PaulC:
Interesting, was looking up Ireland in that site and apparently French type sockets/plugs are one of our standards! Have never seen one in use here and schuko is long gone.
On the polarity issue in Europe.
All modern european appliences conforming to various directives are designed to be used on a non-polarised system and would normally contain a double pole switch (i.e. it cuts both the live and neutral).
Even if there is only single pole switching
For the vast majority of appliences, except lamp sockets, this isn't a bit issue. Even if the neutral is switched and the applience will stop working, the circuit is broken. The only risk would be if you opened the casing and poked around as you could find a live part.
In the case of lamps if the neutral is switched off the lamp will go off but one of the pins in the holder would remain live. So if you were dumb enough to switch off the lamp and stick your finger in you would get a shock. However, even in the UK you risk this as the lamp could very easily be wired incorrectly. Lamp terminals are particularly fiddly and often DIY jobs!. So you should ALWAYS remove the plug before changing a bulb.
And ALWAYS remove the plug before servicing any applience. It's just pure stupidity not to.
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Also many appliences which have "figure of 8" connectors (e.g. a lot of audiovisual equipment) is completely unpolarised as you can insert the plug either way.
Also, if a europlug is used in any kind of adaptor, including the new "convertor plugs" where the europlug is fitted inside what looks like a normal BS1363 plug the applience could be connected either way.
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In terms of fusing it doesn't actually matter in a european system where the fuse is not carried in the plug. The live is always fused in the fixed wiring so if an MCB or fuse blows the live will be cut.
(The UK and Ireland being unique requiring a fused plug! again for historical reasons due to the use of very thin flexes etc)
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