A helpful guide to prepare for your PAT testing appointment

Pre-Visit Information & Testing Guidance

To ensure a smooth and efficient appointment, please review the following information prior to our visit.

Our Approach

DRA PAT Testing supports your organisation’s electrical safety compliance through structured inspection, testing and digital reporting. Our aim is to carry out testing efficiently, safely and with minimal disruption to your operations.

Portable Appliance Testing includes:

• Formal visual inspection of portable electrical equipment
• Electrical safety testing where required
• Asset labelling with unique ID numbers
• Digital recording of all results for compliance documentation
• Minor remedial works where safe and practical (e.g. plug tops, fuses, re-terminations)

Any additional equipment identified during the visit will be incorporated into the final report and invoice.

Preparing for Our Visit

To help us complete testing efficiently, please ensure:

• Access is available to all areas of the business where electrical equipment is
• An on-site contact is assigned
• Staff are aware of our visit; so they know to vacate workstations etc.
• A route plan of rooms access is provided where necessary, such as GP Surgery Rooms
• Equipment is accessible and unplugged where possible
• Items stored in cupboards or drawers are made available
• Equipment positioned at height is brought to ground level
• Home-worker or off-site equipment is brought to site (or arrangements agreed in advance)
• Our engineer should be informed of any equipment that cannot be shutdown.

Please note that equipment must be powered off briefly during testing.

If there is business-critical equipment that cannot be powered down (e.g. servers or specialist systems), please inform us in advance so arrangements can be discussed.

Site Safety Information

On arrival, please advise our engineer of:

• Any known hazards
• Site safety rules or induction requirements
• Fire evacuation procedures
• First aid arrangements
• Any mandatory PPE requirements

Our engineers carry standard PPE (safety footwear, hi-vis). If additional PPE is required, please advise prior to attendance.

Equipment Requiring Attention

If an item fails inspection:

• It will be labelled accordingly
• It will be reported to the site contact
• It will be included in your compliance documentation

After Completion

Following the visit you will receive:

• Engineer site summary
• Invoice (issued shortly after completion)
• Full PAT Testing Certificate & Asset Register within 48 hours of payment being received.

 If you feel like your business may benefit from a site visit in advance of this appointment, please contact us urgently on 01916661009. 

What will be tested? If an appliance turns off when you unplug it, it falls within scope of PAT. If it stays on, then it is battery powered as doesn’t require a PAT Test.

Integrated Appliances will not be pulled out to prevent damage, but we will do earth continuity tests

Fixed Appliances: If an appliance has had the plug removed to be hard wired, we will test the item for earth continuity. Anything else is not within scope of PAT

Microwave ovens will be tested for emissions leakage, interlocking and function.

Servers & Comms Racks: We will not shut these down, we will not unplug any parts. We will do the best visual inspection we can. Each item will be labelled and recorded. We recommend a full shutdown but you must do that – Once shut down we can do tests. If a shutdown is not possible you may benefit from a scan with a thermal camera, which will spot ‘hot’ areas, which can then be investigated further.

Repairs to the plug and flex will be carried out automatically to make an item safe.

Equipment beyond reach: We do not use ladders, scissor lifts, or scaffolding. Any equipment secured at height such as projectors or stage lighting will need to be brought to ground level to test.

Equipment kept in drawers and cupboards: We do not rake around in your drawers, or cupboards, unless you tell us too. So please get anything out that needs testing.

Commando Plugs: If you have them to test, we would prefer to know what type before we attend.

Offices: Please let staff know that we are coming, and that the will have to vacate desks for testing. Our engineer will advise of the best course of action to minimise disruption. If you have more than 50 desks, a site visit may be beneficial.

Doctors & Dentists: We will need to access surgery rooms – we will need approx 15 minutes in each room, so they can’t all be done at lunchtime. The best way to plan is to create a route plan, block each room out for 20 minutes, so we can get into the room to test the equipment. You will need to tell the doctors to vacate quickly, as one delay will have a knock on effect for the full plan.

Care Homes: We need to get into every room, this includes residents rooms, so access will be required

Rental Properties: We need a list of appliances you provide. Inform residents we are coming and to not be using equipment when we arrive. If we arrange a timed appointment and the resident is not in, you will still be charged. If we can be provided keys that is beneficial to all parties.

Holiday lets: We need a list of appliances you provide. Inform guests we are coming and to not be using equipment when we arrive. If we arrange a timed appointment and the guest is not in, you will still be charged. If we can be provided keys that is beneficial to all parties. Holiday homes are best tested when they are not in use.

Building Sites: We do not go into hard hat areas, since CSCS pulled our card. So all equipment needs to be brought to the cabins area.

Fixed Wiring (EICR): As well as your portable appliances, the mains wiring will need testing. Usually every 3-5 years, we can do this too.

Emergency Lighting: We can also do this for you, not just the full inspection, but interim / monthly tests too.