Herramienta computacional para el cálculo de riesgo de daños por descargas eléctricas atmosféricas según NTC 4552-2:2023

Abstract

The increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as thunderstorms, has highlighted the need for effective lightning protection systems, due to the significant risk these events pose to human life, infrastructure, and electrical and electronic equipment, potentially causing economic losses, operational disruptions, and structural damage. In Colombia, the assessment of lightning-related risk and the design of appropriate protection systems are governed by national regulations such as NTC 4552-2, which is based on international standards and provides detailed methodologies for risk estimation. However, manual risk calculation is complex, error-prone, and requires a high level of technical expertise, as it involves analyzing various factors such as geographic location, structural dimensions, terrain characteristics, and lightning density in the area. For this reason, the development of an accessible computational tool is justified to automate these calculations in accordance with NTC 4552-2:2023, offering engineers, designers, and lightning protection companies a precise, efficient, and practical solution for risk assessment.