Systems and special applications · Complies to ICAO Annex 14 · DGCA CAR
Aviation Obstruction Lighting
Aviation obstruction lights mark tall structures so that pilots can see them at night and in poor visibility. The type, intensity and number of lights depend on the height of the structure and its location relative to an aerodrome.
When it applies
- Telecom and broadcast towers
- Chimneys, tall buildings and cranes
- Wind turbines and transmission towers
- Any structure the aviation authority requires to be marked
When it does not
- Structures the authority has assessed as not being obstacles
- Use of non-certified lights where certified intensity is required
- Marking as a substitute for height clearance, which is a separate approval
How the system works
- DefineZones, bonding points and what must be evidenced are fixed on the drawings first.
- SelectEach component is chosen by its rating and the standard it is tested to.
- InstallConnections are kept short and every joint is made with a tested component.
- VerifyThe system is measured, labelled and recorded before handover.
Coordinated surge protection
Each device takes its share. The Class I device diverts lightning current at the service entry; Class II and III devices bring the remaining voltage below what the equipment can withstand.
Design parameters
The values a consultant or contractor needs to fix before the system is drawn.
| Parameter | Typical value or rule | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Low intensity | Fixed red, 10 cd (Type A) or 32 cd (Type B), for objects lower than 45 m | ICAO Annex 14 |
| Medium intensity | 2,000 cd red flashing (Type B) or fixed (Type C), or 20,000 cd white flashing (Type A), for objects of 45 m to 150 m | ICAO Annex 14 |
| High intensity | White flashing, for objects above 150 m | ICAO Annex 14 |
| Levels | Lights at the top, with intermediate levels at regular vertical spacing on tall structures | ICAO Annex 14 · DGCA CAR |
| Power and control | Photocell, flasher synchronisation, alarm contact and backup supply | ICAO Annex 14 |
| Surge protection | SPDs on the supply and control cables; fitting bonded to the structure | IEC 62305-4 |
Solution pack: component BOQ
Each line opens the LPES product category. Part codes and final quantities are confirmed on your quote from the drawings.
| Component | Role in the system | Quantity rule |
|---|---|---|
| Aviation Obstruction Lights | Obstruction lights with controller and photocell | From structure height: top lights plus intermediate levels |
| Self-supporting Masts | Masts carrying lights and air termination on roofs and stacks | From the layout |
| ESE Masts & Couplers | Mast sections, couplers and brackets for mounting | Per mast |
From design to handover
- Confirm the authority's marking requirement for the height and location
- Select intensity type and number of levels
- Install lights, controller, cabling and surge protection
- Bond fittings to the structure and test operation and alarms
- Maintain under a service contract and keep the log
Services for this solution
Industries that use it
What the standards require
Checked against the current editions held in the LPES standards library.
- IEC 62305-4:2024
- A coordinated SPD system protects against conducted surges only. Radiated fields need shielding and cable routing.
- IEC 62305-4:2024 Cl. 7
- Where an external LPS exists, a Class I (Type 1) SPD is required at the service entry.
- IEC 62305-4:2024
- Earthing conductor to the SPD: 16 mm² copper for Class I, 6 mm² for Class II and 1.5 mm² for Class III.
- IEC 62305-3:2024 Tables 9 and 10
- Bonding conductors: 16 mm² copper between bonding bars or to earth; 6 mm² copper from internal metal installations to a bar.
- IS 3043:2026 Cl. 6.3
- One interconnected, meshed earthing and bonding network, with all electrodes, the main earthing terminal and the LPS integrated.
- IEC 62305-3:2024 D.7.2
- Inspect visually every year and completely every three years; every year for sensitive systems and explosion-risk structures.
Regulation and standards cross-check
What Indian regulation and the wider standards add to this solution. Paraphrased; confirm against the current official text, amendments and state notifications before relying on a clause in a tender or inspection.
| Standard | Clause | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| CEA Safety Regulations 2023 | Reg 38(3)(vi) | Lightning protection is required for multi-storeyed buildings above 15 m and for listed premises, which include hospitals, hotels, academic buildings, industrial installations and other public buildings. The regulation names no design standard, so IS/IEC 62305 applies through Reg 14. |
| CEA Safety Regulations 2023 | Reg 14(2), Reg 2(1)(zze) | Relevant standards, including the National Electrical Code and the National Building Code, shall be followed. Indian Standards come first, then IEC, IEEE and European Norms in that order. Where a standard and the regulations differ, the regulations prevail. |
| IS 732:2019 | Clause 1, 4.5.3, 5.3.5 | The wiring code covers installations up to 1,000 V a.c. or 1,500 V d.c. Its surge clauses govern whether a surge protective device is needed and how it is selected, connected and coordinated. |
| CEA Safety Regulations 2023 | Reg 43(v) | Every building shall have protective equipotential bonding that interconnects exposed and extraneous conductive parts. |
| IEC 60364-6:2016 | 6.4.3.3 | Surge protective devices are disconnected for the insulation resistance test. Where that is impracticable the test voltage may be reduced to 250 V d.c., and the result must still be at least 1 MΩ. |
What we ask for before design starts
- Single-line diagram with sources, operating modes and earthing arrangement
- Equipment list with impulse withstand levels
- Cable routes and every point where services enter
- Fault levels and protection clearing times
- Existing earthing and lightning protection records
- Site layout with fences, pipes, rails and neighbouring installations
Try the numbers
Protection level explorer
- Rolling-sphere radius
- 45 m
- Mesh size
- 15 × 15 m
- Down-conductor spacing
- 15 m
- Peak current covered
- 100 kA
- Coefficient ki
- 0.04
- Interception efficiency
- 90%
Values from IEC 62305-1 and IEC 62305-3. The level for your structure comes from the risk assessment.
What we find on audits
- Bonding done at the board but not where services enter the building
- Type 2 devices used where a Type 1 is required
- Isolating joints and insulated flanges left without spark gaps
- Monitoring fitted with nobody assigned to act on alarms
- Records kept by the contractor and never handed to the owner
What you receive: the LPES Protection Passport
- As-built drawings of the installed system
- Risk assessment and design calculations
- Test results: earth resistance, continuity, SPD checks
- Component list with part codes and type-test references
- Inspection schedule for the protection level
Lightning to Load: one accountable partner
- Assess
- Design
- Specify
- Supply
- Implement
- Verify
- Assure
Standards basis
IEC 62305-3 and -4:2024 (Ed. 3) · IEC 61643 series · IEC 60364-6:2016 · IS 3043:2026 · IS 732:2019 · IEC 62561 series · IS 732:2019 · IEC 60364-6:2016 · IEC 61936-1:2021
Reviewed by LPES engineering, November 2026. Clause and table numbers follow IEC 62305:2024 (Edition 3) and IS 3043:2026.
Questions engineers ask
Which structures need obstruction lights?
Those the aviation authority identifies as obstacles, generally tall structures and those near aerodromes. Aviation Obstruction Lights
Low, medium or high intensity?
Low intensity below 45 m, medium from 45 m to 150 m and high intensity above 150 m, subject to the authority's requirement. Aviation Obstruction Lights
How many levels of lights are needed?
Lights at the top, plus intermediate levels on tall structures at the vertical spacing set by the regulations. Installation & Commissioning
Do the lights need lightning protection?
Yes. They sit at the highest point; the fitting is bonded and its cables are protected by SPDs. Self-supporting Masts
Who maintains the lights?
They can be covered by an annual maintenance contract with a log of checks and failures. Annual Maintenance Contract
Get this solution quoted for your site
Send the drawings or the basic dimensions. LPES returns the design parameters, the BOQ with part codes and the price in one offer.
