# British Electrical Code Oddities **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 15, 2016, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740 "2016-12-15T01:42:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/81 "2016-12-19T22:10:34Z")
military vehicles of course ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/82 "2016-12-20T02:06:11Z")
> [@ToughLife](#): > > … > -PAT tests (waste of resources and cost) > … I have no comment plus or minus on your list. For the non-UK citizens in the crowd, would you care to explain what a PAT test is and when or how it’s required by whom? Curious minds are … well … curious. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/83 "2016-12-20T03:40:00Z")
I won’t defend the US plugs because frankly they are pretty weak and not as safe as they could be. Most states in 2013 started requiring tamper resistant sockets which have doors on the hot and neutral (but not ground) to prevent anything from being stuck in them, which is a safety improvement sure, but there’s still many disadvantages. The ability to hold onto the plug isn’t as good as other designs, due in part to the short length of the plug blades, there’s nothing to prevent someone touching the blades in a partially engaged plug, and one thing I rarely see anyone comment about, but which I see all the time, is the placement of the grounding hole in relation to the faceplate means the plastic below the grounding hole frequently cracks if any downward force is put on the plug (such as from tugging a vacuum cleaner). See here: [http://images.freeimages.com/images/premium/previews/5409/54095018-grounded-electrical-outlet-cracked-cover.jpg](http://images.freeimages.com/images/premium/previews/5409/54095018-grounded-electrical-outlet-cracked-cover.jpg) Anyway, the British plug, I will also agree is over-engineered to the point of absurdity. It’s basically the equivalent of a US clothes dryer plug, which may not be overly excessive for an electric kettle, but for your iPhone charger or bedside clock? Give me a break. Isn’t the recessed Europlug the happy medium? They’re a bit larger than the US version, allowing the prongs to be spaced a bit farther apart, but they’re not so crazy massive as the UK ones. The recessed plugs obviate the need for plastic sleeves on the prongs, and it also prevents loose plugs from falling out easily, or being damaged from tugging on the cord. One thing I’m curious about, unrelated to the socket types, is how power is delivered typically to residential customers, not just in the UK but elsewhere in Europe. Here in the US, most domestic service is 120/240 volt split-phase (single-phase 3-wire: 120 volts phase-to-ground, or 240 volts phase-to-phase). All lighting and convenience receptacles are 120 volt while high-draw appliances like clothes dryers, electric ovens and cooktops, water heaters, and air conditioners are 240 volt. Across the pond, I understand the typical secondary distribution is 230 volt single-phase/400 volt 3-phase wye 4-wire. Is it typical for a UK or European residential customer to be getting a full 3-phase 400 volt service drop? Is it split up inside the building similar to the US where 230 volts are for the lower power draws and 400 volt is for the big appliances? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/84 "2016-12-20T06:42:45Z")
> [@ToughLife](#): > > Nope,no problem with fuses and earthling in general, but how on earth :rolleyes: > the entire world lives without fuses in the plugs and shutters in the sockets and only in the UK standard-setting bodies (IEE?) concern about people’s safety so much ? It’s not true that the entire world lives without fuses and shutters. Some of them die. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/85 "2016-12-20T07:34:02Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > One thing I’m curious about, unrelated to the socket types, is how power is delivered typically to residential customers, not just in the UK but elsewhere in Europe. Here in the US, most domestic service is 120/240 volt split-phase (single-phase 3-wire: 120 volts phase-to-ground, or 240 volts phase-to-phase). All lighting and convenience receptacles are 120 volt while high-draw appliances like clothes dryers, electric ovens and cooktops, water heaters, and air conditioners are 240 volt. Across the pond, I understand the typical secondary distribution is 230 volt single-phase/400 volt 3-phase wye 4-wire. Is it typical for a UK or European residential customer to be getting a full 3-phase 400 volt service drop? Is it split up inside the building similar to the US where 230 volts are for the lower power draws and 400 volt is for the big appliances? Singapore here, British system. I’ve never seen anything but 240V. Some circuits are rated for higher amps (air conditioners, washing machines) but all still 240V. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/86 "2016-12-20T09:08:29Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > Anyway, the British plug, I will also agree is over-engineered to the point of absurdity. It’s basically the equivalent of a US clothes dryer plug, which may not be overly excessive for an electric kettle, but for your iPhone charger or bedside clock? Give me a break. Isn’t the recessed Europlug the happy medium? I don’t really understand this argument - there’s a spectrum of cases ranging from serious to trivial and you would like to design for the middle cases? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/87 "2016-12-20T09:28:47Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > Anyway, the British plug, I will also agree is over-engineered to the point of absurdity. It’s basically the equivalent of a US clothes dryer plug, which may not be overly excessive for an electric kettle, but for your iPhone charger or bedside clock? Give me a break. I agree that it is over engineered for the low powered items you mention, but that’s standardisation for you. All the power sockets in my house are the same and designed to accommodate that plug so that’s what has to be fitted. In fact, the humble USB is beginning to take over for chargers etc. I can now buy a power socket or a power strip with extra USB sockets, ready to take the charging lead for my Samsung phone or my Kindle. I can see how, with a new build, or a rewire, many houses will have these in places where they are likely to be needed. