Portable Appliance Testing – also known as PAT testing – is the examination of portable electrical equipment and appliances to ensure they are safe to use in the working environment. PAT tests are recommended for allbusinesses that use portable electrical equipment. This includes office-based businesses, landlords, hotels and restaurants, healthcare settings and construction and manufacturing. Self-employed people should also carry out PAT tests on their business equipment, even in the home. Is PAT testing a legal requirement?

For most portable electrical equipment in a low-risk workplace, a portable appliance test is not needed. Relevant Standards - All PAT work must be carried out in accordance with the current edition of the IET Code of Practice for in-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment. This guide outlines the legal requirements and guidance relating to PAT testing and electrical safety including: Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW 1974), Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, Housing Act 2004 (England and Wales), Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. Who has responsibility? Legal Requirements - Employers, Duty holders and Landlords have obligations to ensure the electrical safety of systems and equipment in all types of installations, i.e. Commercial, Industrial and domestic. These are stated in the Electricity at Work Regulations and the Landlord and Tenant Act and other associated legislation. Competence is required by this legislation and the use of an independent, registered inspector is often the most suitable way of ensuring compliance.Is the item moved? Damage is associated with movement… the more it is moved, the higher the risk value

A high street travel agency thought about what it needed to do to maintain its portable electrical equipment. As their work generally included office work and dealing with customers the manager considered that health and safety risks would be generally low. The portable electrical equipment was used in a clean and dry shop by a small number of employees. In deciding what action was needed: PAT Testing Training Courses - More information about our training courses, and what to expect if you attend one. Whether you are an electrician who wants to supplement your formal training, a building manager who aims to learn new skills or a landlord who oversees the safety of your tenants, you can be a certified PAT tester. All you need to do is complete a course online or one that’s facilitated by a qualified instructor, then pass a certification exam.

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PAT stands for Portable Appliance Testing. It is a routine inspection conducted on electrical appliances and equipment to make sure they can be used safely in the workplace and any other public environment. There are no rules around how often your equipment needs a PAT test. It is entirely down to the ‘duty holder’ (the person tasked with responsibility for electrical equipment) to assess the risk level and decide on the frequency of inspections. This is usually determined by the type of equipment, how often it is being used and whether the working environment is considered high risk or low risk. Advanced PAT testing kits are suitable for users with a high level of technical knowledge and expertise. These advanced systems are particularly well suited to facilities management, as they allow for the recording of the location and test status of equipment and appliances. Some of these systems can also transfer the test results to computers for digital interpretation. Test records can be maintained with PAT software. Discover how electrical certificates software can streamline your entire documentation process, from start to finish! Megger has developed its free FormFiller software as part of the company’s long-term commitment to making life easier – and more profitable – for electrical contractors by providing unrivalled products and support.

The formal visual inspection should be carried out by someone competent with an appropriate level of knowledge. In low-risk environments, a member of staff could be tasked with this if they were given the right training. The PAT scheme covers Portable Appliance Testing and, if relevant to your work, Fixed Appliance Testing (FAT) such as storage heaters, cookers and hand driers. All such work must be done by someone with sufficient competence. Scheme DetailsWhen you factor in accidents caused by faulty equipment in rented properties, this figure grows exponentially. Both businesses and landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of their employees, tenants, and the public. Ensuring all equipment is adequately PAT tested will help to prevent accidents and injuries. For more information about electrical safety for landlords, consult our knowledge base. This should only be carried out by a competent person with the correct training and equipment. It is strongly recommended to employ an experienced and qualified PAT tester for the safest results. Is the item regularly maintained? Planned maintenance could reduce the need for frequent ‘PAT Testing’