FAQs – Frequently asked questions about PAT Testing

A portable appliance is an item that can be moved and unplugged from the mains power supply. A portable appliance includes computers, power tools, hair driers, kettles, washing machines, welding sets etc.

PAT Testing, aka Portable appliance testing is the term we use to describe a safety check carried out on electrical equipment to make sure they are safe to use. As part of this inspection we carry out a visual examination, done by a competent engineer, who will find most defects, and repair them. When we are satisfied the appliance is safe we will carry out appropriate electrical tests to check the internal wiring etc.

PAT testing should not be confused with electrical equipment testing; they are not the same. PAT or Portable Appliance Testing is only for electrical equipment fitted with a plug.

PAT testing is a formal visual inspection and electrical testing by a competent person at appropriate intervals, dependent upon the type of equipment and the environment in which it is used, to maintain safety standards.

If you change address you will need to get a new PAT Testing Certificate, as your current one will be invalid with the incorrect address.

You will need to arrange for a new inspection to be carried out of your equipment, in case anything has been damaged in transit too.

The PAT Testing Certificate Report we issue includes everything you need to support you should you ever find yourself under investigation.

Most providers do not supply you with electrical test results – without them, the report may not be accepted in a legal dispute.

Our reports clearly show the ID number (which matches the label), the appliance description, the location of it, the test engineers name, the tests carried out and results obtained.

Our reports further include all repairs carried out – hardly any of peers provide this, but it is essential to you as a maintenance log.

For more information please refer to our PAT testing Certificate information page.

You can get the certificate the same day if you need it; just tell us when requesting a price for the job, and booking in, then it can be arranged. Please note for same day reports we need to be paid either in advance or at time of testing.

In normal circumstances we issue the PAT testing Certificate Reports within 5 days of the job being done, usually by the end of the week, for existing clients; or within 2 days of the payment being received for new clients.

How often you need to get PAT testing done depends on numerous factors, including:

• Your own risk assessment – a risk assessment will help you determine what needs to be done to maintain safe equipment
• A fire prevention risk assessment – will assess what needs doing to prevent fires occurring
• The use of the electrical equipment and who uses it
• The working environment in which the electrical equipment is used
• The type of equipment
• What your insurance stipulates – insurance small print assumes you are meeting your Health and Safety obligations
• The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition. Regulations don’t state how often this needs done, or what needs doing; nor do the HSE – because they don’t want to risk being sued!

Most companies assume an annual PAT testing frequency because it is considered to be best practice.

Firstly, if you are worried the server will not turn back on again, get it assessed by an IT professional – the server should be shutdown periodically for inspections and maintenance, and should have a battery back up system.

With regards to the PAT inspection on the server, if you want it testing in full (which it should), you will need to shut it down so it can be unplugged. If that is not an option on this occasion we can do a thermal image check and the best visual inspection possible. Neither are better than a proper inspection and test, but is better than nothing.

It would be sensible to organise a full inspection and test at a convenient time, perhaps outside working hours. Of course, with your IT person there to ensure the shutdown procedures and start up are carried out correctly.

We have a page set up showcasing our service of PAT testing servers.

If something needs repairing, we’ll try to do it.

In-scope remedial work for PAT includes:

• Repairing or replacing the existing plug
• Replacing the existing fuse
• Repairing the existing flexible cable
• Basic repairs to the appliance

If anything else needs doing like replacing the full lead, or specialist repairs to the appliance additional work is needed. We may be able to replace the full lead but we will quote you for that work; and if the appliance needs specialist repair you’ll need to organise that.

If an appliance needs repair, it will fail our tests – you will need to get it repaired, and retested by us before it can be updated on the report, and be put back into service.

Appliances that have been fixed to the mains are different, but we can still help you.

If you have a portable appliance (has a plug on) but remove the plug to hard wire it to the mains, usually via a fused spur unit, it will need testing.

When we are doing the PAT, we will check it for earth continuity, but not insulation. To do an insulation test we need to isolate the power (turn it off) and remove the appliance’s wiring – this is going to cause a lot of disruption to you, so may need doing out of hours.

A full fixed appliance test, is not part of PAT, but is part of inspection and testing of electrical equipment, and should only be done by a person competent in safe isolation, which most PAT testers are not.

We can do this for you, but not at a per item rate. For this service we charge our hourly rates. We recommend you speak to us about your options, probably best whilst we’re on the job. If we come across a fixed appliance we will recommend what to do.

We actually recommend you get your electrician to check the appliance when they do their EICR, or maintain the appliance. After all; it is their job to maintain anything on the mains wiring system.

You can get it the same day if that’s when you need it.

In most cases we send the PAT Certificate within a few days; we do say we’ll get it to every client in 5 days but in particularly busy periods it may take a little longer, but we do keep you updated.

If you need the report faster, like the same day, that can be arranged, but we will need you to pay the engineer before he leaves site.