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/88 "2016-12-20T09:52:01Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > One thing I’m curious about, unrelated to the socket types, is how power is delivered typically to residential customers, not just in the UK but elsewhere in Europe. Here in the US, most domestic service is 120/240 volt split-phase (single-phase 3-wire: 120 volts phase-to-ground, or 240 volts phase-to-phase). All lighting and convenience receptacles are 120 volt while high-draw appliances like clothes dryers, electric ovens and cooktops, water heaters, and air conditioners are 240 volt. Across the pond, I understand the typical secondary distribution is 230 volt single-phase/400 volt 3-phase wye 4-wire. Is it typical for a UK or European residential customer to be getting a full 3-phase 400 volt service drop? Is it split up inside the building similar to the US where 230 volts are for the lower power draws and 400 volt is for the big appliances? The local substation delivers power to distribution transformers (mainly 3 phase pole mounted) in a complete circuit. In this way the supply to the consumers is not affected even when any feeder becomes out of service. The distribution transformers will supply a number of houses (again on a ring) and the feed to each house is 240V, single phase. There is a fuse between the supply and the domestic consumer unit which is sealed and belongs to the power supply company. Of course, a block of flats may well have its own transformer. [http://www.electrical4u.com/electrical-power-distribution-system-radial-ring-main-electrical-power-distribution-system/](http://www.electrical4u.com/electrical-power-distribution-system-radial-ring-main-electrical-power-distribution-system/) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/89 "2016-12-20T09:58:59Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > For the non-UK citizens in the crowd, would you care to explain what a PAT test is and when or how it’s required by whom? Curious minds are … well … curious. A PAT Test is a Portable Appliance Test Test It’s a (non compulsory) scheme for testing plug-in devices in workplaces for common faults such as damaged insulation, faulty earth, etc. More details here: [PAT (Portable appliance testing) - HSE's answers to popular questions](http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/90 "2016-12-20T10:50:39Z")
> [@ToughLife](#): > > Painting with a \* broad brush\* > > I could provide dozens and dozens of examples of excessive and unnecessary health and safety regulations that do nothing but cover the assess of jobsworthes creating them. > > my first installment: Let’s just take a look at your list… > [@](#): > > -PAT tests (waste of resources and cost) PAT Testing is not compulsory. > [@](#): > > -using 110V power tools on the construction sites ( carrying stupid heavy transformers around) Using 110v on construction sites is not compulsory - it’s an industry convention. > [@](#): > > - expensive YEARLY(!) millimeters testing ( ridiculous) Never heard of it. Google doesn’t yield anything useful either. What is ‘millimeters testing’? Cite for it being compulsory and imposed by bureaucrats please. > [@](#): > > -using tools,equipment and materials that haven’t been \*approved \*by bureaucrats even when they are cheaper and better quality ( market protection) So vague a complaint, I can’t even tell what it is. What unapproved tools would you prefer to use? Example maybe? > [@](#): > > - excessive contractor’s insurance (cost) And the bureaucrats insisted your insurance must be expensive? Please explain. > [@](#): > > - step leaders can’t be used if a “safety check” sticker is not legible ( idiotic ) I don’t believe there is any legal requirement for step ladders to have a safety sticker. they should be safe, of course. > [@](#): > > - bathroom lights antiquated pull switches … no comments So fucking what? How are you inconvenienced by pulling a fucking string instead of pawing a switch? > [@](#): > > - yearly MOT Why ??? At last! An item on your list that is actually a statutory requirement! Yes, MOT testing is necessary for vehicles that are several years old, as a verification of basic roadworthiness on key points that tend to fail or suffer neglect over time. Vehicles fail this test and need to be fixed because they are unsafe for the road. I think that’s enough of an argument for the test being a worthwhile thing. > [@](#): > > - 20miles /hour speed limit (populists measure) This is the ‘20 is plenty’ (advisory, non-compulsory) signs outside schools? Or actual enforced 20mph zones (that exist typically as an attempt to remedy an accident blackspot, often associated with schools)? What’s your point here though? Faster is just as safe? Because it objectively is not. > [@](#): > > - canceling schools, public transport when temperature “plummets” to minus one ! > Wow ! That’s an Extreme weather. Everything becomes \*treacherous \*. > In North Europe minus 20 degrees and two feet overnight snow is hardly noticeable if at all. Not statutory. Decisions to close schools due to weather conditions are made locally by the school. > [@](#): > > -parents are suing the Government because British military vesicles in Iraq could not withstand IEDs… can you imagine … not safe !!! And this is somehow an indicator of an overbearing government? > [@](#): > > -sacrosanct " for health and safety reasons" could cover just about any stupid restriction and is not negotiable. > > Do I need to continue ? Probably not. I think you’ve demonstrated the real problem clearly enough. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/91 "2016-12-20T11:09:04Z")
