A modern French home has a sophisticated and well designed electrical system. However around 40 years ago, things were rather different (see photo adjacent).

If you are renovating or modernising a property of that era, it's likely to need a complete rewire. Material in use 40 years ago, no longer complies with current French normes and is probably in a dangerous condition which could lead to risk of fire and electrocution.

It is estimated that every year, approximately 2300 people are involved in accidents with electricity and between 100 and 200 of them die. The majority of these accidents occur in the bathroom. Instances of fires due to faulty electrical installations are estimated at 40.000 per annum. An investigation carried out by Promotelec in 1998 showed that in France, 7.3 million residences have faulty or insufficient electrical installations.