Electrical installation practice in some Western-European countries

The paper surveys installation practice, standards of apparatus and testing and inspection procedures in a number of Western-European countries and draws comparisons with British practice. Particular reference is made to the lack of earthing, the greater use of plastics and the more onerous conditions of installation inspection commonly found abroad. Information is given regarding some of the European testing authorities and the arrangements for supervision of electrical installations. The conclusions are drawn that it is difficult to associate differing installation practices with known accident statistics and that safety standards in other European countries, although in many cases different from those of the United Kingdom, do not lead to markedly better or worse accident statistics.