> Electricity is hard, and getting it wrong ruins lives.
No it's not hard. You can learn to run the majority of residential electricity (outlets, switches, lights) in a week. Another week or 2 and you can install panels.
It's commercial and especially industrial electricity that is hard. But we insist on training electricians to do all of it, when we mostly need the easier stuff.
And it's pretty hard to ruin someone's life with incorrectly installed electricity. Incorrectly meaning: "I didn't realize I needed to do this", rather than "I'm doing garbage work, like not tightening screws".
That would be fine if someone trained to the lower level would "kick the job upstairs" when they come across a situation outside their experience.
But without much experience it's hard to know when you're out of your depth, and nearly everyone has the same attitude: "how hard can it be? I'll just go ahead."
The regulations are there at the behest of the insurance industry, after much costly, hard-learned history. Many people lost their lives, in fires mainly. I'd call that ruined.
No it's not hard. You can learn to run the majority of residential electricity (outlets, switches, lights) in a week. Another week or 2 and you can install panels.
It's commercial and especially industrial electricity that is hard. But we insist on training electricians to do all of it, when we mostly need the easier stuff.
And it's pretty hard to ruin someone's life with incorrectly installed electricity. Incorrectly meaning: "I didn't realize I needed to do this", rather than "I'm doing garbage work, like not tightening screws".