changing light switches in new build

[funnybunny]

Hi all
My brother was goin to change plastic light switches to nice brass and brushed steel ones but the wiring is all coloured red. It's a new built house is this legal. I thought the earth had to be showen differently. I'm abit worried because of him wanting to change from plastic to brass/steel without an earth wire.
thanks
Al

 

[Steve]

Earth is green and yellow. You'll find it in the switch box, in the wall. Use an offcut of the same cable to provide an earth to the new faceplates.

Red/red is perfectly "legal" (it complies with regs) and is often done this way, to show you that theres no neutrals at the switch point.

 

[DESL]

Surely if it is a new build it should be brown/brown or brown/blue for switch wires.

I thought all new builds from 1st April 2004 had to use harmonised colours.

 

[Spark123]

The earth or CPC should only be identified by a yellow/green striped sheath. The metal switches must be earthed unless specific instructions from the manufacturers state otherwise. I would have also thought in a new build the new colours would have been used, strange.