Lightning protection for different plant sizes
In principle, a distinction must be made between public and private buildings. In addition, the plant size also plays a role.
In public buildings (schools, for example), the building ordinance in the relevant region governs the proper installation of the lightning protection system . The electrically qualified person must design and install the lightning protection system, or contract a suitable lightning protection company to do so. Thus, the electrically qualified person can be held liable for proper installation. This is regulated in the standard VDE0185, Part 1-4.
For residential PV systems, with a power of less than 10 kWp, the PV system operators themselves can decide whether or not to install a lightning protection system.
In plant sizes of 10 kWp and higher, the VDS (Verband der Sachversicherer/Association of Nonlife Insurers) often requires internal and external lightning protection. If this requirement is not met, an insurance company may decline to provide insurance coverage for the plant.