Classic Portable Appliance Testing - Testing us to deliver your Safety

Frequently Asked Questions
What is PAT Testing? Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is an important part of a company's or individual's responsibility to health and safety. It is a combination of electronic and visual safety checks on your portable appliances. Is Portable Appliance Testing a legal requirement? No, however, it is a statutory requirement and many insurance companies require the insured to comply with all current regulations. This includes the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which state that "As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger" (Regulation 4(2)). "Electrical equipment includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use, to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy." (Regulation 2(1)). The responsibility on the employer to ensure work equipment is safe is also covered by The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. This states that "Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided." (Regulation 4(1)). This includes all work equipment (fixed, portable or transportable) connected to a source of electrical energy." What does a PAT test consist of? The test starts with a visual inspection checking for: - Damaged flexes - Damaged plugs and equipment (overheating, burn marks, discolouration) - Correctly wired plugs - Correctly rated fuse Then a series of tests (depending on the class of equipment), they may include: - Earth continuity testing - Insulation resistance - Polarity test - Earth leakage test What types of appliances need testing? Basically, any type of equipment, which is powered by a plug connected to an electrical socket. These fall into the following categories A Portable Appliances This is an appliances of less than 18 kg in mass that is intended to be moved wile in operation or an appliance which can easily be moved from one place to another, e.g. toaster, food mixer, vacuum cleaner, fan heater. Movable Equipment (sometimes called Transportable): This is equipment, which is either: 18 kg or less in mass and not fixed, e.g. electric fire, or equipment with wheels, castors or other means to facilitate movement by the operator as required to perform its intended use, e.g. air conditioning unit. Hand-held Appliances: This is portable equipment intended to be held in the hand during normal use, e.g. hair dryer, drill, soldering iron Stationary Equipment or Appliances: This equipment has a mass exceeding 18 kg and is not provided with a carrying handle, e.g. refrigerator, washing machine. Fixed Equipment/Appliances: This is equipment of an appliance, which is fastened to a support or otherwise secured in a specified location, e.g. bathroom heater, towel rail. Appliances/Equipment for Building in: This equipment is intended to be installed in a prepared recess such as a cupboard or similar. In general, equipment for building in does not have an enclosure on all sides because on one or more of the sides, additional protection against electric shock is provided by the surroundings e.g. a built-in electric cooker. Information Technology Equipment (Business Equipment): Information technology equipment includes electrical business equipment such as computer and mains powered telecommunications equipment, and other equipment for general business use, such as mail processing machines, electric plotters, trimmers, VDUs, data terminal equipment, typewriters, telephones, printers, photo-copiers, power packs. IEC leads are classed as extension leads and should be tested separately for Earth Continuity, Insulation and Polarity. Such items should be individually listed and labelled. Extension Leads: The use of extension leads should be avoided where possible. If used, they should be tested as portable appliances. ALL OF THE ABOVE COME UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING How often do my appliances need to be PAT tested? Frequency of testing depends on the type of equipment and the environment in which it is used. The frequencies we recommend are based on the guidelines by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) and our own experience. Please see the guide tab or contact us direct for assistance. How long will the testing take? We can do approximately 15 - 20 electrical tests per hour, this is dependant on access and availability of the items. How do I get the results? As standard, test results are computer generated in hard copy format. The results are sent to a client following completion of testing. These reports include a full Appliance Register and Pass Certificate, bound into a folder for ease of reference. We can also email you a copy of the test results for computer storage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PAT Testing?
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is an important part of a company's or individual's responsibility to health and safety. It is a combination of electronic and visual safety checks on your portable appliances.

Is Portable Appliance Testing a legal requirement?
No, however, it is a statutory requirement and many insurance companies require the insured to comply with all current regulations. This includes the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which state that

"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger" (Regulation 4(2)).

"Electrical equipment includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use, to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy." (Regulation 2(1)).

The responsibility on the employer to ensure work equipment is safe is also covered by The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. This states that

"Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided." (Regulation 4(1)).

This includes all work equipment (fixed, portable or transportable) connected to a source of electrical energy."

What does a PAT test consist of?
The test starts with a visual inspection checking for:
- Damaged flexes
- Damaged plugs and equipment (overheating, burn marks, discolouration)
- Correctly wired plugs
- Correctly rated fuse

Then a series of tests (depending on the class of equipment), they may include:
- Earth continuity testing
- Insulation resistance
- Polarity test
- Earth leakage test

What types of appliances need testing?
Basically, any type of equipment, which is powered by a plug connected to an electrical socket. These fall into the following categories

A Portable Appliances

This is an appliances of less than 18 kg in mass that is intended to be moved wile in operation or an appliance which can easily be moved from one place to another, e.g. toaster, food mixer, vacuum cleaner, fan heater.

Movable Equipment (sometimes called Transportable):
This is equipment, which is either: 18 kg or less in mass and not fixed, e.g. electric fire, or equipment with wheels, castors or other means to facilitate movement by the operator as required to perform its intended use, e.g. air conditioning unit.

Hand-held Appliances:
This is portable equipment intended to be held in the hand during normal use, e.g. hair dryer, drill, soldering iron

Stationary Equipment or Appliances:
This equipment has a mass exceeding 18 kg and is not provided with a carrying handle, e.g. refrigerator, washing machine.

Fixed Equipment/Appliances:
This is equipment of an appliance, which is fastened to a support or otherwise secured in a specified location, e.g. bathroom heater, towel rail.

Appliances/Equipment for Building in:
This equipment is intended to be installed in a prepared recess such as a cupboard or similar. In general, equipment for building in does not have an enclosure on all sides because on one or more of the sides, additional protection against electric shock is provided by the surroundings e.g. a built-in electric cooker.

Information Technology Equipment (Business Equipment):
Information technology equipment includes electrical business equipment such as computer and mains powered telecommunications equipment, and other equipment for general business use, such as mail processing machines, electric plotters, trimmers, VDUs, data terminal equipment, typewriters, telephones, printers, photo-copiers, power packs. IEC leads are classed as extension leads and should be tested separately for Earth Continuity, Insulation and Polarity. Such items should be individually listed and labelled.

Extension Leads:
The use of extension leads should be avoided where possible. If used, they should be tested as portable appliances.

ALL OF THE ABOVE COME UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING

How often do my appliances need to be PAT tested?
Frequency of testing depends on the type of equipment and the environment in which it is used. The frequencies we recommend are based on the guidelines by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) and our own experience.

Please see the guide tab or contact us direct for assistance.

How long will the testing take?
We can do approximately 15 - 20 electrical tests per hour, this is dependant on access and availability of the items.

How do I get the results?
As standard, test results are computer generated in hard copy format. The results are sent to a client following completion of testing. These reports include a full Appliance Register and Pass Certificate, bound into a folder for ease of reference. We can also email you a copy of the test results for computer storage.