Usually we issue the invoice the day or next day, following the job with payment due on receipt. We would prefer you pay it immediately. If not, however, we offer 14 days as a standard maximum term. On request we can provide up to 30 days credit, subject to a credit check.

Invoices can be paid by BACS (bank transfer), cash, or by card online via our invoice system. Sorry but we do not accept cheques.

If something has been missed, let us know so we can come back to test it. When tested we will add it to the report.

If the mistake was ours, we will do this without charge.

If we get there and find it was tested, and is labelled, you will be charged the attendance fee.

If it got missed because it wasn’t on site, or was hidden in a cupboard or drawer for example, then a new attendance fee will be charged.

It’s accepted that you get a year’s grace on a new appliance in a normal working environment; so if you have bought something new you should be ok, but to be safe we always recommend you do get it tested before use.

Yes we do. Every month we send reminders out by email to every client who’s PAT is expiring in the next 8-12 weeks. We’ll offer a date to come in to do the work, all you need to do is accept it or suggest a different date.

Whilst there is no definitive legal requirement to specifically carry out PAT, there are legal requirements to maintain safe electrical equipment, and to prove you do that. A PAT Test Certificate is the most recognised method for doing this.

Electrical Equipment Testing is often confused as the new name for PAT testing; it’s shocking how many companies have got this wrong. Electrical equipment testing hasn’t replaced PAT Testing; it’s always been there.

When we talk about electrical equipment, we are referring to all types of electrical equipment, whether fitted with a plug or not, and electrical equipment testing is the overview term for all inspection types that are used to ‘test’ these items to make sure they are safe. This includes PAT or Portable Appliance Testing; used to check appliances with plugs are safe, and FAT or Fixed Appliance Testing – FAT is carried out on appliances that are hard wired into the main wiring installation of a building.

Every detachable part of an appliance that requires mains power to operate needs testing, and will be recorded as another item. So for example, a computer workstation has a monitor and PC; each with a detachable IEC lead – so that is 4 items. An extension lead will be another, a second monitor is 2 more items, and so on. When we count how many items will be tested this is what we are counting, and when you are charged on a per item rate you will be charged for each item… if you’re unsure how many items you have you may find it more beneficial to pay our hourly rate than a rate per item, as the costs can quickly mount up.

How many items you have is confusing, and you’re never going to be able to count everything if you have a big office, but we do need an approximate amount so we know what to quote for and so that we know roughly how long the job will take so we know how much time to allocate for the appointment.

As an example; a PC and monitor combination is 4 items, as there is the PC base unit, plus its power lead, the Monitor screen and its power lead – that’s 4 items. If they happen to have low voltage power packs then there may be extra items; if they are powered via an extension lead that is another item. There may be a lamp on the desk, a phone charger, even a printer.. it all adds up.

Around the office there will be other printers, copiers, laminators, heaters, fans, radios, kitchen appliances, etc.

What we do is for every desk (one PC and one Monitor) we multiply that by 8 which gives us a rough idea of how many appliances will be in the full office. So if you have 20 desks, we’ll multiply that by 8 to get 160 items; we’ll quote based on that.

Power leads that detach from an appliances, such as the IEC lead from the PC, the lead is tested on its own as a separate item. This is because the lead could be faulty, which would affect the results of the PC test, but also as the lead or PC could be moved and be used attached to a different appliance or lead. The lead is considered to be an appliance on its own.

When counting how many items for testing you have, remember to count the leads.

This depends on the job requirements, we always recommend you contact us to discuss your requirements, from which we can provide you with a PAT testing quote.

Not usually, new items do not need testing if you are sure they are from a reputable supplier however if you have the slightest doubt, and by the fact you are asking the question there may be an argument to recommend that new items are PAT tested for you.

We do recommend that you register new appliances with register my appliance, to be notified if any recalls are released for your new items.

It depends on the situation; if there has been an electrical accident at work and you can’t prove that your electrical equipment is safe; it is possible you will but its worth learning more about whether you will or won’t get into trouble over this.

Surge protectors are designed to protect electrical equipment from voltage surges, and they should be used to protect important equipment

PAT Testing has been systemically carried out in the UK since the 1980s because it is seen as an effective way of minimizing electrical risks in the workplace.

Periodic PAT testing helps organisations to follow Health and Safety Regulations, such as The Electricity at Work Act (1989) and the UK Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (1998).

By having a managed programme for inspection and testing you are more likely to find and deal with potential electrical problems before they become too much of a major issue.

Electrical systems and equipment left unchecked are likely to degrade which could lead to further issues – both financially and in terms of health and safety legislation.

When the plug can’t be accessed we can carry out an earth continuity test on the appliance, using the nearest socket or spur.

If the appliance is wired directly into the mains, we can also test that, but there is a bit more involved in that process so see our page on Fixed Appliance Testing.

It is always recommended that the equipment of other users of your facility have their equipment tested – how do you know it is safe otherwise? If their equipment starts a fire will your insurers validate the claim?

Yes; we do not do this as standard, but if you require microwave ovens testing, let us know.