I'm pretty sure that there is at the very least EU guidelines on this issue. How they're implemented in different parts of the EU is up to the athorities in each country. Generally electrical regulations and construction safety regulations are taken extremely seriously here though.
The penalties for breeching any construction regs in Ireland are enormous. Sites of all scales are subject to random HSA (Health & Safety Athority) inspections. Any breeches = all work stops entirely at the contractors expense. On a large scale site this is a huge incentive to keep things tightly controlled. The customer may implement all sorts of penalty clauses if the contractor causes delays. Low voltage gear, just like hardhats and safety equipment, is required by HSA regulations failure to use it is illegal here and you would also leave yourself wide open to massive law suits if anyone was injured/shocked.
Pretty specific in the legislation: (See paragraph 2)
From "Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 1993" (Ireland)
"41. Portable Equipment
(1) A circuit supplying portable equipment or a socket outlet intended to supply such portable equipment and in which alternating current at a voltage exceeding 125 volts and not exceeding 1,000 volts is used, shall be protected by one or more residual current devices having a tripping current not exceeding 30 milliamperes.
(2) Portable equipment (other than portable transformers and portable generators) supplied at a voltage exceeding 125 volts alternating current shall NOT be used in building operations, works of engineering construction or in damp or confined locations unless its rating exceeds 2 kilovolt amperes.
(3) Portable handlamps supplied at a voltage exceeding 25 volts alternating current or 50 volts direct current shall not be used in building operations, works of engineering construction, damp or confined locations.
(4) Where a transformer is used to supply electricity to - portable equipment at a voltage not exceeding 125 volts alternating current, or a portable handlamp at a voltage not exceeding 25 volts alternating current and in accordance with paragraph (3),
It shall be of the double wound type and the centre point of the lower voltage or secondary winding shall be connected to earth. "
[This message has been edited by djk (edited 05-28-2003).]
