toffeeman

Sorry about the Cenelec link I forgot you needed an access key to check the regulations. Basically every reg in the UK is a BS number and EN number which directly relates to regs numbers in all EU states. Recently in the UK we changed to the 17th edition of the regs which is the biggest rules changes in over 35 years. Ring mains will be phased out, RCDs/Rcbos are mandatory for every circuit, flexes are allowed as fixed wiring etc etc which is all step one of total harmonisation. For instance the French regs and Uk regs are now more similar than you think a lot of our numbers now match the rest of Europes. In my opinion France always drags its heels and is always reluctant to conform to rules it had a hand in and signed up to. The biggest diference between the tradespeople across the two countries is to be and stay registered in the UK is hardwork and expensive but you can register in France and work unregulated (no trade bodies for customers protection) by having a pat testing one day course translated. I know someone who has done it and is now a forum electrical expert. With regard to the comment above that some poster would not trust a Part P registered person is bizarre. Part P ensures that unregulated people cannot undertake work in other peoples home. You will have trouble selling your UK home if you do not get the necessary certifications at every step. The comment regarding kitchen fitters is also misguided as they are only defined scope and can only alter electrical installations in connection with their main business. They also have to issue certificates which ultimately makes them liable FOR the whole installation ! Is that something they have thought through - I doubt it !! Eventually UK sparks will be licensed. Compare that with France where anybody can really do what they like. . According to my French insurers earlier today you home insurance will only be invalidated if you remove the main suppliers disconnector. Post edited by a moderator in accordance with the Code of Conduct

The UK uses ring final circuits but these will be phased out in favour of radials. The UK regs numbers are also directly relateable to other EU nations regs. You could try :- http://www.cenelec.eu/Cenelec/Homepage.htm or this site for further information :- http://www.voltimum.com/ and then select your country/language. We own properties in Germany and Hungary and the regs are also very very similar there too ...thats what harmonisation is !! If you need to work in France and you need decennial liability insurance you can get that in the UK as well, annually at around 3K or by project .  

Found this on another Forum , so have borrowed it ................   Copied from EU site ..... The letters "CE" are the abbreviation of French phrase "Conformité Européene" which literally means "European Conformity". The term initially used was "EC Mark" and it was officially replaced by "CE Marking" in the Directive 93/68/EEC in 1993. CE Marking on a product is a manufacturer's declaration that the product complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislation, in practice by many of the so-called Product Directives.* *Product Directives contains the "essential requirements" and/or "performance levels" and "Harmonized Standards" to which the products must conform. Harmonized Standards are the technical specifications (European Standards or Harmonization Documents) which are established by several European standards agencies (CEN, CENELEC, etc). CEN stands for European Committee for Standardization. CENELEC stands for European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization. CE Marking on a product indicates to governmental officials that the product may be legally placed on the market in their country. CE Marking on a product ensures the free movement of the product within the EFTA & European Union (EU) single market (total 28 countries), and CE Marking on a product permits the withdrawal of the non-conforming products by customs and enforcement/vigilance authorities. to summize .... Therefore since 2003 the CE mark overides all individual countries standards mark . Any European product marked CE can be used in any of the 28 EU countries . France is hardly going to ignore this European rule since it seems to be in the French language. Personally ...we have always used CE marked goods and always will , If you can find something official in writing or a French official stating that CE is not good enough we could present them to the European courts and perhaps they could explain why they are doing so three years after the ruling was made . Its quite simple .......provide written evidence that the CE mark is not god enough for France and we can take the matter up with Brussels or else just accept the current European rules or use the democratic process to change them back

Problem is, a UK rose is suited to the UK wiring system, where the light circuit is part of a ring The above statement is wholly inaccurate .  In twenty years working in UK and France I have yet to come across a lighting ring . A lighting circuit is infact a basic radial circuit . A ring circuit is where the cabling loops into every point and starts and finishes within the distribution board . ( in the UK these are called Final Ring circuits and are used for sockets only. ) A lighting circuit loops into every point but with no return leg to the distribution unit . The loop in sytem commonly called a three plate system can be either to the light point or switch position or a combination of the two methods . With regard to the NF/CE issue , we have used accessories only marked CE for many years with absolutely no comment from any inspector (promo). We have also used an MK  distribution board in the past , countless UK sourced lightswitches and never ever had an adverse comment . We have been told that as long as your property has an RCD controlling all circuits and earth testing is provable , and the right kva rating on MCB/RCBO is also provable your house insurance is not invalidated by using items sourced outside of France . We had to fit Italian light fittings for one customer and got our facts checked out first . We also were present inspection took place .We actually handed over a copy of the full test results ...far far more than we have seen from some others . We welcome the day when electrical testing and registration comes to France as in Part P in the UK as it will weed out the chancers, the DIY experts , and the self taught "know it alls" who would not know what ZE, ZS , R1 + R2, KVA  where even if it bit them . Have yet to see another French contractor actually test an earth stake , most just bang it in and hope !!!  How do they know what KVA rated breakers to use ?  and so on and so on ..... lighting rings ...............still laughing out loud !!        

Try Raphael Beneathus  at  Liverpool  Football Club , he has quite a few .................. Ho hum

Hi , Can anybody tell me the latin or real name/s of the wood fungus that seems to destroy timber . All the wood in the property has been renewed within the last two years , but we have discovered this fungus in one corner and it seems to eat through the wood alarmingly quickly . We have taken down , and burnt the wood from the entire area and have left no trace of the fungus but would like to know the name of it so that we can spray the entire property on our return later this month .  We would like to know the names of any treatments as well . ( English or French ) Many thanks   

You are covered on your French house insurance for bad workmanship by registered artisans . I think it is dealt with by the :- Europeenne de Protection Juridique , Siege Social ,7 Bd Haussmann 75442, Paris Cedex 09  but you do have to go through your insurance agent to begin with .    

Thanks for the replies , especially sprogster , (very informative and after speaking to embassy 100% spot on ) Just one of those things then , as long as its not anti SA I am sure they will sort out the visa`s etc and come ..

Hi , We have some South African friends who would like to come and stay with us during their holidays . They are UK residents with permanent residency permits . They have been advised that it is lots of paperwork and awkward for them to visit France . They have also been told that they would be unpopular !? . Could anyone advise as to whether this is correct or not ......and if so why ? In our own experience the locals are very friendly and we think they are being misled but we thought we would check . Many thanks .