Minimum Material Dimensions According to IEC 623053 Ed 2 - AWS310 - AWS310-SITE - AWS430 - FOC201 - RME111 - RWCC - RWS200

Grounding and Lightning Protection in Vaisala Outdoor Installations Technical Reference

Document code
M211786EN
Revision
B
Language
English
Product
AWS310
AWS310-SITE
AWS430
FOC201
RME111
RWCC
RWS200
Document type
User guide

Table 1 and Table 2 are based on standard IEC 62305-3 Ed 2. The tables list minimum dimensions for the lightning protection system equipment.

The following table lists the different materials and shapes that are used in air terminals, down conductors, and ground electrodes, including the cross-sectional area.

Table 1. Material, Configuration and Minimum Cross-sectional Area of Air-termination Conductors, Air-termination Rods, Earth Lead-in Rods and Down-conductors (IEC 62305-3 Ed 2)
Material Configuration Cross-sectional Area
Copper, tin-plated copper Solid tape

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Solid round1

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Stranded 1

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Solid round 2

176 mm2

(AWG 350)

Aluminum Solid tape

70 mm2

(AWG 00)

Solid round

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Stranded

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Aluminum alloy Solid tape

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Solid round

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Stranded

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Solid round 2

176 mm2

(AWG 350)

Copper-coated aluminum alloy Solid round

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Hot-dipped galvanized steel Solid tape

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Solid round

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Stranded

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Solid round 2

176 mm2

(AWG 350)

Copper-coated steel Solid round

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Solid tape

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Stainless steel Solid tape 3

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Solid round 3

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Stranded

70 mm2

(AWG 00)

Solid round 2

176 mm2

(AWG 350)

The following table lists the different materials, shapes, and sizes that are used in ground electrodes.

Table 2. Material, Configuration and Minimum Dimensions of Earth Electrodes (IEC 62305-3 Ed 2)
Material Configuration Dimensions
Earth Rod Diameter Earth Conductor Earth Plate
Copper, Tin-plated copper Stranded

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Solid round

15 mm

(0.59 in)

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Solid tape

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Pipe

20 mm

(0.79 in)

Solid plate

500 × 500 mm

(19.69 × 19.69 in)

Lattice plate 5

600 × 600 mm

(23.62 × 23.62 in)

Hot-dipped galvanized steel Solid round

14 mm

(0.55 in)

78 mm2

(AWG 000)

Pipe

25 mm

(0.98 in)

Solid tape

90 mm2

(AWG 000)

Solid plate

500 × 500 mm

(19.69 × 19.69 in)

Lattice plate 5

600 × 600 mm

(23.62 × 23.62 in)

Profile 6
Bare steel7 Stranded

70 mm2

(AWG 00)

Solid round

78 mm2

(AWG 000)

Solid tape

75 mm2

(AWG 000)

Copper-coated steel Solid round 14 mm (0.55 in) 8

50 mm2

(AWG 0)

Solid tape

90 mm2

(AWG 000)

Stainless steel Solid round 15 mm (0.59 in) 8

78 mm2

(AWG 000)

Solid tape

100 mm2

(AWG 0000)

1 50 mm2(AWG 0) with 8 mm (0.31 in) diameter may be reduced to 25 mm2(AWG 3) in certain applications where mechanical strength is not an essential requirement. Consideration should in this case be given to reducing the spacing between the fasteners.
2 Applicable for air-termination rods and earth lead-in rods. For air terminals where mechanical stress such as wind load is not critical, a 9.5 mm (0.37 in) diameter, 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long terminal may be used.
3 If thermal and mechanical considerations are important then these values should be increased to 75 mm² (AWG 000).
4 If thermal and mechanical considerations are important then these values should be increased to 75 mm² (AWG 000).
5 Lattice plate constructed with a minimum total length of the conductor of 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in).
6 Different profiles are permitted with a cross-section of 290 mm2(AWG 600) and a minimum thickness of 3 mm (0.12 in), e.g. cross profile.
7 Shall be embedded in concrete for a minimum depth of 50 mm (1.97 in).
8 In some countries the diameter may be reduced to 12.7 mm (0.50 in).