PAT Testing
PAT Testing
Portable Appliance Test
We Promise that we will do all the relevant tests required by the
IET Code of Practice
Who Is Responsible?
You may have been told that the only person responsible for Pat Testing is the business owner!
This is not true! Safety in any workplace is everyone's responsibility.
Unlike other PAT Testers!!!
At Certable Circuits we are unlike all the much larger PAT Testing companies that only dedicate their time to one or two tasks. As we are all fully Qualified Electricians we look for other potential hazards as we test the appliances to help you keep compliant.
Witnessing on a regular basis the failures of other testing companies, that insist that they are completing all necessary tests to their client instead of just putting stickers on plugs.
There are many different tests that have to be completed whilst PAT Testing and we know exactly what has to be done. We take pride in making sure that we test every item in line with the IET's Code of Practice.
In the Code of Practice document you will find everything that is required, including the documentation that is relevant in Law within the following publications:-
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- Management of Heath and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
- The Housing Act 2004 (England and Wales)
- The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006
- The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994
- Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment Regulations 2006 (WEEE directive).
A plug that had been totally missed by another company
A plug that had been passed by another company!!
Damage from non-inspected items cause fires
What is PAT Testing?
Portable appliance testing (PAT) is a safety check of all electrical appliances with a plug in compliance with health and safety law and the IET Code of Practice.
It is the the responsibility of business owners to ensure the electrical equipment they provide is safe for use. PAT testing your electrical appliances is also a good control measure to add to your workplace fire risk assessment, as it shows the business owner has taken a proactive approach to health and safety in the workplace.
Once PAT testing has been carried out, you should then have an equipment register of all the tested electrical appliances at your place of work, along with the test results and a PAT test certificate.
Qualifications & Procedure
PAT testing should only be carried out by a trained and competent person. At Certable Circuits we are City & Guilds Level 3 Trained in PAT Testing.
The PAT test consists of a visual inspection of the plug and the equipment it feeds. This is done by opening up the plug (if possible) and checking the wiring and the fuse whilst also inspecting the equipment for burn or scorch marks.
If the appliance has an earth it will be tested through a special PAT test machine as a class 1 item. Appliances without an earth are tested as a class 2. Leads, extension sockets and multi-sockets are also tested separately as they are an appliance themselves.
What Appliances need to be Tested?
It is really important to ensure that you have a fully trained Electrician and not just a PAT Tester. If all of your appliances depend on an Earth for safety, and yet the Fixed Wire supply (i.e. the Socket) has a fault and is not got an Earth connection for some reason then your appliance will not be safe to use.
All 110v volt equipment most commonly found on building and construction sites needs to be PAT tested also but on a much more regular basis. Items that run off of a battery such as laptops and drills do not need to be PAT tested but the battery chargers will need to be.
To be PAT tested, the electrical appliance will need to be switched off so that the plug can be opened and inspected (unless it is moulded) as well as tested on a PAT Testing machine. This is not always possible for some businesses that have sensitive equipment such as computer servers and CCTV equipment. In this case it is advisable to have these items PAT tested during a weekend or a planned maintenance shutdown period.
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