Ireland has required RCD protection on all sockets and fixed appliences and water heaters since 1980 but lighting along with cookers were exempt. (Electric showers require seperate RCD/RCDO protection) I never understood why light fixtures were not included as they're one of the most likely places to get a shock either during DIY work or when changing a bulb.
If you're fitting 5A light sockets to a non-RCD system they fall under the normal regulations for socket outlets and require RCD protecton. The only options are to either rewire the whole distribution panel (Consumer unit) so that the RCD covers the lights which can be a huge undertaking for the sake of 2 lamps or alternatively install RCD protection locally e.g. using RCD spurs. i.e. a spur plate that contains a 5A fuse and an RCD connected in before any switching/dimming complicates the wiring.
Light fixtures are now required to be covered by the system-wide RCD What's the situation elsewhere?
Do you consider it necessary for lamp outlets? or are we being completely over the top?
There are proposals to require a lot more RCD protection in future revisions of the wiring regulations.
