Safety starts with electricity!

You can only visually assess the electrical installations when purchasing a home; they are not part of the structural component. You can check the installation based on random samples. You will only experience the proper functioning of, for example, the distribution and breakdown of all wall sockets, switches, and appliances across the various circuits in practice. Read more information about a distribution board here.

• 5 practical tips for a safe meter box
• How many earth leakage circuit breakers are required in the meter box?
• Can you replace the fuse box yourself?
• If no defects are noted in the wiring and it is recent, it can be retained. It's possible that the correct colors, consistent with the (European) standard, haven't been used throughout the system. Deviating or changing colors isn't helpful, but it doesn't hinder the proper functioning of the system.
• If loose wiring is present: wiring must be concealed in PVC pipe, making the current situation unsafe. Some adjustments will need to be made regarding finishing and installation.
• If modifications have been made to the electrical system in the past and these were not carried out professionally, this creates an unsafe situation. To get a clear picture and impression of the entire installation, we recommend having the entire system inspected by an installer.
• It's always important to be able to immediately see a wire's function. This is achieved through, among other things, European standardized colors. We often find that electrical installations deviate from these. However, with different colors, the system can still function perfectly.

• The usual colours according to this European standard are as follows:
  • Brown is the phase wire
  • Blue is the neutral wire
  • Black is the switching wire
  • Green/yellow is the ground wire

If you can determine that steel pipes are still being used for electrical wiring, in many cases these pipes rust on the inside, deteriorating the electrical system. Sharp edges in the pipes also pose a risk of short circuits, as the wiring can easily become damaged or crushed. If the technical possibilities and space are available, we recommend replacing the steel pipes with PVC pipe. Considering the age of the houses (older than 1940), the presence of steel pipes in these houses cannot be entirely ruled out.

If a distribution board has four or fewer circuits, this is insufficient for an average home. Keep in mind that, for example, only a washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, and oven/microwave each require a separate circuit. This means there aren't enough circuits to distribute power to the rest of the house, shed, and possibly garden. We consider at least seven circuits sufficient, but most homes easily have ten.

A residual current device (RCD) is found in almost all distribution boards! The RCD ensures that the system can be de-energized. The system is de-energized when the RCD detects a leakage current.

If there is NO earth leakage circuit breaker (GFCI) present in the distribution board, this is unsafe for the user! It is recommended to modify and improve the installation by installing earth leakage circuit breakers (GFCIs). Almost all distribution boards have an earth leakage circuit breaker (GFCI)! The GFCI ensures that the system can be de-energized when it detects a leakage current. Also consider the risks in bathrooms if there are no GFCIs present. Metal objects in a bathroom must be grounded. Good grounding ensures that the GFCI quickly interrupts the power supply, thus significantly reducing the risk of injury if you come into contact with electrical voltage.

• Leakage current means: current that leaves the installation in a different way than expected.
• The function of the earth leakage circuit breaker should therefore not be underestimated!
• In residential homes, when replacing, expanding or modifying the distribution box, all groups must be protected by an earth leakage circuit breaker.
• The use of earth leakage circuit breakers in new and modified domestic installations has been mandatory in the Netherlands since 1975 according to NEN 1010.
• In some cases, not all groups in the home are mounted behind the earth leakage circuit breaker.
• Earth leakage circuit breakers a must in every meter box

The residual current device (RCD) can be tested regularly using the test button. If you want to be sure these switches are functioning safely and properly, they should be tested.

In general, we recommend checking all switchgear in the home and wall sockets for defects. Where necessary, improve/tighten the mounting.

If the switches and sockets in your home are outdated but still functioning properly, replacement isn't immediately necessary. However, if you're making changes to the installation, we do recommend replacing these outdated switches and wall sockets.

If defects are found in wall sockets (outlets) and switches, repair is usually pointless; replacement is faster and therefore more cost-effective. Also check for defects in the light fixtures, as such defects are usually more difficult to repair.

The mains voltage in homes in the Netherlands is 230 volts. This voltage is life-threatening if someone comes into contact with it. To prevent people from becoming live, electrical machines and appliances are grounded. This grounding ensures that the circuit flows to the earth via the ground wire. The ground wire is yellow-green and is located next to the brown and blue wires in the connection cord of electrical appliances. Sockets with a ground connection provide contact with the earth, but do so indirectly via the ground wire. The earth in these special sockets is therefore called a ground connection.

• An additional safety feature on the outside of metal appliances is the earthing connection. This ensures that the appliance will not become live in the event of a fault. A ground wire is connected to the outside of the appliance (usually invisible). This ground wire runs through the wiring (the cord and plug) and the socket (with an earth connection) via the meter box and a grounding rod into the ground .
• During a building inspection , the grounding is measured at several locations in the home on a random basis and checked for functioning.

If there are NO earthed sockets in your home: as a homeowner, you are responsible for the safety of your home. Because there are no earthed wall sockets in this case, we recommend that you contact a local electrician for a full inspection and approval of your installation.