Hi,

In short yes, portable and hand-held tools should be 110V reduced low voltage or battery operated due to the environment they may be used in and frequency of use.

This should be determined by your risk assessment. Reduced low voltage (RLV) should be supplied from a transformer conforming to British Standards or from a source providing an equivalent degree of electrical separation.

In view of the conditions that usually prevail on site, switches should be of the weatherproof type or contained in weatherproof enclosures. Socket-outlets, plugs and cable couplers should be of the splashproof type. The use of extension outlet units as specified in British Standards generally renders cable couplers unnecessary. When cable couplers have to be used it is strongly recommended that they be supported above ground level.

I hope this helps?

Originally Posted by: Russ1977

Hi all,

Am I correct in saying that any electrical equipment (strimmers, drills etc) used outside should be 110V or battery operated? 

Thanks.

No you are not correct.

The equipment should be suitable, safe and correctly used.

Whilst it may be preferable that the equipment is battery operated or RLV, it is not compulsory.

No requirement for an RCD on RLV, only on LV.

Would certainly cause a lot of problems in the consumer market if outdoor use was regulated as 110V/battery considering most devices are sold by retailers as 240V

Even in the PPE market thing like pressure washers are supplied operating on standard mains voltage

Looks like yet another one of those construction mandates that has manifested from myth