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Consultancy - Services:
Portable Appliance Testing.
There are legal requirements in place which state that all equipment in use in the
workplace are made to be safe and will cause no harm to the people using it. A PAT test is
an important part of any health and safety policy.
PAT testing is applicable in the following
circumstances:
- Where appliances are used by employees.
- Where the public may use appliances in establishments
such as schools, hotels, hospitals, shops etc.
- Where appliances are hired or supplied.
- Where appliances are repaired or serviced.
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The relevant legal requirements are:
- Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAW) 1974:
This puts the duty of care upon both the employer and the employee to ensure the safety of
all persons using the work premises. This includes the self employed.
- Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999:
"Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of:
(a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst
at work, and
(b) the risks to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out
of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking."
- Electricity at Work Regulations (EAW) 1989:
Regulation 4(1):
"All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as
reasonably practicable, such danger."
Regulation 4(2):
"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to
prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger."
Who should carry out the testing?
The IEE Code of Practice states, those carrying out the inspection and testing must be
competent to undertake the inspection and, where appropriate, testing of electrical
equipment and appliances having due regard of their own safety and that of others. What
should be considered is that the 'danger' to be prevented, includes not just the dangers
which may arise during the testing procedure to the tester and others, but also the
dangers which may arise at a later date as a result of using equipment which has not been
effectively tested.
The tester must have an understanding of the modes of electrical, mechanical or thermal
damage to electrical equipment and appliances and their flexes which may be encountered in
any environment.
Classification of Equipment:
- Class 1 - Earthed equipment
- Class 2 - Double insulated equipment (no earth)
- Class 3 - Low voltage equipment (eg computer keyboard)
Overview of Testing:
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The testing breaks down into two main areas:
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- Visual Tests:
Visually checking the appliance for electrical safety or damage to the plug, fuse, wiring,
cable and protective case of the appliance. An analysis of the environment in which the
appliance is to be used (good housekeeping practice), any precautions in place to improve
safety and the suitability of the appliance for the job is also carried out in a basic
risk assessment.
- Electrical Tests:
These are made up of two main tests, earth bond and insulation resistance tests. Other
optional tests such as flash, operation/load and earth leakage tests may be applicable in
the minority of cases.
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Frequency Of Testing:
The following table shows the recommended times between tests, as laid out in the IEE
guidance notes of PAT testing.
| Type of Premises |
Type of Equipment |
Frequency of Inspection by
responsible person |
Frequency of Testing by
Competent person |
| Commercial |
Business Equipment |
12 Months |
12 Months |
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Transportable |
12 M |
12 M |
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Portable |
6 M |
12 M |
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Hand Held |
3 M |
12 M |
| Industrial |
Business Equipment |
12 M |
12 M |
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Transportable |
12 M |
12 M |
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Portable |
6 M |
12 M |
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Hand Held |
3 M |
6 M |
| Office |
Business Equipment |
6 M |
12 M |
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Transportable |
6 M |
12 M |
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Portable |
6 M |
12 M |
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Hand Held |
3 M |
12 M |
| Construction |
Transportable |
Before use |
12 M |
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Portable |
Before use |
12 M |
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Hand Held |
Before use |
12 M |
Created By Brett Walton
For more information about how Wemtech can help, please contact Mike Foster on 01527 595066.
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