PAT – Portable Appliance Testing North Woolwich, E16

What is PAT Testing?

A PAT test is a routine inspection on some types of electrical appliances to ensure they are safe to be used. Its purpose is to prevent electrical accidents in the workplace.

A full PAT test should include both a visual inspection and a more in-depth check using specialist PAT testing equipment. This test includes earth continuity, lead polarity, and insulation resistance checks. At the end of a PAT test, every appliance should be marked ‘passed’ or ‘failed’, at which point you will be provided with an in-depth report of the tests we have carried out.

 Do I need my appliances tested?

There is currently no strict legal requirement for PAT testing. The Government however has put regulations into place that pertain to the maintenance of electrical appliances and the most effective way to ensure that these regulations are met is through PAT testing.

The UK Health and Safety Executive along with insurance companies will expect you to perform PAT testing to ensure that you are compliant with certain regulations including:

• Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974
• The Electricity at Work Regulations of 1989
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations of 1998
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999

Failure to comply with the regulations can lead to fines up to PS5,000 or six months imprisonment. Fines have been seen to go as high as PS20,000 and offenses heard in the Crown Court have carried sentences of more than 2 years imprisonment in addition to unlimited financial penalties. So even though PAT testing itself is not legally required, it simply helps you to protect yourself by ensuring that you are complying with these regulations.

It is simply not true to claim that PAT testing is required by law. Clients are breaking the law by refusing to have it done. The law does require however that employers, including self-employed, ensure that all electrical equipment that they provide in their business is safe and properly maintained. This means that PAT testing should be part of any solution to safety concerns.

PAT testing is the best way to detect defects that may arise from use. Faults in electrical equipment pose a potential hazard, particularly if they are not repaired readily. Although PAT testing is not required by law in any way, it is important to consider the potential consequences of electrical faults.

Local PAT Testers