As far as I am aware the use of 110V CTE in British (& Irish) construction sites is a localised (UK) practice, nothing to do with EU directives.
I think the use of 110V CTE started in the late 70's, before 30mA RCD's were in common use in the UK.
I can remember seeing 110V sockets & power tools in my school's technical workshops, that was back in the late 70's. So I expect the use of 110V power tools may have started before that, & was certainly the norm by the time I entered the electrical trade in 1982.
