Is installation of surge protection according to DIN VDE 0100-443/543 mandatory?

Hello everyone,

my house builder informed me that there is a new regulation requiring surge protection for buildings planned from 1.10.16 onwards. We are not subject to this requirement since our planning was completed before that date. So, it is up to us whether to install it or not. The cost is €810 including VAT.

Since we are not obliged, I wanted to ask the group what you think about it. Primarily, surge protection is about preventing damage to electrical devices caused by power surges. See also the information sheet attached.

Presumably, this is once again a case of buying a bit of security, so you might sleep a little better during a thunderstorm. There are many who have never had a lightning strike causing damage, but there are certainly some who have suffered damage.

Personally, I tend not to install it.

What do you think?

Regards
mading

Hello,

we have had this discussion here a few times already. I tend to be on the side that would rather install it. I am always in favor of technically minimizing the risk of damage instead of taking out insurance for it. However, I think the mentioned price is quite high.

What is crucial, I think, is how high the risk of a surge damage is. Do you have a solar system, does your main house connection come via overhead line?

Hi,

we will have a photovoltaic system. House connection via underground cable.

I will still get more detailed information (from the house builder and the product manufacturer) about what exactly the surge protection covers.

A lightning conductor is only installed on exposed and/or old as well as public buildings. I am wondering how/through what a surge can occur.

Thanks in advance for your answer!

Regards

mading

Now we are not subject to this requirement, as our planning was completed before it. So it is up to us whether to include it or not. Cost 810€ incl. VAT.

Frankly and freely claimed from the gut but still wrong.

Developers and shell construction companies are notorious for not even knowing the foundation earth conductor standard DIN 18014:2007-09 and for installing grounding systems non-compliantly without documentation through an EFK in the old manner, which makes knowledge of DIN VDE 0100-443 and 0100-534 remarkable.

The deciding factor for the standard compliance of a construction project is solely the date of completion or, in the internal relationship between buyer/developer, the date of acceptance.

Documentation by an EFK

What does such documentation look like? It would then have to be presented during the final inspection of the house, right?

A lightning conductor is only installed on exposed and/or old as well as public buildings. I am wondering how/through what an overvoltage can occur.

Lightning protection systems or lightning protection installations – as the correct technical terms are – are only legally required for certain buildings. When installing lightning protection systems, overvoltage protection for all supply systems was already required before 01.10.2017 according to DIN EN 62305 (VDE 0855-305). In contrast, according to the new standards, overvoltage protection of low-voltage supply is mandatory regardless of official regulations.