Rules and regulations covering electrical safety have been developed by the EU to prevent the hazard of electrical shock in varying installation and operating conditions. The mandated standards take into account changing levels of humidity, temperate and atmospheric conditions in order to set the minimum insulation distances required between exposed live parts and other user accessible areas.
Smaller than mandated insulation distances can directly present shock hazards, and also potential fire risks. If illegal product is installed into a publicly accessible location and a fire results, it could be the case that insurance is invalidated and first call liability falls with the owner/operator for installing and using products which contravene EU safety directives.
