"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
: In article
:
,
: wrote:
: You need to look up fires caused by poorly specified house
: distribution systems in the US, before criticising the UK.
It is many
: times worse than here.
:
: In the US, electrical house fires are mostly a result of
incompetent
: DIY wiring or failed appliances......or arson.
:
:
: One of the major reasons is those 'wire nuts' oh so common, and
banned
: over here many many years ago.
:

Whilst wire nuts are more susceptible, the same basic fault that
wire nuts suffer can beset any mechanical joints, one of the
reasons why mechanical joints have to remain accessible. A
correctly made joint doesn't normally cause a problem, an
incorrectly made screw terminal can exhibit all the same dangers
as poorly made wire nut joint - heat and arcing.