Mike wrote:

UL is the main body recognised worldwide to make such definitions.
What is different in the UK ?

Err, the fact that we're in Europe, not North America. The legal
framework for electrical product safety in EU countries comes from what
is usually called the 'low-voltage directive' or LVD[1] which is
implemented in the UK as the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations
1994. These cover equipment operating at between 50 and 1000 V AC or 75
V and 1.5 kV DC, which matches the definition in BS 7671. Compliance
with the regulations can be demonstrated by product manufacturers by the
use of harmonised European standards - such as EN 60950 (IT equipment)
and EN 60065 (A/V equipment) EN 60335 ('white goods' type appliances) -
not UL standards.

(It is true though that many UL standards are recognised worldwide,
particularly UL 94 which deals with the flammability of materials.)

In any case the IEC regs would override the UK ones even if they were
different.

The IEC makes standards, not regulations.


[1] Directive 73/23/EEC, full title: "Council Directive of 19 February
1973 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to
Electrical Equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits."
This was one of the first EEC directives to be implemented in the UK,
and was modified in 1994 to require CE marking.

--
Andy