Mandatory terms in the island’s residential building code have driven up expense “without tangible benefit”, an electrical industry group has charged.The group has planned a town hall meeting for today at 6.30pm at Francis Patton School in Hamilton Parish.The aim is to discuss amending the electrical code into “a living document”, according to Alan Smith, a former electrical inspector and industry consultant.Mr Smith said the changes could be cost-effective and cover Bermuda-specific housing and construction techniques, while adhering to quality and safety standards.He said the code needed to take into account Bermuda’s building methods instead of following the electrical standards of the United States.Mr Smith faulted the requirement for a type of circuit-breaker used in the US that allowed for the use of “inferior material” in construction but became an “exorbitant, add-on expense” in Bermuda.He claimed the requirements did little to improve safety, while adding to costs that might “needlessly delay” improving ageing homes.Mr Smith is a member of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors, a worldwide professional trade association.