conductor systems, and for metallic earth electrodes that form part of the earth‑termination system. This edition replaces IEC 62561-2:2018 and introduces several technical updates, including new conductor definitions, updated environmental treatments, and new normative annexes.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and materials: Defines acceptable materials, configuration and cross‑sectional area for air‑termination conductors, catenary wires, down‑conductors, earth lead‑in conductors, earth electrodes and equipotential earth grids.
• Mechanical & electrical characteristics: Requirements for tensile strength, yield/tensile ratio, electrical resistivity and cross‑sectional area.
• Coating and corrosion resistance: Tests for coating thickness, adhesion, and resistance - updated to align with IEC 60068-2-52 (salt mist) and ISO 22479 (humid sulphurous atmosphere). Ammonia atmosphere treatment is also referenced.
• Environmental testing: Normative environmental tests (Annex A) covering salt mist, humid sulphurous and ammonia exposures to assess long‑term durability.
• Lightning current and electrical tests: Lightning impulse/current tests and acceptance criteria (Annex B) for conductors, earth rods and couplers.
• Couplers and connectors: Mechanical compression, environmental and lightning current tests for couplers used with earth rods.
• New normative annexes: Annex H (material, configuration and cross‑sectional area test) and Annex I (applicability of previous tests) clarify test scope and legacy compliance.
• Marking, documentation and EMC: Requirements for durable marking, installation instructions and electromagnetic compatibility considerations; detailed test report structure.

Practical applications and who uses it

• Manufacturers of lightning conductors, earth rods, couplers and equipotential earth grids use the standard to design and certify products.
• Testing laboratories and certification bodies apply the specified tests and report formats for product compliance.
• Electrical and lightning protection engineers / specifiers reference the standard when designing air‑termination, down‑conductor and earth‑termination systems.
• Installers and contractors rely on the documented installation instructions and marking requirements to ensure compliant on‑site implementation.
• Asset owners and safety auditors use the standard to verify that lightning protection components meet internationally accepted durability and performance criteria.

Related standards

• IEC 62561 series (other parts of the LPSC family)
• IEC 60068-2-52 (salt mist treatment)
• ISO 22479 (humid sulphurous atmosphere treatment)

Keywords: IEC 62561-2:2025, lightning protection, conductors and earth electrodes, air‑termination, down‑conductor, earth‑termination system, equipotential earth grid, environmental test, lightning current test, material and cross‑section test.