Just to add: PAT testing is often implemented when individuals are using their own appliances in a works building. For example, my wife’s electric kettle had to be tested when she stayed in a nurses home during a course. Seemed sensible to me. 110 volt appliances on building sites are an acknowledgement that if you are going to have leads trailing around in an already dangerous area, 110 is safer than 240. Snow causes more chaos here than it should, simply because we don’t get much of it. Drivers have very little experience of driving in snow and Councils won’t invest huge amounts to deal with something that happens so infrequently. I do agree that some schools seem far too ready to close at the first sign of a snowflake though. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/92 "2016-12-20T11:42:32Z")
> [@ToughLife](#): > > - 20miles /hour speed limit (populists measure) Are you against any speed limits at all? anywhere? What about those crazy Germans? We all know they have no limits on many autobahns so they must be just as libertarian when it comes to towns I suspect. Except no, 30km/h limits are common in residential areas. I live in a medieval town, half timbered houses overhanging narrow pavements and narrow roads. Never designed for traffic and on a morning there are little kids all over the place trying to get to schools. Judiciously used and properly enforced 20mph limits are exactly the right thing to do. > [@](#): > > -parents are suing the Government because British military vesicles in Iraq could not withstand IEDs… can you imagine … not safe !!! hang on, are you suggesting that those vehicles should actually have been constructed to a more suitable specification in order to ensure the safety of the occupants? That seems to be running counter to the general thrust of your post. Or maybe you are saying that the government should be able to send troops into action in a T-reg canary yellow Ford Fiesta 1.1 pop 3-door should they so wish. (I use that example as it was the first car my wife and I owned as teenagers and indeed, the interior did see some action…though no soldiers were involved…at least that’s the story she’s sticking to 30 years later) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/93 "2016-12-20T13:34:17Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Snow causes more chaos here than it should, simply because we don’t get much of it. Drivers have very little experience of driving in snow and Councils won’t invest huge amounts to deal with something that happens so infrequently. Exactly - in Denmark, it snows heavily and reliably in winter, so it’s worthwhile investing in the means to deal with it. In the UK - especially in the south, snow is sporadic, so there isn’t a massive fleet of snowploughs sitting idle, waiting to clear the roads on that one day per year when it does snow heavily enough to settle. The government could spend huge amounts of money on a big fleet of snowploughs to be ready _just in case_, and nobody would have to blather and whine about ‘an inch of snow bringing the country to a halt’. Instead, they would blather and whine about how much of their taxes were wasted on buying snowploughs that spend 363 days sitting idle. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/94 "2016-12-20T13:44:58Z")
In some places they just bolt the plow onto other city vehicles, like garbage trucks. The only disadvantage there is they don’t double as salt trucks. Asphalt paving dump trucks or lighter duty maintenance pickups are better because they can have a plow attached and also dump salt. No need for a fleet of dedicated vehicles. It’s like how landscaping companies repurpose their trucks which haul dirt, mulch, and leaves in the summer to plows and salt trucks in the winter. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/95 "2016-12-20T13:56:34Z")
Aaah, PAT testing. The [regulations](http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm) say that you need to maintain your electrical equipment in a safe condition, but do not say how you have to go about doing so. At my work, we PAT test all the kit we service on every site visit. This involves checking the earth bond by measuring the resistance from the earth pin of the plug to an exposed metal surface, and measuring the insulation, by checking the resistance between the earth pin and both the live and neutral pins on the plug. I have had to condemn machines for failing the resistance check - machines failing the earth bond test can usually be repaired (often the power cord). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/96 "2016-12-20T14:53:28Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > In some places they just bolt the plow onto other city vehicles, like garbage trucks. The only disadvantage there is they don’t double as salt trucks. Asphalt paving dump trucks or lighter duty maintenance pickups are better because they can have a plow attached and also dump salt. No need for a fleet of dedicated vehicles. It’s like how landscaping companies repurpose their trucks which haul dirt, mulch, and leaves in the summer to plows and salt trucks in the winter. Does refuse collection get cancelled in those cases? I worked with the waste management department of a major UK city council in my last job - there was zero slack in the truck allocation schedule (and actually, they probably fell behind schedule in worse weather anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/97 "2016-12-20T14:55:42Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > Aaah, PAT testing. > > The [regulations](http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm) say that you need to maintain your electrical equipment in a safe condition, but do not say how you have to go about doing so. The majority of **ToughLife** ’s complaint points were of that nature - there is regulation saying that you must do X safely (and really, is there a rational argument against that?), and there are conventions and recommendations on how you might go about doing it, but they are not actually detailed mandatory prescriptions. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/98 "2016-12-20T17:01:53Z")
