So I just read this article: https://www.worldstandards.eu/nl/elektriciteit/landenoverzicht-stekkers-voltage/belgie/
and discovered that it is apparently illegal to use Type F (in-wall) sockets for use in Belgian homes. Now I have a few more questions that I couldn't find the answer to in the original article and hope to find more answers here.

  1. I wonder if there's anyone who knows what the reason is and what the consequences are of using it in terms of insurance.
    I personally much prefer type F because of the flexibility it offers, but of course don't want to jeopardize my insurance in case of need, just for the increased convenience.

  2. Does it apply to both the use of in-wall sockets and the use of extension plugs/power strips/smart sockets?

  3. If I were to install, or have installed a type F socket (with oral agreement) in someone else's home, can I be deemed responsible to cover the other person's insurance?
    If so, what can I (officially) do to no longer be held accountable?

by SkyGuy501

8 comments

  1. 1. you cant use them because the AREI states you can’t. if a inspector finds it he can give a negative advice and reject the installation.

    2. any fixed socket usually falls under these laws. if you get a extended plug box of that kind, the inspector has nothing to do with that.

    3. most likely, because technically you need to get the installation re-inspected because you made adjustments to the existingt electrics of the house. this will come up short then and will be your fault as a contractor. as you are bound by the AREI for work.

    also seems more for r/klussers

  2. It’s possible that I overlooked it but where does it say it is ilegal?

    Edit: ok found it!

    Now, I recenly did a renovation of my home and my electrical installation has been approved and I only have the F-type sockets. I even have it approved a 2nd time a few years later when I did a modification. Both of them followed the AREI and I got no remarks about it.

    A quick Google Search:

    Een F-stopcontact, ook wel bekend als een randaarde stopcontact, is het type stopcontact dat in België verplicht is volgens het Algemeen Reglement op de [Elektrische Installaties](https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&cs=0&sca_esv=47b16ba36d203663&sxsrf=AE3TifPwrEYTQS7asLSymi2wNZR64bNkWg%3A1753862846464&q=Elektrische+Installaties&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjkiLGfkOSOAxX7lP0HHf6XEkkQxccNegQIAhAB&mstk=AUtExfAqBVsGfmmrMTt7U_LQsujnCZBhfSc7zh48FJptSBTIb5vaEJ0L55RFB7AiFc50FMjozhW9A5C2AoUDZ6hJKX6eEFyLutJHwb6eDxmiJxH4WnGUTJvHPyNYInlHu5M4agwHxQWKMKx4dzQwlvJD4sPRph3DjuuZEsBKlSAAdUxe6Zw&csui=3) (AREI). Het is een geaard stopcontact dat extra veiligheid biedt tegen elektrocutie door de randaarde die de stroom bij kortsluiting of lekstroom naar de aarde afvoert. Belangrijkste punten over F-stopcontacten in het AREI:

    * [**Geaardheid**](https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&cs=0&sca_esv=47b16ba36d203663&sxsrf=AE3TifPwrEYTQS7asLSymi2wNZR64bNkWg%3A1753862846464&q=Geaardheid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjkiLGfkOSOAxX7lP0HHf6XEkkQxccNegQICxAB&mstk=AUtExfAqBVsGfmmrMTt7U_LQsujnCZBhfSc7zh48FJptSBTIb5vaEJ0L55RFB7AiFc50FMjozhW9A5C2AoUDZ6hJKX6eEFyLutJHwb6eDxmiJxH4WnGUTJvHPyNYInlHu5M4agwHxQWKMKx4dzQwlvJD4sPRph3DjuuZEsBKlSAAdUxe6Zw&csui=3)**:**Het AREI vereist dat alle huishoudelijke stopcontacten geaard zijn, wat betekent dat ze voorzien moeten zijn van een randaarde. 
    * [**Kinderveiligheid**](https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&cs=0&sca_esv=47b16ba36d203663&sxsrf=AE3TifPwrEYTQS7asLSymi2wNZR64bNkWg%3A1753862846464&q=Kinderveiligheid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjkiLGfkOSOAxX7lP0HHf6XEkkQxccNegQIDhAB&mstk=AUtExfAqBVsGfmmrMTt7U_LQsujnCZBhfSc7zh48FJptSBTIb5vaEJ0L55RFB7AiFc50FMjozhW9A5C2AoUDZ6hJKX6eEFyLutJHwb6eDxmiJxH4WnGUTJvHPyNYInlHu5M4agwHxQWKMKx4dzQwlvJD4sPRph3DjuuZEsBKlSAAdUxe6Zw&csui=3)**:**Stopcontacten moeten ook kinderveilig zijn, wat kan worden bereikt door een ingebouwde kinderveiligheid of een ander gelijkwaardig systeem, zoals een schakelaar of pilootcontact, [volgens Stroohm](https://www.stroohm.be/verbod-industriele-stekkers-thuis/). 
    * **Aantal per kring:**Er mogen maximaal 8 contactdozen (stopcontacten of schakelaars) per elektrische kring geïnstalleerd worden. 
    * **Differentieelschakelaar:**Het AREI schrijft voor dat er in de zekeringkast een [differentieelschakelaar](https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&cs=0&sca_esv=47b16ba36d203663&sxsrf=AE3TifPwrEYTQS7asLSymi2wNZR64bNkWg%3A1753862846464&q=differentieelschakelaar&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjkiLGfkOSOAxX7lP0HHf6XEkkQxccNegQIFRAB&mstk=AUtExfAqBVsGfmmrMTt7U_LQsujnCZBhfSc7zh48FJptSBTIb5vaEJ0L55RFB7AiFc50FMjozhW9A5C2AoUDZ6hJKX6eEFyLutJHwb6eDxmiJxH4WnGUTJvHPyNYInlHu5M4agwHxQWKMKx4dzQwlvJD4sPRph3DjuuZEsBKlSAAdUxe6Zw&csui=3) (ook wel aardlekschakelaar of verliesstroomschakelaar genoemd) moet zijn om elektrocutie te voorkomen. 
    * **Laadpalen:**Voor laadpalen is een [type B aardlekschakelaar](https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&cs=0&sca_esv=47b16ba36d203663&sxsrf=AE3TifPwrEYTQS7asLSymi2wNZR64bNkWg%3A1753862846464&q=type+B+aardlekschakelaar&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjkiLGfkOSOAxX7lP0HHf6XEkkQxccNegQIExAB&mstk=AUtExfAqBVsGfmmrMTt7U_LQsujnCZBhfSc7zh48FJptSBTIb5vaEJ0L55RFB7AiFc50FMjozhW9A5C2AoUDZ6hJKX6eEFyLutJHwb6eDxmiJxH4WnGUTJvHPyNYInlHu5M4agwHxQWKMKx4dzQwlvJD4sPRph3DjuuZEsBKlSAAdUxe6Zw&csui=3) verplicht, die een lekstroom van maximaal 30mA detecteert, [volgens Electro-Colli](https://webshop.electro-colli.be/welke-aardlekschakelaar-laadpaal/). 

