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