In Ireland they just don't mess about with grounding generally taking a "keep it simple stupid" approach. Every socket outlet is grounded all lighting points (fittings and switches) now must have a ground connection provided (even if not used) to make changing to metal/brass fittings is safe and easy.
Grounding is usually achieved with a large standardized grounding rod installed onsite by the electrician (and builder) and tested and approved by the ESB (Electricity Supply Board). You'll occasionally see the concrete cover over the top in the middle of a patio or on the side walk marked "Earthing Rod or Grounding Rod" There are regulations requiring the cables going to it to be clearly marked and protected too.
All plumbing (water and gas) must be bonded (fitted with earthing/grounding straps and wired together with green/yellow cable) to ensure that no pipework can ever become live due to an electrical fault. This is an issue paricularly considering that in many places the mains water and gas supplies are plastic pipes and may isolate the internal copper pipework from the ground. The pipework is also connected to a grounding rod ensuring that the entire plumbing system is fully earthed.
In the old days when water mains were still copper it was quite common practice to use a burried water main as the ground rod! a practice long since banned.
I never understand the logic behind not grounding a system. It's something that's not all that costly and only has to be done once. It just seems slightly ridiculous not to do it properly when you're wiring in the first place.
Slightly off topic but:
The ESB seems to make a big fuss about Neutralising supplies and doesn't like electrical contractors or members of the public to get involved with what it sees as a supply issue that only it should be involved with for safety reasons.
They have become much more serious about defining the limits of what's the homeowner's and what's theirs. Supplies now terminate on an isolation switch after the meter beyond which contractors can work. After the installation is complete the contractor must seal the cover on connection terminals at the switch with a lead tag and this is only supposed to be opened by the ESB or an electrical contractor. As far as I'm aware breaking the seal will potentially land you in court!
There is also some discussion about sealing the main distribution board in the house so that home owners effectively can't do DIY work.
I've seen a number of potentially leathal incidents caused by kitchen installers tampering with fusing arrangements on Diazed panels in particular. I remember removing a tampered with diazed fuse that was actually too hot to unscrew as a kitchen installer had skimped on hiring an electrician and simply branched a load of heavy kitchen equipment onto an old 20amp cooker circuit completely overloading it. He'd just tampered with and effectively by-passed the fuse to stop it blowing!!!
The circuit was designed to handle 20amps he'd hooked up:
10 X 13 amp sockets on a radial circuit.
1 X 2.5 KW oven
1 X 3 KW hob
1 X 3KW dishwasher
1 X 3KW microwave/combination oven
and even some recessed lighting!!!
The homeowner, a relation of mine, sued him for quite a substantial sum.
She'd got slightly concerned when she noticed that all these extra sockets were added yet there was no change to the fuse board. (and there was a slight smell of burn in the hallway when the cooker and dishwasher were on together)
