Frequently Asked Questions
What
is Portable Equipment Testing?
Portable Appliance Testing (P.A.T) is the inspection and testing
of In-Service
Electrical equipment. It was introduced to enable companies and organisations
to comply
with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. In-service generally incorporates
equipment
that has a lead (cable) and plug and which is regularly moved around or
can be easily moved from place to place, for example electric kettles,
fans, heaters, televisions, vacuum cleaners, drills, extension leads,
desktop lamps. Also equipment that could be moved such as laptop and desktop
computers, fax machines, photocopiers, refrigerators and washing machines.
Also fixed equipment / appliances such as bathroom heaters, towel rails,
air conditioning units and cookers are also included.
Who
is Responsible?
The employer or person having control of a business premises
is responsible for complying with legislation in respect to health and
safety of both employees and visitors using equipment on site.
The standards are in place to prevent:
- Electrocution of persons working on an electrical system or using an
electrical appliance
- Electrical fires which can seriously disrupt business operation and
cause harm.
Do
I Need my Portable Electrical Appliances Tested?
To comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 all
electrical appliances should be routinely inspected and tested by a competent
person. The regulations apply equally to small companies, large organisations
or even the self employed. There is a published schedule relating to different
appliances regarding the frequency of testing.
What
Electrical Equipment Needs to be Tested?
The regulations cover ALL items of in-service electrical equipment,
including all items connected to the mains supply by 13A BS1363 plugs,
BS EN60309-2 industrial plugs or hard wired via a fused connection unit.
In addition to being responsible for their own appliances, companies are
also responsible for the electrical safety of equipment brought on site
by employees and contractors.
How
Often Does Equipment Need Testing?
The frequency of inspection and testing required depends on
its type,its location and its use. The Institute of Electrical Engineers
and the Health and Safety Executive publish advice and guidelines, and
these vary between 1 month intervals – 48 month intervals the average
retests are at 12 month intervals
What
are the Tests?
Testing consists of two parts, a visual inspection to check
for damage and then a series of instrument tests to check for electrical
faults.
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