On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 19:51:42 +0100, "Vortex" wrote:

Can anybody explain why it took (IIRC) about 30 years for the "standard"
colours for fixed wiring to be harmonised with those for flexible wiring.

Why did this not happen a long time ago?
Because it is & was absolutely unnecessary.
There is some sense in unifying colours for portable equipment across Europe etc., but none
whatsoever for fixed wiring.
It's only being done now as a sly way to help enforce the new building regs stuff.
The changes they are also bringing in for 3-phase are truly insane and will almost certainly kill
someone eventually.