  3. 1. I don’t know the reasons and I’d also prefer type F. BUT, it is not allowed according to AREI and will give issues with “keuring”. No “keuring” = not good for insurance.

    2. Yes, and if you use a Type F power strip that causes a fire, it will give issues with insurance.

    3. Depends, if you install this as a professional, yes you can be held accountable. (I sincerely hope you are not a professional). If as a friend (aka unofficially), no.

    Just use type E dude, the rules are the rules. Your preference is irrelevant.

  4. Can I just say: that website you linked is absolute cancer, it’s worse than breathing straight pulverized asbestos. There are more shitty ads than actual ‘article’ and it tries to push about a billion cookies, if you don’t have a blocker.

    And just read the AREI to get answers to your questions, instead of trying to get backlinks by posting on Reddit.

    Section V. Contactdozen (Stopcontacten) states “Deze moeten voorzien zijn van een aardingscontact (aardingspen)…”. It’s because of the explicit mention of “aardingspen” that some people might reject Type-F sockets, because they don’t have an “aardingspen”. Of course basically all appliances in Europe have cables that will work with type-E and Type-F, so it shouldn’t matter, as long as there is some kind of ground connection.

  5. Lots of people talking out of there ass here below.

    In the [most recent AREI](https://economie.fgov.be/sites/default/files/Files/Publications/files/AREI-Bijlage-Boek-1-installaties-op-laagspanning-en-op-zeer-lage-spanning-2025.pdf) (the book that dictates what you can and cannot do) they actually removed the specific line about ‘penaarde’ (type E), and it now just specifies a earth connection is needed. This is in section [5.3.5.2](http://5.3.5.2) in AREI book 1. So from my understanding, **type F should actually be fine now in Belgium**.

    In addition, the fire insurance will only be dropped if it was checked and rejected. Even if it was rejected, (But IANAL!) if your house burns down, your insurer will have to *prove* that the cause of the fire is the fact that it wasn’t conform. (this is also why it has to be rejected; if it wasn’t, they can’t prove that there was an issue in the first place).

    So, say:

    – If your electrical instatlation was *afgekeurd (niet conform)*
    – The reason was you have a issue in the basement (eg, a tiny bit of exposed wire) and everything else was fine
    – A fire breaks out
    – It is shown the cause of the fire was in a attic

    You should still be paid out by insurance (but again, IANAL)

    And finally: **AREI only applies to fixed installations.** An extension cord with type-f is perfectly fine, as long as it has the CE mark. If a ‘keurder’ tries to strike you for that, just ask him/her if they can show where in the AREI book it says that in residential situations the AREI also covers the non-fixed installations (and then also where it says that you cannot use F, because as I said, since 2025, you can)

  6. I love it how regulations can have so much text but still lack important information. ‘Penaarde’ is no longer specified but they could and should have added a line ‘this is no longer required’. Some organizations like [this one](https://techlink.be/sites/default/files/media/files/2025-02/Power%2B01-2025-NL-LR.pdf) and [this here ](https://www.bureau9000.be/het-arei-dit-verandert-er-op-1-maart-2025/#:~:text=Heel%20concreet%3A%20contactdozen%20met%20randaarde,als%20in%20niet%2Dhuishoudelijke%20installaties)seem to think randaarde is *no longer* allowed while it wasn’t allowed previously.

  7. Not saying it is correct but according to the article you linked to:

    “Vermoedelijk wil België zijn lokale producenten van elektrisch materiaal beschermen… ”

    “Belgium presumably wants to protect its local manufacturers of electrical equipment …”

    If you use them you will not be able to get your electrical installation ‘gekeurd’ approve by the inspector notified body which means you probably can’t close a home insurance contract if they find out.

  8. In Belgium : type F (randaarde) wall sockets (16A/250V) are FORBIDDEN. The regulation is for both new and renovation installations And is active since March 2025.

    only wall sockets with ‘penaarde’ (type E) are OK. There is absolutely no mention in the AREI that type C (randaarde) wall sockets are allowed.
    Using type F wall sockets would void the complete electrical installation conformity – not only the circuit where those are installed.

    When using extension cords with that kind of type F sockets, those are not ‘ruled’ by the AREI, as these are ‘removable’.

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