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and children‘s homes, etc.The generally
acknowledged code of practice, in
this case DIN EN 62305 (VDE 0185-
305):2006-11 or DIN VDE V 0185,
must be adhered to when installing
technical systems. Issues relating to
installation arise not only in connection
with ofcial requirements but also
when the insurers call for lightning
protection, e.g. for high-racking
warehouses or plants with a high risk
of explosion. Similar relationships
apply to surge protection. For example,
DIN VDE 0100 part 443 species risk
factors which determine the installation
of surge protection measures.
The Association of German Property
Insurers (VdS) publishes a number of
documents covering particular
applications, e.g. electrical installations,
IT systems, agricultural businesses and
residential buildings:
• VdS 2192: Leaet on surge
protection for loss prevention
• VdS 2014: Determining causes of
damage due to lightning and surge
• VdS 2258: Protection against surge
• VdS 2006: Lightning protection by
means of lightning arresters
• VdS 2017: Lightning and surge
protection for agricultural businesses
• VdS 2031: Lightning and surge
protection in electrical installations
• VdS 2028: Foundation earth
electrodes for equipotential bonding
and lightning protection earth
termination
• VdS 2019: surge protection in
residential buildings
• VdS 2569: surge protection for
electronic IT systems
• VdS 2010: Risk-based lightning and
surge protection
• VdS 2007: IT installations
• VdS 3428: surge protection devices
Furthermore, in Germany lightning
protection is also covered in the
construction law requirements of the
individual federal states and also in
national regulations. In light of this
situation, the Association of German
Property Insurers has produced a
table to simplify the assignment of
lightning protection classes and surge
protection requirements to buildings
and installations (VdS guideline 2010).
This takes into account the experience
and ndings of loss prevention
experts as well as legislation, ofcial
regulations and standards.
Legal basis
Basically, lightning and surge
protection is not a mandatory provision
in the form of legislation, even though
lightning and surge protection is
covered in Germany‘s EMC Act.
However, it is important to know that
there is indeed a legal basis. This
comes into play when a loss event
has occurred and, as a result, legal
proceedings become relevant.
In Germany, the following legal aspects
must be taken into account:
Civil law:
• BGB (German Civil Code)
cl. 633 Contractor‘s duty of
warranty; removal of
defects
cl. 276 Responsibility for one‘s
own conduct
cl. 278 Responsibility for persons
employed in performing an
obligation
cl. 459 Liability for defect of
quality
cl. 823b Unlawful actions
• Produkthaftungsgesetz
(Product Liability Act)
cl. 3 Identication of a defect/
Competence
• Gerätesicherheit
(Safety of Equipment)
cl. 3 Code of practice
• AVBEltV (General Conditions for
Electricity Supplies to Standard-
rate Customers)
Duty to observe the standards
Statutory instruments:
• Gewerbeordnung (Trade and
Industry Act)
cl. 24 Installations requiring
monitoring
cl. 120a Mortal danger and other
health risks
• VOB (Contract Procedures
for Building Works)
cl. 3 Suspected defects
cl. 4/2 Responsibility/Code of
practice
cl. 4/3 Written notication of
concerns
Basically, a person undertaking
work is always liable for ensuring
that his work is free from defects.
The decisive starting point from
which to establish whether work
is free from defects is adherence
to the generally accepted codes of
practice.
Country-specic standards and directives
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The basics of lightning and surge protection
W.452028840000