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by texec 5128 days ago
Current installations use Residual-Current Devices instead of individual breakers, at least in Europe. This requires three way wiring up to the distribution. In Germany RCDs are required for all outlets in new installations.
3 comments

In the US, it is relatively common to use circuit breakers in new construction but in no way universal - protection at the receptacle is still very common and can be significantly cheaper since only the first receptacle in a series needs to be GFCI type...of course this creates an issue of finding the tripped device for a person unfamiliar with the wiring scheme.
RCDs are required throughout the house in New Zealand now (used to be bathroom only). They work. I tried angle grinding a metal bar, and it's link to the extension cord fell in a puddle I was standing in. Power clicked off thank god, and I became ok with the re-wiring cost. RCDs are the best.
Or rather both - individual circuits have a current limiting circuit breaker in addition to a master RCD across multiple circuits.