The B to N of electrical standardisation: the route from IEC 364 to national standards

The approximation of standards and rules for electrical installations is proceeding steadily, if slowly, throughout the major countries of the world. It is proceeding rather more quickly in Europe, in particular in the Common Market. However while the words (in translation) may be similar, the results in the form of electrical installations may be or are markedly different as a result of national conditions and national practices. These differences do not produce installations which are dangerous, in spite of our belief that this is so, any more than a UK installation carried out in France and Germany would be dangerous in spite of the belief that the French and the Germans that this is so. Here, the author argues that the great hope for standardisation in Europe is that UK contractors will carry out French style installations in France and Germany style installations in Germany, and German and French contractors carry out UK style installations in accordance with the IEE Regulations, BS7671 in the United Kingdom