PAT Testing in Newcastle Upon Tyne and across the North East

UK Health and Safety regulations require electrical appliances to be safe, and maintained to prevent harm to workers and other users. Manufacturers of equipment recommend their appliances are tested at regular intervals to ensure they continue to be safe.

How often an appliance should be tested is proportionate to the risk factors of it’s use; there are many variations taking into account appliance type, use, environment, etc.

Insurance providers prefer a business to get their electrical equipment tested every year, to minimise the risk of defects occurring, accidents happening and to prevent fire.

Experience has shown that 12 months is the maximum period you should consider, as we will often come across appliances that have deteriorated since we last checked them, although some appliances that never move may be ok to test less often – we work with our clients to manage this, so you’re not getting unnecessary testing carried out.

PAT is the abbreviation for Portable Appliance Testing, which is a process of inspection and testing carried out on electrical appliances fitted with a plug, that connects to the mains via a socket, from extra low voltage up to 400 volts.

Portable Appliance Testing is part of Electrical Equipment Testing, which includes appliances that have had the plug removed and been hard wired (fixed) to the mains via a fused spur unit. We can also do the Fixed Appliance Testing for you.

By getting your electrical equipment PAT tested by us you will be doing the right thing to ensure you comply with the regulations; we will check each appliance to make sure it is safe, carry out repairs if needed, recommend a suitable retest period and provide you with a PAT Testing Certificate Report.

Portable appliances are portable from the mains by unplugging a plug from the socket. As the appliance has a plug it’ll also have flexible cable – if you can remove the plug from the socket with your hand, disconnecting it from the power – it’s portable.

These appliances fall under the remit of Portable Appliance Testing, or PAT testing as it is shortened too. These appliances need inspecting and testing on a regular basis, usually every year, as they are prone to damage and defect due to the nature of their use. It doesn’t matter what plug it has, and it doesn’t matter if you can move it by hand or not.

More information on Portable Appliance Testing.

Some portable appliances have been hard wired, this means their plug has been removed and the flexible cable wired directly into the mains, usually via fused spur unit on the socket circuit.

The appliance will often be secured to the wall or building. In this case, these ‘fixed appliances‘ will need testing but less often than a portable appliance, as the risk is lower as there is no risk of wires becoming dislodged in the plug. This applies to free standing cookers, water boilers and some integrated white goods. Some more movable appliances such as hair driers in hotels will still need annual checks.

More information on Fixed Appliance Testing.

UK law (the Electricity at Work Regulations) require all electrical appliances to be maintained (so far as is reasonably practical) to prevent danger. The best way to do this is to get appliances inspected and tested (portable appliance testing). The inspection will flag up any need for repair (maintenance), which in most cases the engineer will carry out automatically which will reduce or eliminate the risk of accidents occurring, meaning you are complying with the law. The report provided by the testing company shows that your equipment is safe and has been maintained.

Equipment should be retested as often as is necessary to prevent danger occurring; this can be as often as 3-months for building site appliances, to annually in most cases or longer periods for certain appliances in low risk environments such as in offices, schools, hotels and shops (some appliances not all).

In the UK today most businesses and other organisations meet their legal obligations with a PAT regime.

The inspection process must be thorough to find faults, and all appliances that present a risk through exposed conductive metal parts need testing to make sure they are safe to continue using. Both portable (with plugs) and fixed electrical equipment will be tested.

We provide a fully inclusive repair service where the plug or flexible cable will be repaired to ensure it passes the test; replacement ’13a’ plugs and fuses are supplied free of charge. Engineers are trained to identify and be able to remedy faults.

Our engineers provide on site advice and guidance to help you maintain safe electrical systems in your workplace, and we send every client a fully itemised PAT Testing Certificate Report which includes electrical readings to ensure your compliance.

PAT testing is an essential process that helps to ensure the safety of electrical appliances. It involves a series of checks and tests to determine whether electrical equipment is safe to use. This includes visual inspections, earth continuity tests, insulation resistance tests, and more. The importance of PAT testing cannot be overstated, as it helps to identify potential faults or defects that could lead to electrical shock, fires, or other accidents. Regular PAT testing is crucial to maintaining the safety of electrical equipment and preventing potential hazards. It not only protects individuals from harm but also safeguards properties and reduces the risk of legal liability.

✅ The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

✅ The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

✅ Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1989

✅ Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

We cover Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Co. Durham, North Yorkshire and other UK areas for our clients.