The Lightning Risk Assessment (LRA) is much more than a simple administrative formality. A technical and legal document required by the IEC 62305-2 standard, it determines all lightning protection decisions: required protection level, type of lightning rod, number of down conductors, class of surge protection devices. If poorly carried out, it can lead to dangerous under-protection or costly over-protection.
With LPS Manager, engineering firms, installers, and asset managers have a professional tool to structure field data collection, collaborate with calculation experts, and generate the certified LRA report in compliance with regulatory requirements.
What is the LRA according to IEC 62305-2?
The Lightning Risk Assessment is defined by Part 2 of the IEC 62305 standard. It consists of evaluating lightning-related risks for a given structure, using a rigorous multi-step method:
- Identification and characterization of the structure (dimensions, height, roof type, contents)
- Determination of the ground flash density (Ng) for the geographic area
- Calculation of impact frequencies on the structure and its services
- Evaluation of potential consequences (human, economic, cultural losses)
- Calculation of risks R1 to R4 and comparison with tolerable risks Rt
- Determination of the required Lightning Protection Level (LPL)
The LRA report engages the responsibility of its signatory. It must be prepared by a competent person, documented in a traceable manner, and updated whenever there is a significant change to the structure or its environment.
The challenges of field data collection
The quality of an LRA depends first and foremost on the quality of data collected in the field. However, this phase is often a source of errors or omissions:
- Incorrect structure dimensions
- Forgotten incoming services (power supplies, telecommunications)
- Incorrect characterization of the environment (neighboring buildings, vegetation)
- Misidentification of equipment to be protected and its value
LPS Manager guides users through structured and comprehensive collection, with forms adapted to IEC 62305-2 requirements. Each field is documented, normative default values are pre-loaded, and critical elements are subject to validation.
LPS Manager and LRA calculation: structured collaboration
It is important to emphasize a fundamental point: LPS Manager does not perform lightning risk analysis calculations. The platform is designed for collection, storage, traceability, and document generation. Standardized risk calculations according to IEC 62305-2 are performed with dedicated calculation tools such as LPS Designer Pro.
LPS Designer Pro is LPS France’s lightning protection calculation tool, covering NF C 17-102 and IEC 62305-2. It notably allows for:
- Importing geolocated Nsg density data (Météorage France data, LPS France API internationally)
- Performing complete risk calculation according to IEC 62305-2
- Determining the required LPL
- Calculating the protection radius of PDA lightning rods according to NF C 17-102
The complementarity between LPS Manager (document management and traceability) and LPS Designer Pro (regulatory calculation) ensures a complete and compliant approach.
From collection to report: the LPS Manager workflow
Step 1: creating the installation file
In LPS Manager, each installation has a dedicated file: site identification, GPS coordinates, photos, building characteristics, list of equipment to be protected. This file serves as the basis for the LRA and remains accessible remotely from the application.
Step 2: field data collection
On site, the technician enters all necessary information via the LPS Manager mobile application: structure dimensions, height, construction type, incoming services, equipment present. Forms are pre-structured according to IEC 62305-2 to ensure nothing is overlooked.
Step 3: transfer to LPS Designer Pro for calculation
The collected data is transmitted to the engineering firm or lightning expert for risk calculation using LPS Designer Pro. The calculation results (LPL selected, recommended solutions) are then imported into LPS Manager.
Step 4: generating the certified LRA report
LPS Manager integrates the collected data and calculation results to generate in one click a standardized LRA report in PDF format. This report includes:
- Complete identification of the site and structure
- Local lightning density data (Ng)
- Risk analysis with detailed R1-R4 calculations
- LPL selected and justification
- Description of the recommended protection system with LPS France product references
- Date and frequency of the next verification
- Identity and signature of the report responsible party
Step 5: archiving and monitoring
The report is archived in LPS Manager with timestamping. During the next verification or site modification, the existing file is updated and a new report can be generated while preserving all history. This traceability is valuable for audits, insurers, and control authorities.
Concrete benefits for professionals
For engineering firms
- Standardized field collection, fewer back-and-forths to complete a file
- Report generation in minutes instead of several hours
- Commercial differentiation through the quality and professionalism of deliverables
For installers
- Assured documentary compliance, reduced liability risk
- Installation traceability for maintenance contracts
- Branded reports enhancing the company’s professional image
For asset managers
- Centralized registry of all LRAs by site
- Automatic alerts as renewal dates approach
- Documentation ready for DREAL audits, labor inspectors, and insurers
Conclusion
The Lightning Risk Assessment is a regulatory obligation that, when properly managed, becomes a true operational asset. LPS Manager transforms this complex process into a smooth workflow: guided field collection, collaboration with LPS Designer Pro for calculation, and automatic generation of the certified LRA report.
Ready to modernize your LRA management? Discover all the features of LPS Manager and simplify your IEC 62305-2 compliance.
