Why is PAT testing neccessary?

What does the HSE say?

Which businesses need to have PAT tests carried out?

What types of items are tested?

Is PAT testing a legal requirement?

What does your City & Guilds qualification mean?

What about cheap PAT testing services offered by other companies?

How often should tests be carried out?

Will any of my equipment get damaged during testing?

Do items under test need to be unplugged?

Can you PAT test outside of office hours to minimise disruption to my business?

An explosion caused by failed insulation in the appliance.

In the event of an accident or fire it also provides proof that your equipment has been tested and maintained to the required standards. Because of this, your insurers may also require PAT tests to be carried out, and a failure to do so could void your insurance policy. Testing can also find developing faults before they can cause injury or damage.

Advice from the Health and Safety Executive can be found here. There are also links to PDF leaflets about equipment maintenance on the links page of this website.

Any business that uses electrical equipment should have PAT tests carried out at the recommended intervals advised by the IET/IEE and the HSE. Don't forget that holiday homes, rented accomodation with supplied appliances and other properties that are rented out to members of the public should also have inspection and testing carried out.

Anything that plugs into the electrical supply, from table lamps to fridge freezers, and everything in between! Extension leads and IEC 'kettle' leads must also be tested. This also includes 110 volt equipment.

PAT testing is legally accepted as the most appropriate way of fulfilling the HSE's requirements that electrical equipment is maintained as is reasonably practicable in order to prevent hazards. In the event of an incident, if the HSE can prove that your business has not complied with this, it will lead to a potentially unlimited fine.

The City and Guilds PAT testing course No.2377 is the only formally recognised qualification in this field. Holding this qualification shows that I qualify as a competent person capable of carrying out inspection and testing to the required standards.

Beware of companies charging very low rates, as we have heard of cases when businesses like these only carry out a brief visual inspection without even unplugging the appliance. A service that works this way is highly unsatisfactory as plug wiring can be very vunerable to faults, and needs to be checked unless it is the moulded on type, and even then, the fuse, pins and socket should be checked on those. In the event of an incident you may be liable to prosecution as such disreputable services do not satisfy the criteria of the relevant legislation. See the Cheap PAT Testing page for more information.

It depends on the nature of the business, the type and class of appliances and the users, but typically tests should be carried out every twelve months. Please contact us for further information.

PAT testing carried out correctly will not cause damage. However, I do hold full indemnity insurance in the event of accidental damage.

Yes, because part of the testing procedure involves checking the fuse, wiring and condition of the plug, particularly the non-moulded on type. We carry out visual inspections and earth bonding tests on items that cannot be disconnected without causing disruption, eg servers or items wired directly to an outlet.

Yes, we offer an out of hours and weekend service at no extra cost.