On Tue, 31 May 2005 23:05:38 +0100, "Mike" wrote:

The UK plug/socket is dangerous and probably causes more electrical fires
than any other piece of electrical equipment.

Your friend was obviously a Frenchman. How many electrical fires in
the UK are caused by fixed wiring each year? How many deaths are
attributable to fires caused by fixed wiring?

What are the comparable figures for France and Germany?

In the 90s the rest of Europe
worked on a harmonised version of the IEC plug/socket only for the UK to
scupper it.

A Frenchman with no knowledge of history, how very unusual.

It is accepted that UK house make far less use of
electrical heaters than some other countries due to our cheap supply of gas
but pointed out that this won't last indefinitely.

By another Frenchman no doubt.

The proposed EU recommended wiring system consists of separate feeds to each
room with a small CU in that room with a breaker for lights and one for each
group of sockets/piece of equipment.

Oh good, a consumer unit in every room - how twee.

The best CUs actually fit under the
light switch by the door which hinges up.

One for the lights and one for the socket?

This is not to say that any particular country
in the EU follows this approach to the letter today.

How many do?

--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/