> [@ToughLife](#): > > - yearly MOT Why ??? I feel like discussing this a little further. nearly 40% of road vehicles fail their annual MOT tests on first inspection. That is, 40% of vehicles fail a test of fundamental safety points such as brakes, tyres, structural bodywork, steering, lights and signals. 40% of vehicles are not roadworthy when tested. Despite their owners knowing they will be tested. Without the MOT test, we’d have a much greater proportion of much more dangerous cars on the road. That’s why. ---
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/99 "2016-12-20T22:35:41Z")
**Mangetout** I like your posts, I even watch your videos and like them too, so nothing personal. I just want you to admit that Brits are obsessed with health and safety to an unhealthy degree. 🙂 Your arguments that my examples are not compulsory, optional, industry conventions,recommendations… don’t change the fact that those requirements exist in reality. It just means that those requirements are not always government enforced but created by the industry, IEE, ECA, Councils, Unions ,companies themselves and other bodies. The motivation behind those requirements/conventions/recommendations is unhealthy obsession with H/S and desire to cover someone’s backside regardless of who has created them. > [@](#): > > What is ‘millimeters testing’? Cite for it being compulsory and imposed by bureaucrats please. > [@](#): > > How often do I need to calibrate my instruments? > > Although there are exceptions to the rule, most instruments should generally be **calibrated annually** or if you suspect that readings may be incorrect or out of specification. > > This applies even if the meter isn’t used that often; as it’s been in storage for a long time, various factors ranging from moisture to low temperatures may have affected your meter’s operation. If you’re going to use it again and the certificate has expired, it needs calibrating again. > How much will calibration cost? > > The price we charge for calibration depends upon the complexity of the instrument and the difficulty of the procedure. Our prices start at just \*\*£20 (exc VAT) \*\* including a multimeter that costs £15 new !!! [http://www.calibrate.co.uk/faqs/](http://www.calibrate.co.uk/faqs/) > [@](#): > > Records of the ongoing accuracy and consistency of test equipment used for certification and reporting purposes > **[Approved Contractor scheme](https://niceic.com/for-the-trades-1/professional-standards/schemes/approved-contractor-scheme/)** > > NICEIC's Approved Contractor scheme is the perfect way to take your electrical business to the next level. See if it is right for you and explore the benefits. > [@](#): > > And the bureaucrats insisted your insurance must be expensive? Please > > explain. > [@](#): > > Hold at least £2 million Public Liability Insurance see the link above Re: Ladder stickers > [@](#): > > don’t overload it – consider workers’ weight and the equipment or > materials they are carrying before working at height.\*\* Check the pictogram > or label on the ladder for information; \*\* [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg455.pdf](http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg455.pdf) Re: bathroom pull switch > [@](#): > > So fucking what? How are you inconvenienced by pulling a fucking string instead of pawing a switch? using your terms 🙂 it’s fucking 21st century and there’s no fucking need to keep using antiquated design because it’s not fucking Georgian character feature … > [@](#): > > Without the MOT test, we’d have a much greater proportion of much more dangerous cars on the road. that’s a bit patronizing don’t you think ? I’m not against MOT, I can’t justify having to do it YEARLY as I highlighted in my post. Re: authorized materials I offered one of my suppliers to organize a shipment of PVC conduits/accessories from South Africa because it was literally 10 times cheaper than here, he refused because they can’t be sold here even so it was authorized in SA whose Electrical Regulations are 95% based on the British code. **Novelty Bobble** > [@](#): > > are you suggesting that those vehicles should actually have been constructed to a more suitable specification in order to ensure the safety of the occupants? No, I couldn’t find “sarcasm” smilie. What I’m saying is it was a war which is an unsafe environment pretty much by definition and no amount of vehicle reinforcement will ever guaranty complete safety. Also: 20mph may be justified where you live, but not in Central London. \*\*bob++ \*\* > [@](#): > > 110 volt appliances on building sites are an acknowledgement that if you are going to have leads trailing around in an already dangerous area, 110 is safer than 240. well, 55 v would be even safer, right ? What about 27.5 v… ? There should be a balance between safety,convenience and cost. there must be common sense, which is often missing in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740/100 "2016-12-20T23:51:38Z")
> [@ToughLife](#): > > -parents are suing the Government because British military vesicles in Iraq could not withstand IEDs… can you imagine … not safe !!! I’m pretty sure there was some fuss in the old days when the Bushite government used Hummers in Iraq that didn’t give floor protection against IEDs. Maybe nobody in America tried to sue, but more because they are not a litigious people than because it set up a ridiculously high standard of ‘British safety obsession’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-electrical-code-oddities/774740.md?page=6)