This European Standard provides information on the characteristics of thunderstorm warning systems
and information for the evaluation of the usefulness of lightning real time data and/or storm
electrification data in order to implement lightning hazard preventive measures.

This European Standard provides the basic requirements of sensors and networks collecting accurate
data of the relevant parameters informing in real-time about lightning tracking and range. It describes
the application of the data collected by these sensors and networks in the form of warnings and
historical data.

This European Standard applies to the use of information from thunderstorm warning systems (which
are systems or equipment which provide real-time information) on atmospheric electrical activity in
order to monitor for preventive means.

The scope of this document is providing:

– a general description of the available lightning and storm electrification hazard warning systems;

– a classification of thunderstorm detection devices and properties;

– guidelines for alarming methods;

– a procedure to determine the thunderstorm information usefulness;

– some examples of possible preventive actions (only for information).


A non-exhaustive list of activities to which this European Standard might apply is given below:

– people in open areas: maintenance people, labour, sports or other open-air activities,
competitions, crowded events, agricultural activities, farms and fisheries;

– wind farms, larger solar power systems, power lines, etc.;

– occupational health and safety prevention;

– safeguard sensitive equipment: computer systems, electric or electronic systems, emergency
systems, alarms and safety;

– prevention of losses in operations and industrial processes;

– prevention of serious accidents involving dangerous substances (e.g. flammable, radioactive,
toxic, and explosive);

– prevention in determined environments or activities with special danger of electrostatic
discharges (e.g. space and flight vehicle operations);

– operations in which the continuity of the basic services is needed to be guaranteed (e.g.
telecommunications, the generation, transport and distribution of energy, sanitary services and
emergency services);

– infrastructures: ports, airports, railroads, motorways and cableways;

– civil defence of the environment: forest fires, land slide and floods;

– managing traffic (e.g. airplanes) or wide networks (e.g. power lines, telecommunication lines) may
also benefits from having early detection of thunderstorms.


The following enumerated aspects are outside of this European Standard:

a) lightning protection systems. Such systems are covered by EN 62305 standards series;

b) other thunderstorm related phenomena such as rain, hail, wind, etc.;

c) satellite and radar thunderstorm detection techniques.