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Joined: Sep 2002
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Here is a laugh from uk.d-i-y
--------------------- Following hot on the heels of the introduction of new wiring colours to harmonise British and European electrical installations, the EU is launching a consultation process into further integrating building construction methods across Europe.
Plumbing.
The marking of hot and cold taps with country- or language-specific designations such as 'H' & 'C' is an impediment to the free trade of plumbing fitting within the EU and does not accord with official EU policies on multilingualism. The EU is also concerned about the safety implications of a disparity of markings within the EU. The existing alphabetic-based legends are also contrary to the EU's policy on social inclusion for the literacy challenged. Accordingly, the Commission will introduce a Directive to ensure that all hot and cold taps are marked with Euro-standard pictograms of a snowflake for cold and a thermometer for hot. All new taps fitted after 4/2006 will have to comply with the Directive. Existing taps do not have to be replaced, but where a mix of old and new taps is present on an installation, an approved warning notice in all Community languages must be displayed adjacent to the mains water supply point.
The Commission is also concerned that the practice of putting the cold tap on the right is both handist and disablist, discriminating as it does against left-handed and one- or -no-handed persons. The Commission will in a forthcoming Euro Water Directive require all taps fitted from 4/2008 to be of an Approved Euro Tap design with equal access to both hot and cold tap-handles from either side together with a child-proof temperature limiter.
Windows.
The use of outward-opening windows in some countries and inward-opening in others presents obvious safety risks of persons inadvertently falling out of windows. The Commission believes that significant economic benefits could be gained by the opening up of the first fix and replacement window market across the EU and accordingly will harmonise window styles and sizes across the Community. The approved Eurowindow (Eurofenetre, Euroausstellderstandardsicherheitharmonisiertesinneresfenster) will be a top-hung inward-opening triple-glazed window with inbuilt stress-tested mounting points for nationally-approved window box planters and must be of sufficient dimensions if above the ground floor to permit the access and egress of a Eurostandard piano whilst incorporating a householder safety lock which can only be over-ridden by the insertion of an appropriately-authorised Euroidentitycard. The Eurowindow (Eurofenetre, Euroausstellderstandardsicherheitharmonisiertesinneresfenster) will be available in two versions, one with additional weatherproofing (Britain, northern France, Netherlands) and one with ecologically advanced rainwater collection and storage facilities (Spain, Italy, Portugal).
British representatives from the ODPM's office will be studying French construction practice by participating in a fact-finding visit to the typical French department of Guadeloupe.
Owain
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Paul, One thing I have found with BDC is that they seem to run out of quite common items all too regularly these days. The Norwich outlet, despite being listed as one of their "Super-warehouses" often has no stocks of 4mm 6242Y. That sounds like a lot of places here too. Far be if from me to judge international systems, but I cringed when I saw the diagram showing the old 3-phase colors connected to the new ones. Looks like a nightmare to me, considering the amount of 3-phase installations that will have blue as a phase and neutral (as you pointed out), especially in the UK. Peter
Peter
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Joined: Jul 2002
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C-H, Thanks a heap for the post. But, Where does all this end?. We can have an All-Inclusive regime that causes NO offence to anyone, even to the extent that wires are banned, because people that are not conversant with wire colours, might be offended by thier presence!. Don't even start to think about Colour-Blindness!.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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LOL at C-H's post! We may jest about it today, but this sort of joke appears only because such nonsense does go on. How about the EU exit signs directive? All because some bureaucrat thinks that the people of Europe are too stupid to learn Sortie, Ausgang, Salida etc. when going to another country. By the way, H & C markings on taps had all but disappeared here, replaced with red and blue inserts (red and green on some older taps). They've made something of a comeback with the "retro" antique taps now widely available. British representatives from the ODPM's office will be studying French construction practice by participating in a fact-finding visit to the typical French department of Guadeloupe Yeah, that's about right for the Whitehall bureaucrats. Anything for a vacation in the sun, and again, based on something which actually has happened! (Note for the "Geographically challenged": Guadeloupe is not in Europe at all. It's one of the French islands in the Caribbean.)
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Joined: Sep 2002
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Paul, Ever Ready and David,
How far has the change to the new cables progressed? From what David wrote, it appears the suppliers must have been very quick to restock.
By the way: I've looked around the net and it appears many continental countries have already changed colours. A much easier transition of course, requiring little or no change in regulations.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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No sign of them at BDC in Norwich yet, but it can only be a matter of time. I see that TLC now has this note on their website: http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/Cable/Index.htm Whilst these only become law from 1st April 2006 most of our suppliers are now using the new colours
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Changes like this are unlikely to take very long to filter through as it's likely that the major suppliers operate a just-in-time stock control system so don't have all that much cable sitting around for very long.
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Joined: Dec 2001
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The big box stores here took almost a year to stock the new cable. I think now they have cable with a grey L3, but I'm not sure. Hardly ever buy something like that, I prefer using conduit, especially where more than 3 wires are involved. Wiring a combined socket and 3-way switch with NYM is a PITA. Grey 1,5mm2 conduit wire has been in stock for more than a year (rather 2), I already used it as a switched phase when we did our new wiring.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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How far has the change to the new cables progressed? From what David wrote, it appears the suppliers must have been very quick to restock. I picked up a couple of drums of 1.5 & 2.5 T+E on Monday from a local CEF and they were the old colours, maybe they have a large stockpile of the old cable to shift
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Joined: Aug 2001
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I was in Norwich today and thought I'd have a quick look in B&Q (big DIY store).
They have no cable with the new colors yet, but most of their stock labels on the reels carry January and February dates, so it might be a few more weeks before new stock starts appearing on the shelves.
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Posts: 356
Joined: August 2006
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