IEC TR 60479-4:2011

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
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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
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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
...