On 19 Jan 2009 at 11:17, Jules Richardson wrote:
It's always surprised me that stuff like
that's legal in the US, given the
nature of the power outlets; it doesn't need a lot of weight for the device
plugged into the wall to tilt slightly and risk the exposure of live metal
contacts (heck, normal power cords and pets are a bad enough combination :-)
Electrical safety requirements and certification in the US is a hodge-
podge of private (e.g. Underwriters Labs), state and local building
code) and Manufacturers and trade associations (NEC, IEEE "green
book"). Action with individual products is taken on a Federal level
only when a sufficient number of episodes have shown a device to pose
a danger (Consumer Product Safety Commission). AFAIK, there are no
Federal standards for electrical product safety--although there are
for RF emission.
Basically, it's cowboy electrical safety when it comes to consumer-
level mains-operated devices.
Cheers,
Chuck